Changes in place, time and person in indirect speech
No changes are made to words referring to place, time or person if we report something at the same place, around the same time, or involving the same people:
Dimitrios: I'll meet you here.
Dimitrios said he would meet me here. (reported at the same place)
Cara: My train leaves at 9.30 tomorrow.
Cara says her train leaves at 9.30 tomorrow. (reported on the same day)
Richard: I can help you, Stephanie.
I told you I could help you. (reported by Richard to Stephanie)
I told Stephanie I could help her. (reported by Richard to a third person)
Changes are made if there are changes in place, time or people:
Dimitrios: I'll meet you here.
Dimitrios said he would meet me at the café. (reported at a different place)
Cara: My train leaves at 9.30 tomorrow.
Cara said her train leaves at 9.30 today. (reported on the next day)
Richard: I can help you, Stephanie.
Richard told me he could help me. (reported by Stephanie)
Richard told Stephanie he could help her. (reported by a third person)
I told Stephanie I could help her. (reported by Richard to a third person)
The following table shows some typical changes of time expressions in indirect speech. Bear in mind that the changes are not automatic; they depend on the context:
| Direct speech | Indirect speech |
|---|---|
| now | then / at that time |
| tonight | last night, that night, on Monday night |
| today | yesterday, that day, on Monday |
| yesterday | the day before / the previous day, on Sunday |
| last night | the previous night / the night before, on Sunday night |
| tomorrow | today, the following day, on Tuesday |
| this week | last week, that week |
| last month | the previous month / the month before, in June |
| next year | this year, the following year / the year after, in 1996 |
| five minutes ago | five minutes before |
| in two hours' time | two hours later |
