Reported speech
REPORTED SPEECH
COMPARE:
Robert: "I am tired." (DIRECT SPEECH)
>>> Robert said he was tired. (REPORTED SPEECH)
When you report what other people said, you use the reported speech. The verbs change their tenses!!!
The PRESENT becomes the PAST
• She said she was at home. (What she really said was: "I am at home.”)
• He said he didn't know her name. (What he really said was: "I don't know her name.”)
The FUTURE (will) becomes WOULD
• They told us they would come at six. (What they really said was: "We will come at six.”)
QUESTIONS become NORMAL SENTENCES
• She asked me where I lived. (Her question was: "Where do you live?”)
• Tom asked me where I was from. (His question was: Where are you from?”)