A: I worked /went. He/she/it worked/went. You/we/they worked/went . N: I did not (didn’t) work_/go. He/she/it did not (didn’t) work_/go. You/we/they did not (didn’t) work_/go. Q: Did I work_/go? Did he/she/it work_/go? Did you/we/they work_/go? 1-to talk about actions performed in the past (with finished time expressions): I met my friend yesterday. Did you go to the seaside last summer? 2-to talk about a succession of past actions (stories): He opened the door, switched on the light and fed his cat. 3- to talk about an action taking place in the middle of another action: He fell asleep while the teacher was explaining new grammar rules. yesterday, ago, in 1970, the other day, last month/year/ week/ Sunday PAST CONTINUOUS FORMS USE TIME PHRASES A: I was working. He/she/it was working. You/we/they were working. N: I was not (wasn’t) working. He/she/it was not (wasn’t) working. You/we/they were not (weren’t) working. Q: Was I working? Was he/she/it working? Were you/we/they working? 1-to talk about a temporary action taking place at a given moment in the past: were you doing at 6 o’clock yesterday? 2-two or more actions happening at the same time in the past: She was cooking dinner and her kids were watching TV. 3- action interrupted by another shorter action in the past: I was working on computer when the telephone rang. 4- background information in a story: The sun was shining and the birds were singing… at 6 o’clock yesterday, from 3 to 6 On Monday, when Mum came, while FUTURE SIMPLE FORMS USE TIME PHRASES
REPORTED STATEMENTS If the reporting verb is in the Simple Present, Present Perfect or Future, there is no change of tense in the words reported. Direct Speech Reported Speech "I can explain the fact.” He says he can explain the fact. However, when the reporting verb is in the Simple Past or Past Perfect a number of changes typically occur. CHANGE OF THE VERB TENSES Direct Speech Reported Speech SIMPLE PRESENT “ I like oranges. SIMPLE PAST He said (that) he liked oranges. PRESENT CONTINUOUS “She is eating a cake.” PAST CONTINUOUS He said she was eating a cake. PRESENT PERFECT/SIMPLE PAST “She has worked hard.” “She went to London.” PAST PERFECT . He said she had worked hard. He said she had gone to London PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS /PAST CONTINUOUS “ I have been writing.” “ I was joking.” PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS He said he had been writing. He said he had been joking. FUTURE – SHALL / WILL “ We will be late.” CONDITIONAL – SHOULD / WOULD He said he would be late. FUTURE CONTINUOUS “ I will be using the car.” CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS He said he would be using the car. CAN / MAY / MUST “ I can swim.” “ It may rain.” “ I must go.” COULD / MIGHT / HAD TO She said she could swim. He said it might rain. She said she had to go. CHANGE OF TIME EXPRESSION Direct Speech Reported Speech Today That day/the same day Yesterday The day before/the previous day The day before yesterday Two days before Tomorrow The following day/the next day/the day after Ago Before Now Then/at that time Last week/year… The previous week / The week/year before Next week/month… The following week/month CHANGE OF PRONOUNS / DETERMINERS Direct Speech Reported Speech I / You He / She We They My / your His / Her / Our Our Their This / These That / Those REPORTED QUESTIONS The same changes of reported statements; The interrogative form changes to the affirmative;