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Time and Place References 
The following handout has some common “here and now” words (time and place words) 
that often change in reported speech.
In conversational English these words are used frequently. In business writing and in 
journalism, use specific days, dates and times to avoid any confusion. 
Look at the chart (following page) with the students, have them do the exercise in class, 
and correct together.
Homework Exercise 
Distribute the homework and go over the instructions.

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Reported Speech – Common Words of Time and Place 
 
The following words of time and place frequently change in reported speech. In 
journalism and in business documents, you should use specific days and dates to avoid 
confusion. 
Quoted 
this / these 
here 
today / tonight 
yesterday 
tomorrow 
next (Tuesday /week / year, etc.) 
last (Tuesday / last week/ last year, etc.) 
(two days / one week / three years, etc.) 
ago 
Reported 
that / those 
there 
that day / that night 
the previous day / the day before 
the next day / the following day 
the next (Tuesday / week / year) 
the following (Tuesday / week/ month / year) 
the (week / Tuesday / month/ year) before 
the previous (/ week / Tuesday / month / year) 
(two days / one week/ three years, etc.) earlier 
Practice Exercise 2 – Changing References in Reported Speech 
Change the following quotes to reported speech. You will need to make changes to verb 
tenses, pronouns and time and place words. Assume that you are reporting after some 
time has passed. 
 
1. 
Karen: “I’ll meet you tomorrow at noon.” 
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2. 
Karim: “My brother went to India last week.” 
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3. 
Halima: “I translated that document two weeks ago.” 
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4. 
Ferozpur: “There will be a press conference next Tuesday, at Balkh University.” 
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5. 
Hamid: “This is the best book on reporting that I’ve ever read.” 
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6. 
Yahya: “We’ll meet you here in front of the recording studio.” 
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