Tense of the Introductory Clause

The introductory clause usually is in Past Tense.

Example:
He said that.....
Present Tense is often used to report a conversation that is still going
on, e. g. during a phone call or while reading a letter.
Example:
I am !ne. " Tom says # writes that he is !ne.
The introductory clause can also $e in another tense. In the following
ta$le you can see, for which tense of the introductory clause you have to use
$ac%shift in reported speech.
if introductory clause is in & 'o (ac%shift:
) *imple Present +He says &,
) Present Perfect +He has said &,
) -uture I will +He will say &,
) -uture I going to +He is going to say &
if introductory clause is in &(ac%shift:
) *imple Past +He said &,
) Past Perfect +He had said &,
) -uture II + He will have said &,
) Conditional I +He would say &,
) Conditional II +He would have said &,
(ac%shift in .eported *peech
The $asic rules for $ac%shift when transforming direct speech into reported
speech are:
/irect *peech .eported *peech
*imple Present *imple Past
Present Progressive Past Progressive
*imple Past Past Perfect *imple
Present Perfect
Past Perfect
Past Progressive Past Perfect Progressive
Present Perfect Progressive
Past Perfect Progressive
-uture I +going to, was # were going to
-uture I +will, Conditional I
Conditional I
-uture II Conditional II
Conditional II
Exceptions
(ac%shift of *imple Present is optional if the situation is still unchanged or if you
agree with the original spea%er.
-or example:
Can$erra is the capital of 0ustralia.
*he said that Can$erra is # was the capital of 0ustralia.
(ac%shift of *imple Past and Past Progressive is optional if they cannot
$e mista%enly ta%en for $ac%shift of Present Tense. *o $ac%shift is not necessary
if there is a time expression indicating past.
Example:
*he left (oston on 1onday.
He said that she left # had left (oston on 1onday.
*imple Past and Past Progressive do not normally change in sentences with when
# if.
Example:
2hen I was having $rea%fast, the telephone suddenly rang.
*he said that when she was having $rea%fast, the telephone suddenly rang.
Example:
If I had more time, I would learn -rench.
He said that if he had more time, he would learn -rench.
.e3uests:
The $asic rule for re3uests is: introductory clause 4 5to6 4 in!nite ver$.
Example:
*ay hello to your mum.
*he as%ed me to say hello to my mum.
0dvise expressions with must, should and ought are usually reported using
advise # urge.
Example:
7ou must read that $oo%.
He advised # urged me to read that $oo%.
The expression let8s is usually reported using suggest. In this case, there
are various possi$ilities for reported speech: gerund or statement with should.
Example:
9et8s go to the cinema.
He suggested going to the cinema.
He suggested that we should go.to the cinema.