Unreal past tense in indirect speech

Rule 1: Unreal past tense after wish, would rather/sooner and it is time do not change:

Direct – The children said, “We wish we didn’t have to take exams.”

Indirect – The children said they wished didn’t have to take exams.

Direct – He said, “I would rather die than take any bribe.”

Indirect – He said that he would rather die than take any bribe.

Direct – John said, “Bill wants to go alone but I’d rather he went with a group.”

Indirect – John said that Bill wanted to go alone but that she’d rather he went with a group.

Direct – He said, “It’s time we began planning our holidays.”

Indirect – He said that it was time began planning their holidays.

Rule 2:  I/he/she/we/they had better remains unchanged, you had better can remain unchanged or be reported by advise + object + infinitive.

Direct –John said, “The children had better go to bed early.”

Indirect – John said that the children had better go to bed early.

Direct – Father said to me, “We shall die today or tomorrow.”

Indirect – Father told me that we shall die today or tomorrow.

Direct – She said, “you’d better not drink the water.”

Indirect – She advised us not to drink the water.

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