advancedSentence structure7 min
Reported speech
When reporting, tenses usually move one step back: 'I am busy' → She said she was busy.
In your language
മറ്റൊരാൾ പറഞ്ഞത് റിപ്പോർട്ട് ചെയ്യുമ്പോൾ കാലം സാധാരണ ഒരു പടി പിന്നോട്ട് മാറും: She said she was busy.
Statements
am/is → was · will → would · can → could.
- He said he would join later.
- She told me she could help.
Questions
Use normal word order and 'if' for yes/no questions.
- He asked where I lived.
- She asked if I was ready.
Common mistakes
He asked me where do I live.
He asked me where I live.
Quick quiz
1. 'I will call you.' → He said he ___ call me.
2. She asked me ___ I was free.