Pronoun, Time, and Place Changes
In reported speech, we must change pronouns, possessives, and expressions of time and place (deictic words) so that they fit the perspective of the speaker who is reporting the sentence.
1. Pronoun and Possessive Changes
Pronouns and possessive adjectives must shift depending on who is speaking to whom.
- Direct: I love my dog.
- If John reports this: He said that he loved his dog.
- If Mary reports this: She said that she loved her dog.
- Direct: “Can you help me?” she asked him.
- Reported: She asked him if he could help her.
Always analyze the context to decide how the pronouns should change.
2. Time Expression Shifts
Because the time of speaking is different from the time of reporting, we must shift time words:
| Direct Speech Time | Reported Speech Time |
|---|---|
| now | then / at that moment |
| today | that day |
| tonight | that night |
| yesterday | the day before / the previous day |
| tomorrow | the next day / the following day |
| ago | before / earlier |
| last week | the week before / the previous week |
| next month | the following month / the month after |
Examples:
- Direct: “I saw him yesterday,” she said.
- Reported: She said she had seen him the day before.
- Direct: “We will leave tomorrow,” they said.
- Reported: They said they would leave the next day.
3. Place and Demonstrative Shifts
Similarly, words that indicate distance or location must change to reflect the new setting where the reporting takes place:
| Direct Speech Place/Demonstrative | Reported Speech Place/Demonstrative |
|---|---|
| here | there |
| this | that |
| these | those |
Examples:
- Direct: “Put the bags here,” he said.
- Reported: He told me to put the bags there.
- Direct: “I like this painting,” she said.
- Reported: She said that she liked that painting.