Question

[Mot So]

A. Look at the direct and reported statements and answer the questions below

"Your books are here,' Jenny said. → She said (that) my books were there.
'We had been to Oxford before,' said Paul. → He said (that) they had been to Oxford before.
"Your tutor could help you,' Mrs Jones said. → She said (that) my tutor could help me.
'I will not be at school tomorrow,' said Sandy. → She said (that) she would not be at school the next day.
1. What usually happens to the tense in a reported statement?
2. Which tense doesn't change from direct to reported speech?
3. Do all modal verbs change in reported speech?
4. In reported speech, do we often change words that show time and place?
5. In reported speech, do we change pronouns and possessive adjectives?

Answer 1

[Đào Thu Hiền]

1. The tense in a reported statement is usually changed into the past tense.

2. The past perfect tense doesn’t change from direct to reported speech.

3. No. The modal verb “could” doesn’t change in reported speech.

4. Yes, we do.

5. Yes, we do.