Reported speech: person, place and time

A Introduction

It's Friday afternoon. David is at Tom's flat. Tom has decided to have a party for all his friends.

Tom: I'm having a party here tomorrow evening. Would you and Melanie like to come?

David: We'd love to, Tom.

A few minutes later Nick has arrived at the flat. Now David is reporting what Tom said. So instead of Tom's words I'm having, David says he's having.

David: Tom says he's having a party here tomorrow evening.

Tom: Yes. Can you come, Nick?

The next day David is talking to Harriet. Now David is in a different place from where Tom first told him about the party. So instead of here, he says at his flat. And a day has passed since he first heard about it. It is now the day of the party. So instead of tomorrow evening, David says this evening.

David: I saw Tom yesterday. He said he's having a party at his flat this evening.

Harriet: Yes. Mike told me. We'll be there.

B Changes in reported speech

Changes from direct speech to reported speech depend on changes in the situation. We may have to make changes when we are reporting something another person has said, or when we report it in a different place or at a different time. Here are some typical changes.

Person: I he/she

my his/her

Place: here there, at the flat

Time: now then, at the time

today that day, on Monday, etc

yesterday the day before, the previous day

tomorrow the next/following day, on Saturday, etc

this week that week

last week the week before, the previous week

an hour ago an hour before/earlier