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  1. Ex 1) Direct speech: He said " We lived here for 5 years" Indirect speech : He told me that they had lived there for 5 years.

Ex 2) Direct speech: He said " We have lived here for 5 years" Indirect speech: He told me that they had lived there for 5 years.

But how come I arrive at a conclusion when the indirect speech i.e, He said They had lived there for 5 years" does not specifically say whether they once lived there or the have been still living there? Could you pls help me how a context helps us to arrive at a conclusion on what exactly one is referring to( past simple or present perfect).

  1. Indirect speech: She said she had to leave. when we convert it into a direct speech, which of these is correct and which of these is she referring to? a) she said " I have to go", or b) She said " I had to go".

  2. Indirect speech: He said she had been writing when he had gone there. when we convert it into a direct speech,which of these is correct and which of these is he referring to? a) He said " she was writing when he went there", or b) He said " she had been writing when he went there".

  3. Indirect speech: He said Everyday the train passed by while she was reading a newspaper. when we convert it into a direct speech,which of these is correct and which of these is he referring to? a) He said " Everyday, the train passed by while she was reading a newspaper ", or b) He said " Everyday, the train passes by while she is reading a newspaper "

user394556
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    Yes; an ambiguity is introduced. You'd have to rephrase, for instance He told me that they had been living there for 5 years. // 'Indirect speech' is a non-count compound noun in this sense: you say 'This is a sentence using indirect speech' not 'This is an indirect speech'. – Edwin Ashworth Aug 03 '20 at 18:51
  • OMG!!! English can be ambiguous??? Say it isn't true!!!! – Hot Licks Aug 03 '20 at 19:00
  • I find it odd that you would change lived or have lived to *had* lived and then ask about the meaning, when you're the one who's changed it. He told me that they lived there for 5 years and he told me that they have lived there for 5 years are the more literal translations. The use of *had* is an unnecessary change. – Jason Bassford Aug 03 '20 at 19:35

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