Table of Contents
Can we use present tense in reported speech?
We use reported speech when we want to repeat what someone had previously said. In reported speech we need to use the past tense form of the verb. In direct speech the present tense is used. As you can see, in the above sentence ‘am’ changes to ‘was’ when we use reported speech.
What tense should a speech be written in?
Try using the present tense rather than the past tense. You need not go full-on Damon Runyon and put the whole speech in the present tense (although maybe there is a brisk living out there for someone who ALWAYS puts ALL speeches/presentations in the present tense).
When using the present tense what are we talking about?
The present tense is used to talk about the present and to talk about the future.
When you are describing something in the past which tense do you use?
Past Simple Tense – The basic of the Pasts, you use Past Simple Tense to describe an action that happened in the past, and finished there – “The Berlin Wall fell in 1989.”, or “She finished the quiz five minutes ago.” It’s called simple, and simple is how you should keep it.
What are the rules for reported speech?
The tenses, word-order, pronouns may be different from those in the direct speech sentence. The Past Perfect Tense does not change in the Reported Speech….Change of tenses.
| Direct speech | Reported speech | |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Past | Simple Past Present Perfect Past Perfect | Past Perfect |
| Simple Past | will | would |
| Reported speech ‘to be’ |
Can present tense be used in indirect speech?
Usually indirect speech is introduced by the verb said, as in I said, Bill said, or they said. Using the verb say in this tense, indicates that something was said in the past….Direct & Indirect Speech.
| Direct Speech | → | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|---|
| simple present He said, “I go to school every day.” | → | simple past He said (that) he went to school every day. |
What is the rules of present tense?
All Tenses Rules
| Tenses | Tenses Rule |
|---|---|
| Present Simple tense | Subject + V1 + s/es + Object (Singular) Subject + V1 + Object (Plural) |
| Present Perfect tense | Subject + has + V3 + Object (Singular) Subject + have + V3 + Object (Plural) |
| Present Continuous tense | Subject + is/am/are + V1 + ing + object |
Can present tense be used to refer to the past?
We commonly use the present simple to refer to the past when we want to make events sound as if they are happening now. For example, news headlines are commonly written in the present simple: Rebels attack government buildings.
Do I use past tense or present tense?
The past is used to describe things that have already happened (e.g., earlier in the day, yesterday, last week, three years ago). The present tense is used to describe things that are happening right now, or things that are continuous.