General English Level 4 Version 2.1 © 2004 acl Pty Ltd GELEV4 Unit 01 Topic 05.doc Look Direct Speech Reported Speech Present Simple "I understand the residents' concerns," the Mayor said. Past Simple The Mayor said he understood the residents' concerns. Present Continuous "We are studying the proposal," Norma Baker said. Past Continuous Norma Baker said that they were studying the proposal. Will for future "I will be happy to attend the meeting," he said. Would He said he would be happy to attend the meeting. Can "People can't park their cars anywhere," she said. Could She said people couldn't park their cars anywhere. 3. Time and place references Sometimes we have to change time and place words to make the reported sentence make sense. How we change them depends on when and where we are as we speak. Here are some changes that we might make when we use reported speech. Direct Speech Reported Speech today that day tonight that night tomorrow the following day, the day after, the next day this morning that morning here there now then, at that moment Examples 1. "I'll meet you tomorrow night," she said. She said she would meet him tonight. (you are speaking the day after she said this) 2. "I'll meet you tomorrow night," she said. She said she would meet him the following night. (You are speaking a week after she said this) 3. "We are looking at the problem now," he said. He said they were looking at the problem at that moment. 38