Pronoun and adjective Pronouns and possessive adjectives are usually changed when we turn direct speech into indirect speech.
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He said, “I forgot where I put my phone”.
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He said he had forgotten where he had put his phone.
But if the speaker will report his/her own words no changed will happen.
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I said, “I like my house”.
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I said a liked my house.
Sometimes a noun must be used instead of a pronoun. In order to avoid confusion.
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Tom said, “He come in through the window”.
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Tom said he had come in through the window.
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Tom said the thief had come in through the window.
When this/these are used in time expressions they should usually be changed into that/those.
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She said, “I’ll go this week”.
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She said she would go that week.
When this/that/these/those are used as adjectives they should usually be changed into the, above rule is an
exception.
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He said, “I bought this flower/these flowers for my mother”.
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He said he had bought the flower/flowers for his mother.
When this and these are used as pronouns they should be changed into it and they/them.
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He showed two books and said, “I found these from your shelf”.
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He showed two books and said he had found them from my shelf.
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He said, “We’ll discuss this tomorrow”.
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He said they would discuss it the next day.
