Chart of tense changes when the reporting verb is in the past.
A The verb form does not need to change when: a) in the case of general truths "Caterpillars turn into butterflies", the teacher explained. The teacher told us that caterpillars turn into butterflies. b) the thing being reported is still true "Paper 3 starts at 3.30", said the examiner. The examiner told us that Paper 3 starts at 3,30. c) Past/past continuous tenses used in time clauses do not normally change. He said, "When we were living/lived in Paris…" He said that when they were living/lived in Paris... d) a past tense used to describe a state of affairs which still exists when the speech is reported remains unchanged She said, "I decided not to buy the house because it was on a main road." She said that she had decided to buy the house because it was on a main road. e) If the Past Indefinite in direct speech denotes an action taking place at a definite moment, it remains unchanged in indirect speech. He said: "I was born in 1961." He said he was born in 1961. She said, "I had left home before the telegram came." She said she had left home before the telegram came. - f) The Past Indefinite after "since" generally remains unchanged. She said, "I have been writing since I came." She said that she had been writing since she came. g) Subjunctives after "wish, would rather/sooner" and "it is time…" do not change "We wish we didn' t have to take exams", said the children. The children said they wished they didn't have to take exams.
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