Direct Speech ----→                            REPORTED SPEECH

PRESENT S.                                                                PAST S.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS                                          PAST CONTINUOUS

PAST S.                                                                       PAST PERFECT (PAST IN THE PAST)

PRESENT PERFECT                                                    PAST PERFECT

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS                          PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

PAST PERFECT                                                           NO CHANGE

WILL                                                                            WOULD

CAN                                                                             COULD

MAY                                                                             MIGHT

COULD, SHOULD, WOULD, MIGHT                       DO NOT CHANGE

COULD (PAST ABILITY)                                              HAD BEEN ABLE

MUST            /HAVE TO                                              HAD TO

 

REPORTED SPEECH QUESTIONS

WE HAVE 2 TYPES OF QUESTIONS:

a)    Closed Questions, those we answer by saying, yes…/no…

Do you love me?

He asked her if she loved him. (Using “whether is another alternative).

Will you come?

He asked Helen if she would go. (OR HE WANTED TO KNOW IF SHE WOULD GO)

b)    Open Questions: For this type of questions, we must consider to make sure that you make an affirmative sentence or a statement.

Examples:

Where does he live?

They asked us where he lived. (They wanted to know where he lived).

How long have you practiced skating?

He asked me how long I had practiced skating. 

What is your favorite author?

He asked you what your favorite author was.

What was the most important thing to take into account?

I asked you what the most important thing to take into account had been.