Question 1

How do time expressions change in reported speech?

Accepted Answer

Time expressions shift to reflect the change in temporal perspective: 'now' becomes 'then', 'today' becomes 'that day', 'tomorrow' becomes 'the next day' or 'the following day', 'yesterday' becomes 'the day before' or 'the previous day', 'next week' becomes 'the following week', and 'last year' becomes 'the previous year'.

Question 2

How do place expressions change in reported speech?

Accepted Answer

Place expressions change to reflect the shift in spatial perspective: 'here' becomes 'there', and verbs of motion may change accordingly (e.g., 'come here' becomes 'go there'). This maintains logical consistency when reporting from a different location.

Question 3

Are there alternative ways to express time changes in reported speech?

Accepted Answer

Yes, many time expressions have alternatives: 'tomorrow' can become 'the next day' or 'the following day', 'yesterday' can become 'the day before' or 'the previous day', 'last month' can become 'the month before' or 'the previous month'. Both forms are equally correct.

Question 4

Do all time expressions change in reported speech?

Accepted Answer

Not all time expressions change. Specific dates, times, and universal time references remain the same. For example, 'in 1999', 'at 3 PM', or 'on Monday' typically don't change unless the reporting context requires it.

Reported Speech - Time & Place

Question 1

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