Shifting Time: Common Time Word Changes Quiz

Tonight usually changes to that night in reported speech.

You should scan for time expressions and decide whether they need standard reported-speech conversions.

If nothing has shifted in time, words like today and now may stay the same.

The listener hears the report at a later time, so time words must match that new moment.

Last night usually becomes the night before in reported speech.

In reported speech, the word ago usually becomes before.

A, B, C, and D use the standard time conversions for yesterday, tomorrow, now, and last night.

We use the following year or the next year to show future time from the original speaking.

Last week usually becomes the previous week or the week before in reported speech.

In reported speech, now usually changes to then to show the time of the original speaking.

Tomorrow usually becomes the next day or the following day in reported speech.

Yesterday usually becomes the day before or the previous day in reported speech.

Tomorrow usually becomes the next day or the following day in reported speech.

Today usually becomes that day in reported speech.

Now normally becomes then in reported speech.

Yesterday should not change to the next day, and tomorrow should not change to the day before.

In D today should change to that day, and in E tomorrow should change to the next day, not the day before.

These are all standard time conversions when changing from direct to reported speech.

Tomorrow usually becomes the next day or the following day, not the day before.

We say that day to show the same day from the reporter’s point of view.