Indirect speech in context (reporting verb in the present)

The reporting verb is often in the present when the reference is general or to 'present time' in contexts like the following - reporting, e g a rumour

A A little birdie tells me you re applying for a new job

B Who tells you?

A Never you mind!

Indirect statements with tense changes

- passing on messages
A Come in now Jim Dinner s ready
B What does your mother say?
C She says you must come in now dad (She says) dinner s

ready

- reading a newspaper, etc and reporting
A What does the article say?
B It s about the kitchen of the future The writer says we'II have

robots which can understand instructions and carry them out

- general (no special time)
A So how are we supposed to wire this plug?
B The instructions say that the brown wire means live and it goes

into the hole marked L It says here that the blue means neutral and it goes into the hole marked N

- reporting something someone says very often
Mary s always talking about money She s always complaining that
things are expensive and she s always asking how much I ve paid
for one thing and another

Indirect statements with tense changes

Form with reporting verb in the past

Actual spoken statements in the present (simple and progressive)

TOM / need to go to the bank PAM I' m waiting for Harriet

Indirect statements: present past

Tom said (that) he needed to go to the bank Pam said (that) she was waiting for Harriet

Actual spoken statement in the present perfect

I' ve moved to another flat

Indirect statement: present perfect past perfect (past perfect obligatory)

Sylvia said (that) she had moved to another flat

Actual spoken statements in the past (simple and progressive)

/ moved to another flat I was waiting for Harriet I had been waiting for hours before you arrived