Certain words denoting, adverbs, conjunctions, demonstrative pronouns etc … in direct speech will be changed, while being reported, as follows.
Direct Speech Indirect or reported speech
Now then
Next the coming/ the following
Today that day
Tonight that night
Yesterday the last day /the previous day
Tomorrow the next day
Last the previous
Ago before
So thus
This that
These those
Here there
Hence thence
To clear it, let’s look at the following questions and answers
I Mathew said, “ I am doing my homework now”
Mathew said that he was doing his homework then.
Here, the word ‘now’ is changed into ‘then’ along with the tense form and personal pronouns.
II His father said to Thomas, “ I am coming to your school next Friday”
His father told Thomas that he was coming to his school the coming Friday.
Here, the word ‘next’ is changed into ‘the coming’.
III Jancy said to her friend, “ My son is coming today”
Jancy told her friend that her son was coming that day
Here, we can see the word ‘today’ is changed into ‘that day’
IV George said to his wife, “ I will be late tonight”
George told his wife that he would be late that night
Here, the word ‘tonight’ is changed into ‘that night’.
V Kiran said “ Yesterday, I met my old friend Madhav”
Kiran said that the last day he had met his old friend Madhav
Here, the word Yesterday is changed into the last day.
VI Peter said to his daughter, “ Your friend has just called and informed that she is not coming to school tomorrow”
Peter told his daughter that her friend had just called and informed that she was not coming to school the next day.
Here, the word ‘tomorrow’ is changed into ‘the next day’.
VII Manuel said, “ I met with an accident last day”
Manuel said that he had met with an accident the previous day
Here, we can see the word ‘last’ is changed into ‘the previous’
VIII John said, “ My friend went abroad two years ago”
John said that his friend had gone abroad two years before
Here, we can see that the word ‘ago’ is changed into ‘before’
IX Shine said, “ I studied well in the exam. So, I got good marks”
Shine said that he had studied well in the exam. Thus, he had got good marks.
Here, the word ‘So’ is changed into ‘Thus’.
X Merlin said, “ I like this type of jeans”
Merlin said that she liked that type of jeans
Here, the word ‘this’ is changed into ‘that’
XI Tom said, “ These days will always remain in my memories”
Tom said that those days would always remain in his memories
Here, the word these is changed into those.
XII Rohit said, “ It is 4 years since I have come here”
Rohit said that it was 4 years since he had come there
We can see the word ‘here’ is changed into ‘there’
XIII Ashiq said, “ I work hard. Hence, I get money”
Ashiq said that he worked hard. Thence, he got money.
Here, the word ‘Hence’ is changed into ‘Thence’
