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INDIRECT (REPORTED) SPEECH TENSE CHANGE LIST

DIRECT QUOTE INDIRECT (REPORTED) SPEECH
 SIMPLE PRESENT changes to SIMPLE PAST
"I work at Toyota." 
"I don't work at Honda."
"I am a manager."
"I'm not a salesman."
He said he worked at Toyota.
He said he didn't work at Honda.
He said he was a manager.
He said he wasn't a salesman.
PRESENT PROGRESSIVE changes to PAST PROGRESSIVE
"I'm cleaning my house today."
"I'm not going to work today."
"Mary is dancing in the show."
"She isn't singing in the show."
He said he was cleaning his house today.
He said he wasn't going to work today.
Lee said that Mary was dancing in the show.
He said she wasn't singing in the show.
PRESENT PERFECT changes to PAST PERFECT
"I've already seen that movie." 
"I haven't heard that song before."
"Gary has called three times."
"He hasn't left any messages though."
She said she had already seen that movie.
She said she hadn't heard that song before.
Jack said Gary had called three times.
He said Gary hadn't left any messages though.
PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE changes to PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
"Jeff has been exercising."
"He hasn't been studying."
"Celine and Lee have been working."
"They haven't been sleeping."
She said Jeff had been exercising.
She said he hadn't been studying.
Ling said they had been working.
She said they hadn't been sleeping.
 SIMPLE PAST changes to PAST PERFECT
"I saw my friend."
"I didn't see Monika."
"I was late."
"I wasn't on time."
She said she had seen his friend.
She said she hadn't seen Monika.
He said he had been late.
He said he hadn't been on time.
-MODALS-
PRESENT MODALS change to PAST MODALS
"I will wash the dishes."
"I won't go."
She said she would wash the dishes.
He said he wouldn't go.
"I can dance."
"I can't swim."
He said he could dance.
He said he couldn't swim.
"There may be a problem." 
"There may not be any milk left."
                 (No contraction)
She said there might be a problem.
She said there might not be any milk left.
                 (No contraction)
HAVE TO / HAS TO and MUST change to HAD TO
"I have to clean my room." 
"I don't have to clean the kitchen."
He said he had to clean his room.
He said he didn't have to clean the kitchen.
"Sara has to work today."
"She doesn't have to go to class."
Peter said Sara had to work today.
He said she didn't have to go to class.
"I must go to the store." 
                 (No negative form possible)
She said she had to go to the store.
                 (No negative form possible)
THESE MODALS DO NOT CHANGE:
would, could, might, ought to, should
"I would like a sandwich."  He said he would like a sandwich.
"I couldn't go to the party." She said she couldn't go to the party.
"It might rain today." The weatherman said it might rain today.
"You really ought to do your homework." The teacher said I really ought to do my homework.
"You should be nicer to your sister." My mom said I should be nicer to my sister.

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