1. 主要子句述語動詞為簡單過去式時,間接引句的時態變化為:

簡單現在式→簡單過去式;簡單過去式→過去完成式;現在完成式→過去完成式;

現在進行式→過去進行式。

I want to buy something to eat.

我想買點吃的。

He said he wanted to buy something to eat.

他說他想買點吃的。

I didn’t do anything wrong.

我沒做什么錯事。

He said he hadn’t done anything wrong.

他說他沒做什么錯事。

I haven’t eaten anything for a day.

我一天都沒吃東西了。

He told me he hadn’t eaten anything for a day.

他告訴我他一天沒吃東西了。

My stomach is making noise.

我的肚子餓得咕嚕叫。

He said his stomach was making noise.

他說他的肚子餓得咕嚕叫。

2. 如果直接引句中有表示絕對過去的時間的副詞,簡單過去式通常不必變成過去完成式。

I was arrested in March.

我是三月份被捕的。

He said he was arrested in March.

他說他是三月份被捕的。

3. 轉述假設語氣的直接引句變間接引句時或表示永恒真理時不改變時態。

If I were you, I would wait outside.

如果我是你，我就在外面等。

He said that if he were me, he would wait outside.

他說如果他是我，他就會在外面等著。

Father said, "Light travels much faster than sound."

父親說,"光比聲音傳播快得多。"

Father said that light travels much faster than sound.

父親說光比聲音傳播快得多。