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Changing pronouns, time expressions and place references in reported speech.
Practice: build the sentences →Reported speech may require changes to pronouns, possessives, time expressions, and place references because the reporter has a different viewpoint from the original speaker.
These changes depend on who is speaking, when the original words were spoken, where the speakers were, and what remains true at the time of reporting.
She said, "I am tired." → She said that she was tired.
Она сказала: «Я устала». → Она сказала, что устала.
Pronoun "I" changes to "she" because the reporter has a different viewpoint.
He said, "I will call you tomorrow." → He said that he would call me the next day.
Он сказал: «Я позвоню тебе завтра». → Он сказал, что позвонит мне на следующий день.
Pronoun, tense, and time expression all change.
She said, "I am happy here." → She said that she was happy there.
Она сказала: «Мне здесь хорошо». → Она сказала, что ей там хорошо.
Place expression "here" changes to "there".
Personal pronouns may change when direct speech is reported from another person's viewpoint.
For example, She said, "I am tired" becomes She said that she was tired.
She said, "I am tired." → She said that she was tired.
Она сказала: «Я устала». → Она сказала, что устала.
I → she.
He said, "We are ready." → He said that they were ready.
Он сказал: «Мы готовы». → Он сказал, что они готовы.
We → they.
First-person pronouns in direct speech usually change according to the identity of the original speaker when the statement is reported.
For example, John said, "I need help" becomes John said that he needed help.
John said, "I need help." → John said that he needed help.
Джон сказал: «Мне нужна помощь». → Джон сказал, что ему нужна помощь.
I → he (referring to John).
Mary said, "I am busy." → Mary said that she was busy.
Мэри сказала: «Я занята». → Мэри сказала, что занята.
I → she (referring to Mary).
Second-person pronouns may change according to the person who was addressed in the original speech.
For example, She said to me, "You are late" becomes She told me that I was late.
She said to me, "You are late." → She told me that I was late.
Она сказала мне: «Ты опоздал». → Она сказала мне, что я опоздал.
You → I (the person addressed).
He said to her, "You can go." → He told her that she could go.
Он сказал ей: «Ты можешь идти». → Он сказал ей, что она может идти.
You → she (the person addressed).
Third-person references generally remain third person unless the reporter's context requires a different reference.
For example, She said, "He is busy" can become She said that he was busy.
She said, "He is busy." → She said that he was busy.
Она сказала: «Он занят». → Она сказала, что он занят.
He remains he.
He said, "They are coming." → He said that they were coming.
Он сказал: «Они идут». → Он сказал, что они идут.
They remains they.
Object pronouns may change when the person referred to in direct speech has a different grammatical role in the reported sentence.
For example, "He called me" can become She said that he had called her, depending on who the reporter is.
He said, "She called me." → He said that she had called him.
Он сказал: «Она позвонила мне». → Он сказал, что она позвонила ему.
Me → him (reporter refers to the original speaker).
She said, "I saw them." → She said that she had seen them.
Она сказала: «Я видела их». → Она сказала, что видела их.
Them remains them.
Possessive determiners may change to reflect the new speaker perspective.
For example, John said, "My car is outside" becomes John said that his car was outside.
John said, "My car is outside." → John said that his car was outside.
Джон сказал: «Моя машина снаружи». → Джон сказал, что его машина снаружи.
My → his.
She said, "My phone is broken." → She said that her phone was broken.
Она сказала: «Мой телефон сломан». → Она сказала, что её телефон сломан.
My → her.
Possessive pronouns may also change when the owner referred to in direct speech changes relative to the reporter.
For example, She said, "This book is mine" can become She said that the book was hers.
She said, "This book is mine." → She said that the book was hers.
Она сказала: «Эта книга моя». → Она сказала, что книга её.
Mine → hers.
He said, "The decision is ours." → He said that the decision was theirs.
Он сказал: «Решение наше». → Он сказал, что решение их.
Ours → theirs.
Reflexive pronouns may need to change when the person referred to by the pronoun changes in reported speech.
For example, John said, "I did it myself" becomes John said that he had done it himself.
John said, "I did it myself." → John said that he had done it himself.
Джон сказал: «Я сделал это сам». → Джон сказал, что сделал это сам.
Myself → himself.
She said, "I hurt myself." → She said that she had hurt herself.
Она сказала: «Я поранилась». → Она сказала, что поранилась.
Myself → herself.
This and these may change to that and those when the original speaker is referring to something that is no longer close to the reporter's viewpoint.
For example, "This is my office" can become He said that that was his office.
He said, "This is my office." → He said that that was his office.
Он сказал: «Это мой офис». → Он сказал, что это его офис.
This → that (distance from reporter).
She said, "These are my keys." → She said that those were her keys.
Она сказала: «Это мои ключи». → Она сказала, что это её ключи.
These → those.
That and those may remain unchanged when the reference remains appropriate from the reporter's viewpoint.
The choice depends on the physical and discourse context rather than on a mandatory reporting rule.
He said, "That is my house." → He said that that was his house.
Он сказал: «Тот дом — мой». → Он сказал, что тот дом — его.
That may remain unchanged if still appropriate.
She said, "Those were the best days." → She said that those had been the best days.
Она сказала: «То были лучшие дни». → Она сказала, что то были лучшие дни.
Those remains those.
Here may change to there when the reported speech describes a place from the original speaker's viewpoint that is different from the reporter's location.
For example, "I am happy here" can become She said that she was happy there.
She said, "I am happy here." → She said that she was happy there.
Она сказала: «Мне здесь хорошо». → Она сказала, что ей там хорошо.
Here → there.
He said, "Meet me here tomorrow." → He said to meet him there the next day.
Он сказал: «Встретимся здесь завтра». → Он сказал встретиться там на следующий день.
Here → there.
Come and go may change in reported speech when the direction of movement is interpreted from a different speaker or reporter viewpoint.
The choice depends on the location and intended destination relative to the people involved.
She said, "Come to my office." → She told me to go to her office.
Она сказала: «Приходи ко мне в офис». → Она велела мне прийти к ней в офис.
"Come" changes to "go" from the reporter's viewpoint.
He said, "I will go to London." → He said that he would go to London.
Он сказал: «Я поеду в Лондон». → Он сказал, что поедет в Лондон.
"Go" may remain unchanged if the direction is clear.
Today may change to that day when reporting speech from a later time.
For example, "I will finish it today" can become He said that he would finish it that day.
He said, "I will finish it today." → He said that he would finish it that day.
Он сказал: «Я закончу это сегодня». → Он сказал, что закончит это в тот день.
Today → that day.
She said, "I am busy today." → She said that she was busy that day.
Она сказала: «Я занята сегодня». → Она сказала, что занята в тот день.
Today → that day.
Yesterday may change to the day before or the previous day when reporting from a later time.
For example, "I saw him yesterday" becomes She said that she had seen him the day before.
She said, "I saw him yesterday." → She said that she had seen him the day before.
Она сказала: «Я видела его вчера». → Она сказала, что видела его накануне.
Yesterday → the day before.
He said, "I finished it yesterday." → He said that he had finished it the previous day.
Он сказал: «Я закончил это вчера». → Он сказал, что закончил это накануне.
Yesterday → the previous day.
Tomorrow may change to the next day or the following day when reporting from a later time.
For example, "I will call you tomorrow" becomes He said that he would call me the next day.
He said, "I will call you tomorrow." → He said that he would call me the next day.
Он сказал: «Я позвоню тебе завтра». → Он сказал, что позвонит мне на следующий день.
Tomorrow → the next day.
She said, "I will leave tomorrow." → She said that she would leave the following day.
Она сказала: «Я уеду завтра». → Она сказала, что уедет на следующий день.
Tomorrow → the following day.
Expressions such as last week can change to the previous week or the week before when the reporting viewpoint shifts.
For example, "I arrived last week" can become She said that she had arrived the previous week.
She said, "I arrived last week." → She said that she had arrived the previous week.
Она сказала: «Я приехала на прошлой неделе». → Она сказала, что приехала на предыдущей неделе.
Last week → the previous week.
He said, "I saw her last week." → He said that he had seen her the week before.
Он сказал: «Я видел её на прошлой неделе». → Он сказал, что видел её неделей раньше.
Last week → the week before.
Next week can change to the following week when reporting from a later viewpoint.
For example, "I will travel next week" can become He said that he would travel the following week.
He said, "I will travel next week." → He said that he would travel the following week.
Он сказал: «Я поеду на следующей неделе». → Он сказал, что поедет на следующей неделе.
Next week → the following week.
She said, "I am starting a course next week." → She said that she was starting a course the following week.
Она сказала: «Я начинаю курс на следующей неделе». → Она сказала, что начинает курс на следующей неделе.
Next week → the following week.
Ago may be replaced by before or an appropriate expression such as two days earlier when the original time reference is shifted.
For example, "I saw her three days ago" can become He said that he had seen her three days before.
He said, "I saw her three days ago." → He said that he had seen her three days before.
Он сказал: «Я видел её три дня назад». → Он сказал, что видел её тремя днями ранее.
Ago → before.
She said, "I moved here two years ago." → She said that she had moved there two years earlier.
Она сказала: «Я переехала сюда два года назад». → Она сказала, что переехала туда двумя годами ранее.
Ago → earlier.
Now may change to then or at that time when reporting speech from a later viewpoint.
For example, "I am busy now" becomes She said that she was busy then.
She said, "I am busy now." → She said that she was busy then.
Она сказала: «Я занята сейчас». → Она сказала, что была занята тогда.
Now → then.
He said, "I am working now." → He said that he was working at that time.
Он сказал: «Я работаю сейчас». → Он сказал, что работал в то время.
Now → at that time.
Time expressions such as this week can change to that week when the reporting perspective has moved into a later period.
For example, "I am working from home this week" can become He said that he was working from home that week.
He said, "I am working from home this week." → He said that he was working from home that week.
Он сказал: «Я работаю из дома на этой неделе». → Он сказал, что работал из дома на той неделе.
This week → that week.
She said, "I have three meetings this week." → She said that she had three meetings that week.
Она сказала: «У меня три встречи на этой неделе». → Она сказала, что у неё три встречи на той неделе.
This week → that week.
Then or at that time can represent now from the perspective of an earlier speaker when the report is made later.
The choice depends on whether the temporal reference needs to be made explicit.
She said, "I am leaving now." → She said that she was leaving then.
Она сказала: «Я уезжаю сейчас». → Она сказала, что уезжает тогда.
Now → then.
He said, "I am busy now." → He said that he was busy at that time.
Он сказал: «Я занят сейчас». → Он сказал, что занят в то время.
Now → at that time.
A time expression does not need to change if it remains accurate from the reporter's viewpoint.
For example, if a statement is reported on the same day, today may remain today.
She said, "I am busy today." → She said that she is busy today.
Она сказала: «Я занята сегодня». → Она сказала, что занята сегодня.
Today remains today if reported on the same day.
He said, "I will finish it today." → He says that he will finish it today.
Он сказал: «Я закончу это сегодня». → Он говорит, что закончит это сегодня.
Today unchanged with present reporting verb.
A place expression does not need to change when the reported location remains the same from the reporter's viewpoint.
For example, Here can remain here if the reporter is still in the same place being discussed.
She said, "I am happy here." → She said that she is happy here.
Она сказала: «Мне здесь хорошо». → Она сказала, что ей здесь хорошо.
Here remains here if reporter is in the same place.
He said, "Meet me here." → He said to meet him here.
Он сказал: «Встретимся здесь». → Он сказал встретиться здесь.
Here unchanged because location is the same.
Pronoun, time, and place changes are determined by reference and context rather than by a fixed mechanical substitution table.
The correct reported form depends on who said the original words, who is reporting them, when the report is made, and where the relevant people and objects are.
She said, "I am tired." → She said that she was tired.
Она сказала: «Я устала». → Она сказала, что устала.
Pronoun changes because reporter has a different viewpoint.
She said, "The Earth is round." → She said that the Earth is round.
Она сказала: «Земля круглая». → Она сказала, что Земля круглая.
No change: permanent truth.
He said, "I will come tomorrow." → He said that he would come the next day.
Он сказал: «Я приду завтра». → Он сказал, что придёт на следующий день.
Tense and time expression change.
In longer narratives, reported speech may shift references so that the reader can follow the reporter's current viewpoint rather than the original speaker's viewpoint.
This can affect pronouns, demonstratives, time expressions, and references to locations throughout a passage.
She said, "I will meet you here tomorrow." → She said that she would meet me there the next day.
Она сказала: «Я встречу тебя здесь завтра». → Она сказала, что встретит меня там на следующий день.
Pronoun, place, and time all shift.
He said, "We are moving next month." → He said that they were moving the following month.
Он сказал: «Мы переезжаем в следующем месяце». → Он сказал, что они переезжают в следующем месяце.
We → they, next month → the following month.
Formal reports often replace context-dependent expressions with more explicit time and place references.
For example, yesterday may become the previous day and here may become at the office when precision is important.
The manager said, "I will review the report today." → The manager said that he would review the report that day.
Менеджер сказал: «Я рассмотрю отчёт сегодня». → Менеджер сказал, что рассмотрит отчёт в тот день.
Formal: today → that day.
She said, "I will be here tomorrow." → She said that she would be at the office the next day.
Она сказала: «Я буду здесь завтра». → Она сказала, что будет в офисе на следующий день.
Here → at the office (explicit reference).
Pronoun changes also apply when questions are reported and the grammatical roles of the people involved change.
For example, "Are you going with me?" becomes She asked me whether I was going with her.
She asked, "Are you going with me?" → She asked me whether I was going with her.
Она спросила: «Ты идёшь со мной?» → Она спросила, иду ли я с ней.
You → I, me → her.
He asked, "Will you help us?" → He asked whether I would help them.
Он спросил: «Ты поможешь нам?» → Он спросил, помогу ли я им.
You → I, us → them.
Pronoun changes also apply when commands, requests, and advice are reported.
For example, "You must help me" can become He told me that I had to help him.
He said, "You must help me." → He told me that I had to help him.
Он сказал: «Ты должен помочь мне». → Он сказал мне, что я должен помочь ему.
You → I, me → him.
She said, "Please wait for us." → She asked me to wait for them.
Она сказала: «Пожалуйста, подожди нас». → Она попросила меня подождать их.
Us → them.
Change pronouns, time expressions, and place references only when required by the new reporting viewpoint.
Common mistakes include changing pronouns mechanically, changing today or here when they are still accurate, and confusing the original speaker's perspective with the reporter's perspective.
She said, "I am tired." → She said that she was tired.
Она сказала: «Я устала». → Она сказала, что устала.
Correct: pronoun change required.
She said, "I am tired." → She said that I was tired.
Она сказала: «Я устала». → Она сказала, что я устал.
Incorrect: pronoun changed mechanically to reporter's perspective.
He said, "I will call you tomorrow." → He said that he would call me tomorrow.
Он сказал: «Я позвоню тебе завтра». → Он сказал, что позвонит мне завтра.
Incorrect: tomorrow should change to the next day.
He said, "I will call you tomorrow." → He said that he would call me the next day.
Он сказал: «Я позвоню тебе завтра». → Он сказал, что позвонит мне на следующий день.
Correct: time expression changed.