5. The sequence of tenses. Direct and indirect speech.

When the verb in the principle clause is in a past tense, verbs in subordinate clauses are normally in a past tense also:

He thinks that it will rain. – He thought that it would rain.

Infinitive and gerunds are not affected by the above rule:

He wants to go to Lyons. – He wanted to go to Lyons.

He likes reading. – He liked reading.

This rule applies to indirect speech when the introductory verb is in a past tense.

In indirect speech we give the exact meaning of a remark or a speech, without necessarily using the speaker’s exact words. There is no comma after say in indirect speech. That can usually be omitted after say and tell + object. But it should be kept after other verbs: complain, explain, object, point out, protest etc.

When we turn direct speech into indirect, some changes are usually necessary. There are most easily studied by considering statements, questions and commands separately.

1. Statements

When the introductory verb is in a present or future tense we can report the direct speech without any change of tense:

I’m trying to get a taxi. – Paul says he is trying to get a taxi.

But indirect speech is usually introduced by a verb in the past tense, in this case verbs in the direct speech have to be changed into a corresponding past tense:

Present Simple– Past Simple

Present Continuous – Past Continuous

Present Perfect – Past Perfect

Present Perfect Continuous – Past Perfect Continuous

Past Simple– Past Perfect

Future – Conditional (should, would)

Future Continuous – Conditional Continuous

Conditionals and Subjunctives don’t change.

Виключення:

– в підрядних умови:

Він сказав, що, коли вони жили в Парижі, то часто ходили на Єлісейські поля. - He said when they were living in Paris they often went to Champs Elisees.

• те, що було і існує дотепер:

Вона сказала, що вирішила купити будинок, тому що він стояв на головній вулиці. - She said she decided to buy this house because it was on the main street.

• при умовному способі, Subjunctive:

Вася сказав, що йому шкода, що у нього немає грошей. - Vasya said he wished he had a lot of money.

Він сказав, що їй краще піти з ним. - He said he’d rather she went with him.

• з інфінитивом:

Вона порадила мені вивчити це правило. - She advised me to learn this rule.

Adverbs and adverbial phrases of time change as follows:

Today – that day

Yesterday – the day before

The day before yesterday – two days before

Tomorrow – the next day/the following day

The day after tomorrow – in two day’s time

Next week/year etc. – the following week/year etc.

Last week/year etc. – the previous week/year etc.

A year etc. ago – a year etc. before/ the previous year etc.

This, these – that, those (in time expressions)

It, they, them (as pronouns)

The one(s) near him etc.(as adjectives or pronouns).

Here – there (when the place is meant)

Introductory verbs can be not only say and tell, but also:

agree, refuse, offer, promise, threaten + infinitive

accuse … of, admit, apologize for, deny, insist on + gerund

add, admit, answer, argue, assure + object, boast, complain, explain, grumble, object, observe, point out, protest, remark, remind + object, reply

murmur, mutter, shout, stammer, whisper, scream etc.