Overview
Time expressions change when reporting speech from a different time: now → then, today → that day, yesterday → the day before, tomorrow → the next day / the following day, this year → that year, last week → the previous week, ago → before/previously.
Time Expression Changes
- now →then / at that time
- today →that day
- tomorrow →the next day / the following day
- yesterday →the day before / the previous day
- last week →the previous week
More Time Changes
- next week →the following week
- this year →that year
- an hour ago →an hour before / earlier
- soon →shortly / before long
When No Change Is Needed
- No time change when reporting immediately after or the same day.
- Same dayShe said she'll be here tomorrow. (still valid) ✓
- GeneralHe said he always arrives early. ✓ (no change)
When to use
Emails
He said he would send it the following day.
News
She said the meeting had taken place the previous week.
Conversation
He told me he had been busy that morning.
Academic
The report stated that the survey had been conducted the previous year.