Time expressions When we turn direct speech into indirect time expressions should be changed as the following:
Direct speech Indirect speech Now
Then
Today
That day
Yesterday
The day before
The day before yesterday
Two days before
Tomorrow
The next day / the following day
The day after tomorrow
In two day’s time
Next week / month / year / etc
The following week / month / year
Last week / month / year / etc
The previous week / month / year
A year ago
A year before / the previous year
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She said, “I’ve seen it today”.
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She said she had seen it that day.
If a statement in direct speech and indirect speech are made on the same day, no change is necessary.
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At breakfast this morning he said, “I’ll be very busy today”.
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At breakfast this morning he said he would be very busy today.
