英文嘅 間接引述（reported speech） 嘅時候，時間、地點、指示代詞都要根據說話嘅時間轉換，因為講話嘅時間同原本講嘅時間唔一定一樣。
例子：
原話（直接引述）：
“Should I get my passport tomorrow?” — Mr. Lee
如果用間接引述（報告過去嘅話），就變成：
Mr. Lee asked if he should get his passport the following day.
- tomorrow → the following day：因為「tomorrow」係相對於講話嘅時間，而「asked」係過去式，所以要轉成「the following day」。
- today → that day / yesterday → the day before / next week → the following week 這啲都係類似規則。
簡單記法：
| 直接引述 | 間接引述 |
|---|---|
| today | that day |
| tomorrow | the following day / the next day |
| yesterday | the day before / the previous day |
| next week | the following week / the next week |
| last week | the week before / the previous week |
呢個轉換係間接引述入面嘅 時間一致性（sequence of tense） 嘅一部分。
喺英文入面，如果引述動詞係過去式（例如：said, told, asked），原本說話入面嘅時態通常需要「回溯」(Backshift) 一步。
| 直接引述 (Direct Speech) 嘅時態 | 間接引述 (Reported Speech) 嘅時態 | 例子 (Example) |
|---|---|---|
| 現在簡單式 (Simple Present) | 過去簡單式 (Simple Past) | She said, “I am happy.” $\rightarrow$ She said that she was happy. |
| 現在進行式 (Present Continuous) | 過去進行式 (Past Continuous) | He said, “I am working.” $\rightarrow$ He said that he was working. |
| 現在完成式 (Present Perfect) | 過去完成式 (Past Perfect) | They said, “We have finished.” $\rightarrow$ They said that they had finished. |
| 過去簡單式 (Simple Past) | 過去完成式 (Past Perfect) | He said, “I went.” $\rightarrow$ He said that he had gone. |
| 未來式 (Future - will) | 條件式 (Conditional - would) | She said, “I will come.” $\rightarrow$ She said that she would come. |
| 情態動詞 (can) | 過去式情態動詞 (could) | He said, “I can swim.” $\rightarrow$ He said that he could swim. |
💡 不變嘅情況 (No Backshift)
有幾種情況下，時態可以保持不變：
- 引述動詞係現在式：如果引述動詞係現在式（例如：says, tells），間接引述嘅時態通常唔變。
- He says, “I am ready.” $\rightarrow$ He says that he is ready.
- 陳述內容仍然係事實或仍然成立：如果被引述嘅內容係普遍事實或者到依家都仲係真確嘅，時態可以唔變。
- He said, “The earth is round.” $\rightarrow$ He said that the earth is round.
- She said, “I am sick.” (如果佢依家仲病緊) $\rightarrow$ She said she is sick. (或者 was sick)
- 原本已經係過去完成式或某些情態動詞：Past Perfect (had done), would, could, might, should 通常保持不變。
- She said, “I had arrived.” $\rightarrow$ She said she had arrived.
對於間接引述 (Reported Speech) 嘅疑問句 (Questions) 嚟講，答案係：**唔需要倒裝 (Inversion)，而且實際上係一定要用陳述句嘅語序 (Statement Word Order)**。
❓ 疑問句轉間接引述嘅語法規則
當你將一個直接疑問句 (Direct Question) 轉為間接引述句時，句型會由疑問句變為**名詞子句 (Noun Clause)**，用作引述動詞嘅受詞 (Object)。
1. Yes/No 疑問句
如果原本係一個 Yes/No 疑問句，你會用 if 或 whether 嚟引導子句，而且子句嘅語序必須是**主語 (Subject) + 動詞 (Verb)**，即係陳述句語序。
| 句型元素 | 直接引述 (Direct Question) | 間接引述 (Reported Question) |
|---|---|---|
| 結構 | 疑問句語序 (倒裝) | 陳述句語序 (唔倒裝) |
| 例子 | She asked, “Are you hungry?” | She asked if I was hungry. |
| 例子 | He asked, “Did she go?” | He asked whether she had gone. |
❌ 錯誤 (Incorrect): She asked if was I hungry. (倒裝 - 錯)
✅ 正確 (Correct): She asked if I was hungry. (非倒裝 - 正確)
2. Wh- 疑問句
如果原本係一個 Wh- 疑問句 (例如：What, Where, When, Who 等開頭)，你會用番原本嘅 Wh- 詞嚟引導子句，同樣地，子句嘅語序必須是**主語 (Subject) + 動詞 (Verb)**。
| 句型元素 | 直接引述 (Direct Question) | 間接引述 (Reported Question) |
|---|---|---|
| 結構 | 疑問句語序 (倒裝) | 陳述句語序 (唔倒裝) |
| 例子 | He asked, “Where is the book?” | He asked where the book was. |
| 例子 | They asked, “What did you buy?” | They asked what I had bought. |
❌ 錯誤 (Incorrect): He asked where was the book. (倒裝 - 錯)
✅ 正確 (Correct): He asked where the book was. (非倒裝 - 正確)
總結重點：
- 引述動詞通常用 asked, inquired, wondered 等。
- 間接引述句結尾用句號 (Full stop / period)，唔用問號。
- 子句入面必須用陳述句語序 (Subject + Verb)，唔可以倒裝。
- 時態同樣需要根據第一條問題嘅規則進行**回溯 (Backshift)**。