English Verb Tenses and Reported Speech Rules

English Verb Tenses: Forms and Structures

Mastering English verb tenses is crucial for clear communication. This section outlines the affirmative, negative, and interrogative forms for each major tense.

Present Simple

• Affirmative:

  Subject + Verb (add -s/-es for 3rd person singular)

• Negative:

  Subject + do/does + not + Verb (base form)

• Interrogative:

  Do/Does + Subject + Verb (base form)?

Present Continuous

• Affirmative:

  Subject + am/is/are + Verb-ing

• Negative:

  Subject + am/is/are + not + Verb-ing

• Interrogative:

  Am/Is/Are + Subject + Verb-ing?

Past Simple

• Affirmative:

  Subject + Verb (-ed for regular verbs / irregular past form)

• Negative:

  Subject + did not (didn't) + Verb (base form)

• Interrogative:

  Did + Subject + Verb (base form)?

Past Continuous

• Affirmative:

  Subject + was/were + Verb-ing

• Negative:

  Subject + was not (wasn't) / were not (weren't) + Verb-ing

• Interrogative:

  Was/Were + Subject + Verb-ing?

Future Simple (Will)

• Affirmative:

  Subject + will + Verb (base form)

• Negative:

  Subject + will not (won't) + Verb (base form)

• Interrogative:

  Will + Subject + Verb (base form)?

Future Intention (Be Going To)

• Affirmative:

  Subject + am/is/are + going to + Verb (base form)

• Negative:

  Subject + am/is/are + not + going to + Verb (base form)

• Interrogative:

  Am/Is/Are + Subject + going to + Verb (base form)?

Future Continuous

• Affirmative:

  Subject + will be + Verb-ing

• Negative:

  Subject + won't be + Verb-ing

• Interrogative:

  Will + Subject + be + Verb-ing?

Present Perfect Simple

• Affirmative:

  Subject + has/have + Past Participle (Verb 3rd form)

• Negative:

  Subject + hasn't/haven't + Past Participle (Verb 3rd form)

• Interrogative:

  Has/Have + Subject + Past Participle (Verb 3rd form)?

Present Perfect Continuous

• Affirmative:

  Subject + has/have been + Verb-ing

• Negative:

  Subject + hasn't/haven't been + Verb-ing

• Interrogative:

  Has/Have + Subject + been + Verb-ing?

Past Perfect Simple

• Affirmative:

  Subject + had + Past Participle (Verb 3rd form)

• Negative:

  Subject + hadn't + Past Participle (Verb 3rd form)

• Interrogative:

  Had + Subject + Past Participle (Verb 3rd form)?

Past Perfect Continuous

• Affirmative:

  Subject + had been + Verb-ing

• Negative:

  Subject + hadn't been + Verb-ing

• Interrogative:

  Had + Subject + been + Verb-ing?

Future Perfect Simple

• Affirmative:

  Subject + will have + Past Participle (Verb 3rd form)

• Negative:

  Subject + won't have + Past Participle (Verb 3rd form)

• Interrogative:

  Will + Subject + have + Past Participle (Verb 3rd form)?

Reported Speech (Indirect Style) Transformations

When converting direct speech to reported speech, verb tenses, modal verbs, and time/place expressions often change. Here are the common transformations:

Tense Changes in Reported Speech

• Present Simple → Past Simple
• Past Simple → Past Perfect Simple
• Future Simple (will + infinitive) → Conditional (would + infinitive)
• Present Continuous → Past Continuous
• Past Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous
• Present Perfect Simple → Past Perfect Simple
• Present Perfect Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous
• Past Perfect Simple → Past Perfect Simple (no change)
• Past Perfect Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous (no change)

Modal Verb Changes in Reported Speech

• Can → Could
• May → Might
• Must / Have to → Had to (or Must if obligation remains)
• Will → Would

Time and Place Adverb Changes in Reported Speech

• Now → Then
• Today → That day
• Tonight → That night
• Yesterday → The previous day or The day before
• Last week → The previous week or The week before
• A month ago → The previous month or The month before
• Next week → The following week or The week after
• Here → There
• This → That
• These → Those