Change in Time and Place in Reported Speech
Like verb tenses adverbs of time and place will also be changed in indirect speech when we change narration. In some certain cases, verbs can remain unchanged but time and place mentioning words will definitely be changed in indirect form of speech. But when the time and place expressing words like now, here, come, these, today etc. refer things which are presented before the speaker at the time of reporting then it will not be changed in indirect speech. The words expressing nearness about any time and place will be changed into the words of mentioning remoteness in indirect speech. The present article will describe about all the time and place mentioning words in detail so that students can clear the concepts and learn well. All the words with suitable examples are mentioned below:
List of Examples
i) Now becomes then:
Now in direct speech becomes then in indirect speech.
Ex.
He said, “I will work now”.
He said that he would work then.
ii) Here becomes there:
Here becomes there in indirect speech to show remoteness.
Ex.
He said, “I saw a lion here in the jungle”.
He said that he had seen a lion there in the jungle,
iii) This becomes that:
This in direct speech refers something in near which will be changed into that which is used for showing something at far places.
Ex.
She said, “I want this pen”.
She said that she wanted that pen.
iv) These becomes those:
These mentioning something in direct speech will become those in indirect speech.
Ex.
The students said, “We like these books”.
The students said that they liked those books.
v) Come becomes go:
Come will be go in indirect speech with the meaning accordingly.
Ex.
He said, “I will come here soon”.
He said that he would go there soon.
vi) Ago becomes before:
This time mentioning word ago will be before indirect speech.
Ex.
My sister said, “The parcel come a few days ago”.
My sister said that the parcel came a few days before.
vii) Today becomes that day:
Today will be used as that day in indirect speech.
Ex.
He said, “he will be absent in school today”.
He said that he would be absent in school that day.
viii) Tomorrow becomes the next day:
Tomorrow will be the next day in indirect speech.
Ex.
He said. “I will reach there tomorrow”.
He said that he would reach there the next day.
ix) Yesterday becomes the previous day:
Yesterday will be changed as the previous day in indirect speech.
Ex.
She said, “I received the money order yesterday”.
She said that she had received the money order the previous day.
x) Last night becomes the previous night:
Last night will be the previous night in indirect speech after changing the mode of narration.
Ex.
They said, “We enjoyed a lot last night”.
They said that they had enjoyed a lot the previous night.
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