When do we use it?

• To report what someone said, thought or asked. We use reporting verbs say, tell (someone), explain, complain, think, wonder, ask, want to know, etc.

• "I like ice cream" She said she liked ice cream

• "I am reading this book" He told me he was reading that book

• "These are not correct" He explained that those were not correct

• "Are you happy? She asked me if I were happy

RULES

• If your reporting verb is in Present the main verb tense doesn't change: I really like working here --> He says he really likes working here

• When the reporting verb is in past tense, the main verb has to change: I really like working here --> He said he really liked working here

TENSES

• Present Simple --> Past Simple

• Present continuous --> Past Continuous

• Simple Past --> Past Perfect

• Past Continuous --> Past Perfect Continuous

• Present Perfect --> Past Perfect

• Pres Perf Continuous --> Past Perf Continuous

• Past Perfect & Past Perf Continuous --> No Change

• am / is / are going to --> was / were going to

• will --> would

• can --> could

• may --> might

• must --> had to

• need --> needed

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