RULE "3" FOR CHANGING DIRECT INTO INDIRECT SPEECH

RULE THREE

If there is 'said' in the direct speech then the tense of the words inside quotation marks is changed to the past tense. 

1. I said,” I am suffering from a fit of ennui”
2. I said I was suffering from a fit of ennui.

Help List one

Words indicating nearness are changed into words showing distance

• Here-there tomorrow-the next/following day 
• This-that yesterday-the previous day
• These-those the next week-the following week
• Today-that day now-then
• Tonight-that night

Help List Two 

The following changes in the tense need to be considered 

• Is/am-was
• Are-were
• Is (sleeping)-was (sleeping)
• Are (sleeping)-were (sleeping)
• Has/have killed-had killed
• Was/were laughing-had been laughing 
• Can-could; will-would; shall-should; may-might
• Did-had done

Rule 3 --Some examples

1. I said,” My mother cooks well”
2. I said my mother cooked well.

1. She said, “ I am reading a whodunit now”
2. She said she was reading a whodunit then.

1. He said,” I killed an ant” 
2. He said he had killed an ant.

1. We said ,” They have done their job”
2. We said they had done their job

1. She said,” We were all laughing uncontrollably”
2. She said they had been all laughing uncontrollably.

1. He said,” I can do it”
2. He said he could do it.

1. She said to me,” You may need help”
2. She told me I might need help.

1. He said ,” She will do this task quickly” 
2. He said she would do that task quickly.