The most intimidating aspect of Indirect Speech for English learners is . When the reporting verb (e.g., said, told, asked ) is in the past tense, the verb in the reported clause generally moves one step back into the past.
Deep feature: The reporter’s current deictic center overrides the original’s. If reporting after a long delay, “tomorrow” might even become “the following day” or “two days later” — a pragmatic choice, not a grammatical necessity. Indirect Speech Reported Speech
Mastering (or Reported Speech) is not merely about memorizing tense tables. It is an act of translation—translating a specific moment, tone, and perspective into a new context. It allows you to be a journalist, a storyteller, and a professional communicator. The most intimidating aspect of Indirect Speech for
Some modals do not change:
When the reporting verb (like "said" or "told") is in the past tense, the verbs in the reported clause usually shift "one step back" in time. Indirect or reported speech - the United Nations If reporting after a long delay, “tomorrow” might
Lisa said that she was going to the market then. She asked Mark if he had eaten lunch. Mark replied that he hadn't and said that he would go with her, but he had to finish his report first.