Examples Of Direct And Indirect Speech In Past Tense • English Summary

Examples of narration change in simple past, past continuous, past perfect, past perfect continuous are given below –

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Direct and Indirect Speech Simple Past Tense Examples

If reported verb is in Past Tense, reported speech will change from Past Indefinite Tense to Past Perfect Tense.

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
I said, “He went to Calcutta.”	I said that he had gone to Calcutta.
Moumita said to Shampa, “I drew a picture of you.”	Moumita said to Shampa that she had drawn a picture of her.
Sayan said, “I passed the examination.”	Sayan said that he had passed the examination.
Radha said, “My friend gave me a gift.”	Radha said that her friend had given her a gift.
Malika said to Raja, “Where were you?”	Malika asked Raja where he had been.

If reported verb is in Past Tense, reported speech will change from Past Continuous Tense to Past Perfect Continuous Tense.

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
The government said, “We were planning a new bill.”	The government said that they had been planning a new bill.
Sister said to me, “I was cooking delicious food for you.”	Sister told me that she had been cooking delicious food for me.
The lawyer said to the judge, “The convict was driving recklessly.”	The lawyer told the judge that the convict had been driving recklessly.
I told my friend, “I was studying for my examination.”	I told my friend that I had been studying for my examination.
Grandma told the doctor, “I was feeling sick.”	Grandma told the doctor that she had been feeling sick.

If reported verb is in Past Tense & reported speech is in Past Perfect Tense, it will not change. e.g.

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Abhi said to Nidhi, “Had you paid the fee?”	Abhi asked Nidhi if she had paid the fee.
Mr Roy said, “I had bought a house.”	Mr Roy said that he had bought a house.
Pratima said, “He had gone mad.”	Pratima said that he had gone mad.
My brother said, “I had failed the interview.”	My brother said that he had failed the interview.
Nisha said to me, “I had sketched a portrait of you.”	Nisha told me that she had sketched a portrait of me.

If reported verb is in Past Tense & reported speech is in Past Perfect Continuous Tense, it will not change. e.g.

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
I said, “It had been raining all day.”	I said that it had been raining all day.
The scientists said, “The virus had been killing people.	The scientists said that the virus had been killing people.
The mother said, “My son had been sleeping all day.”	The mother said that her son had been sleeping all day.
She said, “I had been planning to go on a tour.”	She said that she had been planning to go on a tour.
Father said, “I had been working for my family.”	Father said that he had been work for his family.