Reported Speech

Usually, when we report something in the past the verb "goes back" one tense.

For example: "I have a present"

Becomes: He said he had a present.

Present Simple ► Past Simple

Present Continuous ► Past Continuous

Present Perfect ► Past Perfect

But... What about past tenses?

Past Simple ► Past Perfect

Past Continuous ► Past Perf. Continuous

Past Perfect ► Past Perfect

Remember we always 'go back'.

These are verbs we use to start our 'report'. For statements we usually use the verbs:

He said that he had been there before.

She told me that she liked my idea.

For tell you need an object while we use say without anything after it.

She said me that she ate ice-cream. X

He told he liked to ride bicycles. X

will/can/may ► would/could/might

have to/must ► had to

would/could/might/should ► no change

Deictic words  are those whose meaning shifts depending on the point of view of the speaker.

"I'm polishing my nails" ► Steph said she was polishing her nails.

"I will go tomorrow" ► He said that he would go the following day.

today ► that day

now ►at that moment

here ► there / this ► that

yesterday ► the previous day / the day before