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
Reported Speech（间接引语）是一个非常重要的语法点。当我们向别人转述某人的话时，我们必须把视角从“原说话者”切换到“转述者”（也就是你）。由于这种视角的转换，时间（Time）和地点（Place）的词汇必须随之改变，这在语言学上被称为“指示词转换”（Deictic shift）。tomorrow 改为 the next day。如果我们在转述时不进行这种转换，听者就会产生困惑，不知道这个“明天”到底是指哪一天。这种对时间轴的精确控制是英语语法严谨性的体现。对于习惯了中文这种“时间词相对固定”思维的同学来说，学会根据转述的时间点来调整这些词汇，是提升英语地道表达的关键一步。这不仅是为了语法正确，更是为了确保信息传递的逻辑清晰，避免在职场汇报或社交聊天时产生误解。here（这里），而你在转述时身处另一个地方，那么原话中的 here 对你而言就变成了 there（那里）。I am busy now.，转述时，如果转述的时间点已经过去，我们必须把 now 变成 then，把 am 变成 was。这其实是英语“时态一致性”（Tense Agreement）的一部分。你可以把这种转换理解为一种“时空对齐”：为了让听者能准确理解原话发生的时空环境，我们必须把原话中的“近指”词汇（如 this, here, now）转化为“远指”词汇（如 that, there, then）。如果不做这种转换，就像你在微信上跟朋友说“我昨天在咖啡厅等你”，结果朋友以为你说的是“今天”，这在逻辑上就乱了。通过掌握这些规律，你就能像母语使用者一样准确地锚定事件发生的时空坐标。now | then / at that moment | 现在 → 那时 |today | that day | 今天 → 那天 |tomorrow | the next day / the following day | 明天 → 次日 |yesterday | the day before / the previous day | 昨天 → 前一天 |here | there | 这里 → 那里 |this | that | 这个 → 那个 |these | those | 这些 → 那些 |ago | before | 以前 → 更早以前 |- 直接引语：
He said,I will finish this task today.
- 间接引语：
He said that he would finish that task that day.
- 1职场汇报：老板在周一开会说
The deadline is tomorrow.
The manager said the deadline was the following day (Tuesday).
tomorrow，同事就会以为截止日期是周四，导致工作延误。 - 2社交八卦/分享信息：在朋友圈看到朋友说
I am here in Beijing now.
She said she was there in Beijing then.
- 3学术引用与叙事：在写论文或讲述故事时，为了保持叙事的一致性，必须确保所有的时间标记都符合叙事的时间线。如果不转换，整个故事的时间轴就会错乱，让读者感到困惑。
- 1忽视时间词的转换：这是最常见的错误。原因在于中文没有这种转换。学生习惯直接翻译，比如把
I will call you tomorrow
He said he will call me tomorrow
tomorrow是相对于说话时刻的，转述时必须根据转述时刻调整。 - 2地点词的误用：学生常在
here和there上犯错。中文里我们说“我在这儿”，转述时还是说“他在那儿”。但在英语中，如果你转述时人也在同一个地点，有时可以保留here，但如果地点变了，必须用there。很多学生因为不理解这种“空间相对性”，导致指代不明。 - 3指示代词
this/these的惯性思维：中文里我们习惯用“这个”来指代一切。但在英语中，当this脱离了当下的语境，必须变为that。例如I like this book
He said he liked that book
- 1问：所有的时间词都必须转换吗？
- 1问：为什么
this必须变成that？
this 表示“近指”，当你转述别人的话时，那件事已经变成了“过去”或“远距离”的事物，所以要用表示“远指”的 that。- 1问：如果我忘了转换，会被扣分吗？
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
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subject + said + (that) + shifted time/place
|
He said he was there that day.
|
|
Negative
|
Subject + said + (that) + not + shifted time/place
|
She said she wasn't there then.
|
|
Question
|
Subject + asked + if/wh- + shifted time/place
|
He asked if I would be there the next day.
|
|
Command
|
Subject + told + object + to + verb + there
|
She told him to go there immediately.
|
|
Past Reference
|
Subject + said + had + verb3 + before
|
They said they had finished two days before.
|
|
Future Reference
|
Subject + said + would + verb + the following...
|
I said I would call the following week.
|
正式程度
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)
The Distance Shift
Time
- Now -> Then Time shift
- Today -> That day Date shift
Place
- Here -> There Location shift
- This -> That Object shift
Direct vs. Indirect Perspective
Should I shift the word?
Are you in the same place as the speaker?
Is it still the same day?
按水平分级的例句
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.
容易混淆
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'.
常见错误
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.
句型
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.
The 'Still There' Rule
Avoid 'Ago'
Tomorrow's Trouble
Formal vs Informal
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'!
发音
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.
记住它
记忆技巧
Think of the 'T' rule: Time and Territory (Place) always move Toward the past/distance (Then, There, That).
视觉联想
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
挑战
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.
文化笔记
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.
对话开场白
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?
日记主题
常见错误
Test Yourself
He 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: ?
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
练习题
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: 'Él dijo que había estado allí la semana anterior.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the direct speech expressions with their reported speech forms:
She promised to send the documents ___.
He told us he will be here today.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Nos dijo que se mudarían el año siguiente.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the direct speech expressions with their reported speech forms:
Score: /12
常见问题 (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
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