2. Definition Reported speech is often also called indirect speech. When we use reported speech, we are usually talking about the past (because obviously the person who spoke originally spoke in the past).
3. We also have direct speech and indirect speech: “ I have chickenpox” (Direct speech) She says he has chickenpox (Indirect speech) This is using a present simple reported verb.
4. An other example could be: Maria: “Laura was ill” (Direct speech) Maria said (that) Laura had been ill. (Indirect speech) This is using a past simple reported verb.
5. The verbs therefore usually have to be in the past too. For example: “ I'm going to the cinema.” He said he was going to the cinema.
6. Basic tense chart The tenses generally move backwards in this way (the tense on the left changes to the tense on the right):
23. Time and place references now then today that day here there this that this week that week
24. tomorrow the following day the next day the day after next week the following week the next week the week after yesterday the previous day the day before
25. last week the previous week the week before ago previously before 2 weeks ago 2 weeks previously 2 weeks before tonight that night
26. last Saturday the previous Saturday the Saturday before next Saturday the following Saturday the next Saturday the Saturday after that Saturday
27. Material created by: Teacher Danitza Lazcano Flores Teacher of English Master in Education Educational Counselor
