For example;
Direct- He said, “I loved her”Indirect – He said he had loved her
Direct – John said, “I went to the library and read a story book.”Indirect – John said that he went to the library and read a story book.
As otherwise there would be a change of meaning. But
Direct – He said, “Ann arrived on Monday”Indirect – He said Ann had arrived on Monday.
Rule 2: The past continuous tense in theory changes to the past perfect.
Continuous but in practice usually remains unchanged except when it refers to a competed action.
Direct – She said, “We were thinking of selling the house but we have decided not to.”Indirect – She said that they had been thinking of selling the house but had decided not to.Direct – He said, “When I saw them they were playing tennis.”Indirect – He said that when he saw them they were playing tennis.
Rule 3: In written English past tenses usually do change to past perfect but there are the following exception:
a) Past/Past continuous tenses in time clauses do not normally change:
Direct – He said, “When we were living in Paris.”Indirect – He said that when they were living in Paris.
The main verb of such sentences can either remain unchanged or become the past perfect:
Direct- He said, “When we were living/lived in Paris we often saw Paul”Indirect – He said that when they were living/lived in Paris they often saw/had often seen Paul.
b) A past tense used to describe a state of affairs which still exist when the speech is reported remains unchanged:
Direct – She said, “I decided not to by the house because it was on main road.”Indirect- She said that he had decided not to by the house because it was on a main road.
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