Reported Speech (Direct-Indirect Narrations) – Tense Wise Examples

Present Indefinite

(1) He said to me, “I never eat sweets.” Direct

He told me that he never ate sweets. Indirect

(2) He said to Hina, “I love you”. Direct

He told Hina that he loved her. Indirect

Present Continuous

(1) Ram said to Shyam, “I am watching T.V”.   Direct

Ram told Shyam that he was watching T.V.      Indirect

(2) They said to Rahim, “We are playing football.” Direct

They told Rahim that they were playing football. Indirect

Present Perfect

(1) Sita said, “I have already cooked”. Direct

Sita said that she had already cooked. Indirect

(2) Ram said to Shyam, “ I have seen her today”. Direct

Ram told Shyam that he had seen her that day. Indirect

Present Perfect Continuous

(1) Sonu said to me, “I have been reading for an hour”. Direct

Sonu told me that he had been reading for an hour. Indirect

(2) Shyam said to Ram, “Sita has been playing since morning.” Direct

Shyam told Ram that Sita had been playing since morning. Indirect

Past Indefinite

(1) She said to Ram, “I went to Jaipur last week.” Direct

She told Ram that she had gone to Jaipur the previous week. Indirect

(2) Ramesh said to me, “I telephoned you yesterday.” Direct

Ramesh told me that he had telephoned me the previous day. Indirect

Past Continuous

(1) She said to me, “I was waiting for you.” Direct

She told me that she had been waiting for me. Indirect

(2) Shyam said to Sita , “You were playing tennis.” Direct

Shyam told Sita that she had been playing tennis. Indirect

Past Perfect

(1) He said to me, “I had completed my project”. Direct

He told me that he had completed his project. Indirect

(2) She said to Meena, “Ram had already visited Agra”. Direct

She told Meena that Ram had already visited Agra. Indirect

Past Perfect Continuous

(1) He said , “I had been playing chess for two hours.” Direct

He said that he had been playing chess for two hours. Indirect

(2) I said to you, “Ram had been waiting for you since 2 O’clock.” Direct

I told you that Ram had been waiting for you since 2 O’clock. Indirect

Future Indefinite

(1) Ram said to Meena, “I shall write a letter.” Direct

Ram told Meena that he would write a letter. Indirect

(2) Sita said to Kuku , “You will attend the party tomorrow.” Direct

Sita told Kuku that she would attend the party the next day. Indirect

Future Continuous

(1) Rahim said to Ram, “Sita will be waiting for you.” Direct

Rahim told Ram that Sita would be waiting for him (Ram). Indirect

(2) I said to her, “I shall be writing an essay”. Direct

I told her that I should be writing an essay. Indirect

Future Perfect

(1) Sita said to Ram, “I will have completed my work”. Direct

Sita told Ram that she would have completed her work. Indirect

(2) She said to me, “Ram will have vacated the room”. Direct

She told me that Ram would have vacated the room. Indirect

Future Perfect Continuous

(1) Nisha said to me, “I shall have been reading the book.” Direct

Nisha told me that she would have been reading the book. Indirect

(2) Chanchal said to Ekta, “We shall have been visiting the fair tomorrow”. Direct

Chanchal told Ekta that they would have been visiting the fair the next day. Indirect