Agreement of tenses in reported speech
Tense agreement in indirect speech works like this:
I think (that) I am going to leave (in half an hour). (present progressive)
I thought (that) I was going to leave (but in the end, I decided to stay). (past progressive)
I thought (that) I was going to leave (but in the end, I decided to stay). (past progressive)
I think (that) he will come (to my party tomorrow). (future)
I thought he would come (but in fact he didn't). (future in the past)
I thought he would come (but in fact he didn't). (future in the past)
I think he has lost his keys. (present perfect simple)
I thought he had lost his keys. (past perfect simple)
I thought he had lost his keys. (past perfect simple)
I think he has been working here for 3 years. (present perfect progressive)
I thought he had been working here for 3 years. (past perfect progressive)
I thought he had been working here for 3 years. (past perfect progressive)
Indirect speech is usually used to repeat what someone has said:
Bob said he would clean up his desk. Bob's actual words were 'I will clean up my desk'.
Bruno told me he was going to take a vacation soon. Bruno's actual words were 'I am going to take a vacation soon'.
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