Introduction

When we report what someone said, we often change not only the verb tense, but also the words that connect the message to a specific moment or location. In direct speech, a speaker naturally uses expressions like today, tomorrow, here, and this because they are speaking from their own time and place. In reported speech, we retell the message from a different point of view, so these time and place expressions usually need to shift to match the reporter’s context.

Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives
By the end of this unit, you will be able to: change common time expressions (e.g., today, yesterday, next week) and place expressions (e.g., here, this) when moving from direct speech to reported speech; choose changes that fit the reporting moment; avoid typical mistakes when the time or place has not changed.

1) Why time and place words change in reported speech

Imagine you are listening to a friend at a café. Your friend says, “I’m meeting Sara tomorrow here.” The words tomorrow and here are clear in that moment: tomorrow means the day after the conversation, and here means the café.

Now you tell another person about it two days later, in a different place. If you repeat the same words, the meaning becomes confusing. Reported speech helps you adjust the message so it stays accurate: you change the time and place expressions to match your new perspective.

2) Core changes: time expressions

In reported speech, these are the most common shifts. They are not “magic rules”; they are practical choices to keep the meaning correct.

Example: “I can’t come today,” he said. → He said he couldn’t come that day.

Example: “We met yesterday,” she said. → She said they had met the day before.

Important concept
The goal is meaning, not mechanical replacement. If you report the message immediately, “today” may still be “today.” If you report it later, “today” usually becomes “that day.”

3) Core changes: place expressions and demonstratives

Place words often change because the reporter is not in the same location as the original speaker. Demonstratives (this, these) also tend to shift to a more distant form (that, those) when you report.

Example: “I like it here,” she said. → She said she liked it there.

Example: “I’ll bring the documents,” he said. → He said he would take the documents.

Warning
Do not change words automatically if the situation has not changed. If you are still in the same place, “here” can remain “here.” If you are still talking about the same day, “today” can remain “today.” Always check the reporting context.

4) Putting it together in natural reported speech

Time/place changes often appear together with tense backshift. At B1 level, you should aim for accuracy and clarity rather than overly complex structures.

Direct: “I’m leaving tomorrow,” Anna said.
Reported: Anna said she was leaving the next day.

Direct: “We are meeting here tonight,” they said.
Reported: They said they were meeting there that night.

Direct: “I saw him two days ago,” Mark said.
Reported: Mark said he had seen him two days before.

Practice

Practice section
Rewrite each sentence in reported speech. Focus on changing time and place expressions so the meaning stays correct.