REPORTED SPEECH
1. verb + that clause
add, admit, announce, assure, claim, complain, confirm, estimate, explain, mention, point out, predict, remark, remind, repeat, reply, say, stress, tell, warn
When reporting direct speech, tense changes may occur in the that clause: present tenses change to past; present perefect and past tenses change to past perfect. Pronouns and words referring to time and place may also change, depending on when the person reporting the statement / question is speaking and where he or she is at the time of speaking.
“She doesn’t live here any more”, he said.
He told me (that) she didn’t live there any more.
“I didn’t leave the house yesterday”, she claimed.
She claimed (that) she hadn’t left the house the previous day.
Modal verbs can, will, may, shall change to could, would, might, should. Must can remain unchanged or we can use had to instead when expressing obligation. Other modals do not change.
“You cannot wear jeans and you must wear a tie.”
He said he couldn’t wear jeans and he must / had to wear a tie.
There is often no tense change if a present tense of the reporting verb is used and / or if the statement being reported is still true.
He told / tells me he’s thinking of buying a new car.
In reported questions, do, does, did only appear in negative questions and the subject comes before the verb. Yes / No questions are reported with if or whether and question marks are not used.
“Why don’t you want to go?” he asked.
He asked her why she didn’t want to go.
“Do you work for Mr Goodenough?” she asked.
She asked him if he worked for Dr Goodenough.
2. verb + infinitive with to
agree, ask, claim, demand, offer, promise, refuse, threaten
I offered to help her and refused to accept payment.
3.verb + object + infinitive with to
advice, ask, beg, convince, encourage, instruct, invite, order, persuade, recommend, remind, tell, urge, warn
She told him to leave and warned him not to tell anyone.
4.verb + gerund
admit, advise, deny, recommend, regret, suggest
He admitted breaking the window but denied stealing anything.
5.verb + preposition
argue, protest, advise, warn against, apologize, blame, forgive, tell off, thank for, speak, accuse of, insist, congratulate on, admit, confess, object to
Dr Goodenough thanked me for helping her and insisted on paying me.
6.verb + that clause (+should)
advise, agree, ask, demand, insist, propose, recommend, request, suggest, urge
I suggested (that) he (should) report it to the police.