When it comes to indirect speech, one of the common challenges learners face is converting time-related expressions like “day after tomorrow” from direct to indirect speech. In this post, we will break down how “day after tomorrow” functions in indirect speech and how to correctly transform sentences involving this time reference.
What is Direct Speech?
Direct speech is when we quote someone’s words exactly as they were spoken. For example:
- She said, “I will visit you the day after tomorrow.”
In direct speech, “day after tomorrow” is the phrase that indicates an event will occur two days from the current day.
Converting to Indirect Speech
When converting direct speech to indirect speech, there are some essential rules we need to follow. One of the key steps is adjusting the time expressions like “day after tomorrow,” because the original time reference may no longer be relevant to the speaker’s present moment.
Rule for “Day After Tomorrow”
In indirect speech, time references like “day after tomorrow” are typically adjusted depending on the reporting context. Here’s how it works:
- If the original statement is made in the present or future tense, “day after tomorrow” is often changed to “two days later” in indirect speech. The exact phrasing will depend on the context and when the report is made in relation to the original statement.
Example 1: Simple Future Tense
Direct speech:
He said, “I will leave the day after tomorrow.”
Indirect speech:
He said that he would leave two days later.
In this case, the direct speech refers to an action that will occur in the future (two days from the day of speaking). When reporting this in indirect speech, we convert “day after tomorrow” to “two days later” because the speaker is not referring to the original “today.”
Example 2: Present Continuous Tense
Direct speech:
She said, “I am meeting him the day after tomorrow.”
Indirect speech:
She said that she was meeting him two days later.
Again, the same principle applies: “day after tomorrow” becomes “two days later” in indirect speech because the reporting takes place after the original statement.
Why Does This Change Happen?
The key reason for this change is that indirect speech reflects the speaker’s perspective at the time of reporting. “Day after tomorrow” is specific to the time the statement was made, but once it is reported, the timing needs to be adjusted. “Two days later” works universally as a reference to the same time frame, but it’s more suitable for a broader audience.
Conclusion
When converting direct speech that includes “day after tomorrow” to indirect speech, we generally change it to “two days later.” This adjustment helps make the sentence grammatically correct and ensures it fits the timeline of the reporting speaker. Keep this in mind next time you’re dealing with time expressions in indirect speech!
Let me know if you’d like further clarification or more examples on indirect speech!