oxford_guide_to_english_grammar

34 DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH PAGE 350
2 But we can use tell without an indirect object in these expressions.
Paul told (us) a very funny story/joke. You must tell (me) the truth.
You mustn't tell (people) lies. The pupils have learnt to tell the time.
3 After say we can use a phrase with to, especially if the information is not reported.
The mayor will say a few words to the guests. What did the boss say to you?
But when the information is reported we use these patterns.
The boss said he's leaving/told me he's leaving.
This is much more usual than The boss said to me he's leaving.
NOTE
With direct speech we can use say to.
'I'm OK,' Celia told me. 'I'm OK,' Celia said (to me). 'Are you OK?' Celia asked (me).
267 Changes in indirect speech
1 People, place and time
Imagine a situation where Martin and Kate need an electrician to do some repair
work for them. Kate rings the electrician.
Electrician: I'll be at your house at nine tomorrow morning.
A moment later Kate reports this to Martin.
Kate: The electrician says he'll be here at nine tomorrow morning.
Now the speaker is different, so I becomes the electrician or he. The speaker is in a
different place, so at your house becomes here for Kate.
But next day the electrician does not come. Kate rings him later in the day.
Kate: You said you would be here at nine this morning.
Now the time is a day later, so tomorrow morning becomes this morning. And the
promise is now out of date, so will becomes would. (For the tense change, • 268.)
Whenever we report something, we have to take account of changes in the
situation - a different speaker, a different place or a different time.
2 Adverbials of time
Here are some typical changes from direct to indirect speech. But remember that
the changes are not automatic; they depend on the situation.
Direct speech
now
today
yesterday
tomorrow
this week
last year
next month
an hour ago
Indirect speech
then/at that time/immediately
yesterday/that day/on Tuesday etc
the day before/the previous day/on Monday etc
the next day/the following day/on Wednesday etc
last week/ that week
the year before/the previous year/in 1990etc
the month after/the following month/in August etc
an hour before/an hour earlier/at two o 'clock etc
NOTE
When we are talking about something other than time, this/that usually changes to the or it.
'This steak is nice.' Dan said the steak was nice.
'I like that.' Paula saw a coat. She said she liked it.