Page 280 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

5 tenses
A change of time may mean a change of tense.
Bill said that he didn't like the party ... (NOT Bill saM tlttlt he tkJem't like
the petRy •.. - when Peter is talking, the party is finished.) For details of tense changes in indirect speech. see 275.
6 dropping that
The conjunction that is often dropped, especially after common reporting verbs (e.g. say, think) in informal speech. For more details, see 584.
She said (that) she'd had enough. I think (that) you're probably right.
275 indirect speech (2): tenses
1 past reporting verbs: He said he didn't like the party.
When we report what somebody said or thought, it is usually natural to use different tenses from the original speaker (because we are talking at a different time).
BILL (on Saturday evening): I don't like this party. I want to go home now. (present tenses)
PETER (on Sunday morning): Bill said that he didn't like the party, and he wanted to go home. (past tenses)
It would be strange for Peter to say on Sunday 'Bill said that he doesn't like the party', just as it would be strange for Peter to say, on Sunday, 'Bill doesn't like the party yesterday and goes home'. The tenses used in indirect speech are usually just the tenses that are natural for the situation - see the examples below.
2 typical tense changes after past reporting verbs
will -+ would
DIRECT: The exam will be difficult.
INDIRECT: They said that the exam would be difficult.
simple present DIRECT:
- + simple past
I need help.
She thought she needed help.
INDIRECT:
present progressive - + past progressive
DIRECT:
INDIRECT: present perfect
DIRECT:
INDIRECT:
past - + past perfect
DIRECT:
IN DIRECT: can -+ could
DIRECT: IN DIRECT:
My English is getting better.
I knew my English was getting better.
- + past perfect
This has been a wonderful holiday.
Ann grew up in Kenya.
I found out that Ann had grown up in Kenya.
I can fly!
Poor chap - he thought he couldfly.
indirect speech (2): tenses 275
She told me that it had been a wonderful holiday.
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