Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Shift time and place words to match the reporter's perspective, moving from 'here and now' to 'there and then'.
- Change 'now' to 'then' or 'at that time' (e.g., 'I am busy now' becomes 'He said he was busy then').
- Change 'here' to 'there' to reflect the change in location (e.g., 'Come here' becomes 'He told me to go there').
- Shift relative dates like 'tomorrow' to 'the next day' (e.g., 'I'll call tomorrow' becomes 'She said she'd call the next day').
Overview
I will meet you here now라고 했다면, 내가 나중에 이를 전달할 때는 그곳은 '거기(there)'가 되고, 지금은 '그때(then)'가 됩니다.
now를 그대로 쓰면 듣는 사람은 지금 당장(at this moment)을 의미하는 것으로 오해하게 됩니다. 따라서 now를 then으로 바꾸는 것은 단순한 암기가 아니라, 청자에게 정확한 시간적 거리를 알려주는 필수적인 언어적 매너입니다.now | then | He said, I am busy now. → He said he was busy then. |today | that day | She said, "I'm tired today." → She said she was tired that day. |yesterday | the day before | He said, I left yesterday. → He said he had left the day before. |tomorrow | the next day | She said, "I'll go tomorrow." → She said she would go the next day. |here | there | He said, Come here. → He told me to go there. |this | that | She said, I like this. → She said she liked that. |- 1
now를 그대로 쓰는 경우: 한국어의 '지금'을 영어의now로 직역하여He said he is working now라고 합니다. 이는 문법적으로 '지금 이 순간'을 의미하게 되어, 과거의 발언과 충돌합니다.He said he was working then이 맞습니다. - 2
here와there의 혼동: 한국어는 '여기'를 그대로 쓰는 경향이 강합니다. 친구가 «나 여기 카페야»라고 한 말을 전달할 때He said he is here at the cafe라고 하면, 듣는 사람은 '여기'가 현재 화자가 있는 곳인지, 친구가 있던 곳인지 헷갈립니다.He said he was there라고 해야 합니다. - 3
tomorrow를 그대로 쓰는 경우:He said he will come tomorrow라고 하면, 보고하는 시점이 언제든 상관없이 '내일'로 들립니다.the next day로 바꾸어 그날의 기준을 명확히 해야 합니다.
today, now 사용 | that day, then 사용 |here 사용 | there 사용 |this / these 사용 | that / those 사용 |today를 그대로 써도 무방합니다. 맥락상 혼동이 없다면 유연하게 대처하세요.yesterday는 항상 the day before인가요?the day before가 표준입니다. 하지만 구어체에서는 the previous day를 쓰기도 합니다.Common Time and Place Transformations
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech | Example (Direct) | Example (Reported) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Now
|
Then / At that time
|
I am ready now.
|
He said he was ready then.
|
|
Today
|
That day
|
I'll do it today.
|
She said she'd do it that day.
|
|
Tomorrow
|
The next/following day
|
See you tomorrow.
|
He said he'd see me the next day.
|
|
Yesterday
|
The day before / previous day
|
I went yesterday.
|
She said she had gone the day before.
|
|
Here
|
There
|
Put it here.
|
He told me to put it there.
|
|
This / These
|
That / Those
|
I like this car.
|
He said he liked that car.
|
|
Ago
|
Before
|
A week ago.
|
A week before.
|
|
Next week
|
The following week
|
I'm busy next week.
|
He said he was busy the following week.
|
Meanings
The process of adjusting adverbs of time and place when converting direct speech into indirect speech to maintain logical consistency from the reporter's perspective.
Temporal Shift
Changing time-related words (now, yesterday, tomorrow) to reflect the passage of time since the original statement.
“She said she had finished the report the day before.”
“They mentioned they would arrive the following week.”
Spatial Shift
Changing place-related words (here, this room) to reflect the reporter's current location relative to the original speaker.
“He told me to meet him there.”
“She said she liked that house.”
Demonstrative Shift
Changing 'this' and 'these' to 'that' and 'those' when they refer to specific objects or time periods.
“He said he wanted those shoes.”
“She mentioned she was busy that morning.”
Reference Table
| 직접 화법 (Direct) | 간접 화법 (Reported) | 예시 (직접) | 예시 (간접) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
now
|
then / at that moment
|
"I'm busy now."
|
She said she was busy then.
|
|
today
|
that day
|
"I'll do it today."
|
He said he would do it that day.
|
|
tonight
|
that night
|
"We're leaving tonight."
|
They announced they were leaving that night.
|
|
yesterday
|
the day before / the previous day
|
"I finished it yesterday."
|
She claimed she had finished it the day before.
|
|
tomorrow
|
the next day / the following day
|
"I'll call you tomorrow."
|
He promised he would call me the next day.
|
|
last week
|
the week before / the previous week
|
"We went skiing last week."
|
They said they had gone skiing the week before.
|
|
next year
|
the following year
|
"I'll move next year."
|
She stated she would move the following year.
|
|
here
|
there
|
"Is anyone here?"
|
He asked if anyone was there.
|
|
this
|
that
|
"I love this song."
|
She remarked that she loved that song.
|
|
these
|
those
|
"These are my trophies."
|
He showed me that those were his trophies.
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
The director stated that the meeting would commence there the following day. (Workplace communication)
He said the meeting would start there the next day. (Workplace communication)
He said the meeting was there tomorrow. (Workplace communication)
He was like, 'meeting's there tomorrow'. (Workplace communication)
간접화법 시간 및 장소 변화
시간 표현
- now then
- today that day
- yesterday the day before
- tomorrow the next day
- last week the previous week
장소 및 지시사
- here there
- this that
- these those
왜 바꾸나요?
- 관점 말하는 이에서 전달자로 변화
- 명확성 시간/장소의 혼동 방지
- 논리적 일관성 새로운 '지금, 여기'에 맞춤
직접화법 vs 간접화법: 시간/장소
시간/장소를 바꿔야 할까요?
과거 시점으로 보고하고 있나요? (예: 'She said...')
직접화법에 시간이나 장소 표현이 포함되어 있나요?
전달자인 당신에게도 그 시간이나 장소가 여전히 똑같나요?
주요 변화 요약: 직접에서 간접으로
시간 표시
- • now → then
- • today → that day
- • tomorrow → the next day
- • yesterday → the day before
장소 및 지시사
- • here → there
- • this → that
- • these → those
과거 기준
- • last week → the week before
- • ago → before
미래 기준
- • next month → the following month
수준별 예문
He said he was there.
He said he was there.
She said she was happy then.
She said she was happy then.
They said they liked that.
They said they liked that.
He told me to go there.
He told me to go there.
He said he would call that day.
He said he would call that day.
She said she had seen him the day before.
She said she had seen him the day before.
They said they were leaving the next day.
They said they were leaving the next day.
He mentioned he lived in that house.
He mentioned he lived in that house.
She told me she had finished it two hours before.
She told me she had finished it two hours before.
He said he would be busy the following week.
He said he would be busy the following week.
They asked if I had been there the previous month.
They asked if I had been there the previous month.
She said she couldn't talk at that moment.
She said she couldn't talk at that moment.
The witness claimed he had seen the suspect there that night.
The witness claimed he had seen the suspect there that night.
She explained that those documents were ready for review.
She explained that those documents were ready for review.
He promised he would have the results by the following morning.
He promised he would have the results by the following morning.
They noted that the weather had been terrible the week before.
They noted that the weather had been terrible the week before.
The CEO remarked that the company had faced similar challenges the previous decade.
The CEO remarked that the company had faced similar challenges the previous decade.
He argued that the events of that day had changed everything.
He argued that the events of that day had changed everything.
She suggested that we meet there the following fortnight.
She suggested that we meet there the following fortnight.
They wondered why he hadn't arrived by that time.
They wondered why he hadn't arrived by that time.
The author reflects on how those fleeting moments defined his youth.
The author reflects on how those fleeting moments defined his youth.
It was stipulated that the funds be transferred by the following business day.
It was stipulated that the funds be transferred by the following business day.
He recounted the tale, noting that he had stood there exactly fifty years before.
He recounted the tale, noting that he had stood there exactly fifty years before.
The diplomat stated that the treaty would be signed there the subsequent month.
The diplomat stated that the treaty would be signed there the subsequent month.
혼동하기 쉬운
Learners often remember to change the verb (is -> was) but forget the time word (now -> then).
'Ago' is used for time measured from the present moment. 'Before' is used for time measured from a point in the past.
In direct speech, 'come' implies movement toward the speaker. In reported speech, the reporter is often elsewhere, so 'come' becomes 'go'.
자주 하는 실수
He said I am here now.
He said he was there then.
She said she likes this.
She said she liked that.
They said they will come tomorrow.
They said they would come the next day.
He said he arrived two days ago.
He said he had arrived two days before.
She asked if I was coming here.
She asked if I was going there.
He said he would do it next week.
He said he would do it the following week.
He said he is here today (when reported a week later).
He said he was there that day.
문장 패턴
He said he would be ___ the following ___.
She mentioned that she had seen ___ the day ___.
They told us to put ___ ___.
It was reported that the event had taken place ___ ___ before.
Real World Usage
He said he was going there tonight.
The client mentioned they would review it the following week.
I saw him standing there two hours before.
She told me she had seen them that day.
The Prime Minister stated that day that taxes would not rise.
The agent said the flight would depart at that time.
내 시점에서 생각하기
Adjust time and place words to match your current viewpoint.
두 가지 변화를 동시에!
Remember to change both the verb tense and the expression.
맥락이 가장 중요해요
Use your judgment, but when in doubt, shift!
문자와 공식적인 대화
Always make the necessary changes for clear communication.
Smart Tips
Immediately think 'before'. It's the most common mistake in B1 exams.
Check if you are still there. If you are, don't change 'here' to 'there'.
You can almost always use 'the' instead of 'that' to sound more natural.
If you are reporting it on Saturday, you can just say 'today'!
발음
Stress on the Shift
When reporting, we often put a slight stress on the shifted word (there, then, that) to emphasize the change in context.
Falling intonation on time markers
He said he'd arrive the next ↘day.
Conveys a completed piece of information.
암기하기
기억법
Think of the 'T' rule: Time and Territory (Place) always move Toward the past/distance (Then, There, That).
시각적 연상
Imagine a person standing in a spotlight labeled 'NOW/HERE'. When they speak, they are in the light. When you report it, you are standing outside the light, looking at them from a distance. The light is 'THAT' place and 'THEN' time.
Rhyme
If they said 'here', you say 'there'. If they said 'now', you say 'then' with care.
Story
A spy is listening to a secret meeting. The villain says, 'We meet here tomorrow!' The spy runs to his boss and says, 'He said they would meet there the next day.' If the spy said 'here tomorrow', the boss would go to the wrong place at the wrong time!
Word Web
챌린지
Look at your last 3 sent text messages. Try to report them out loud to an imaginary person, changing all time and place words correctly.
문화 노트
British speakers are more likely to use 'the following fortnight' instead of 'two weeks later' in formal reported speech.
Americans often use 'that' as a filler or to add distance even when not strictly required by grammar rules.
In news reporting, 'yesterday' is often kept if the newspaper is published the very next morning, but changed to 'Tuesday' or 'that day' in weekly magazines.
The concept of 'deixis' (pointing with words) comes from Ancient Greek. English developed specific adverbial shifts to maintain narrative clarity as the language moved from Old English to Middle English.
대화 시작하기
What did your boss say in the meeting yesterday?
Tell me about a promise someone made to you last year.
What was the last thing your best friend told you on the phone?
If you could report a famous historical speech, what would you say?
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
Test Yourself
He said he would call me ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
She told me she was here last week.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: '그녀는 그날 밤 그곳에 갈 거라고 말했어요.'
Answer starts with: ["S...
Score: /4
연습 문제
8 exercisesHe said he was ___ ___.
She said she would see me...
Find and fix the mistake:
He said he had finished the work two days ago.
She said she liked ___ ___.
You must always change 'here' to 'there' even if you are still in the same room.
B: 'What did he say?' C: 'He said he had gone to London ___ ___.'
Direct: 'Today' -> Reported: ?
1. Now, 2. Here, 3. Ago
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesThe news reported that the event would happen ___.
My mom told me to clean my room now.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: '그는 전주에 그곳에 있었다고 말했어요.'
단어들을 순서대로 배열하여 문장을 만드세요:
직접화법 표현과 그에 대응하는 간접화법 표현을 연결하세요:
She promised to send the documents ___.
He told us he will be here today.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: '그는 그들이 다음 해에 이사할 것이라고 우리에게 말했어요.'
단어들을 순서대로 배열하세요:
지시사의 변화를 알맞게 연결하세요:
Score: /12
자주 묻는 질문 (8)
Not if you are reporting the speech on the same day it was spoken. If someone says 'I'll call tomorrow' at 10 AM and you tell a friend at 2 PM, you can still say `tomorrow`.
It changes to `before` or `earlier`. For example, 'three days ago' becomes `three days before`.
Yes! Often `this` becomes `the` if the specific 'that-ness' isn't important. 'I like this book' -> 'He said he liked the book'.
Because 'come' implies moving toward the speaker. If the reporter is in a different place, the movement is now 'away' from the original spot, which requires `go`.
Both are correct. `The following day` is slightly more formal and common in writing, while `the next day` is common in speech.
It follows the same rule as 'today' and becomes `that night`.
Yes, especially in formal business emails where you are summarizing past conversations for a third party.
Usually, people will still understand you, but it might sound like the event is happening `now` or `here`, which can be factually confusing.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Cambios de tiempo y lugar
English is stricter about backshifting the verb along with the time word.
Le discours indirect
French often uses 'le lendemain' for 'the next day', which is a very fixed phrase compared to English variations.
Indirekte Rede
German relies on verb mood (subjunctive) more than adverbial shifts to signal reported speech.
引用 (In'yō)
Japanese does not require backshifting of tenses or time words as frequently as English.
الكلام المنقول (Al-kalam al-manqul)
Arabic often maintains the original time word if the meaning is clear from context.
间接引语 (Jiànjiē yǐnyǔ)
The lack of tense shifts in Chinese makes the adverbial shifts the *only* way to show time, yet they are often omitted if the context is clear.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
관련 동영상
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