Question 1

How do I change present continuous to reported speech?

Accepted Answer

To change present continuous to reported speech, change am/is/are + -ing to was/were + -ing. For example, "I am working" becomes "she said she was working". The -ing form of the verb stays the same.

Question 2

What happens to time expressions in present continuous reported speech?

Accepted Answer

Time expressions change to reflect the shift to past time: "now" becomes "then" or "at that moment", "today" becomes "that day", "this week" becomes "that week", and "at the moment" becomes "at that moment".

Question 3

Do pronouns change in present continuous reported speech?

Accepted Answer

Yes, pronouns change based on the speaker and listener perspective. Common changes include: I → he/she, we → they, my → his/her, our → their, and you → me/him/her (depending on context). The -ing form of the verb remains unchanged.

Reported Speech Present Continuous Exercises