Answer:
Direct speech is when we pass the message of the speaker in such a way that the message is in its original state.
Reported speech is when we pass the message of the speaker in our own words, we paraphrase it.
In order to change direct speech into indirect we need to use verb say/s or said , tell/s or told (depends on the tense in direct speech). If we report a question or so, we omit the question mark/exclamation mark and we finish the sentence with a comma.
As for tenses, in indirect speech we use the tense that is one tense behind the used tense (present simple tense in direct speech - past simple tense in indirect speech). Also if the sentence in direct speech presents universal truth, we do not change tense.
We have to use pronouns properly too. If a sentence in direct speech begins with "I", we change it to "he" or "she", so it is a must to pay attention who is the speaker in direct speech.
We also need to change adverb of a sentence if needed. If someone says that he went somewhere yesterday, we change "yesterday" into "the day before" (tomorrow - the next day, here - there, now - then and so on).
1 l enjoyed the party last night,' Veronica said.
Veronica said that she had enjoyed the party the previous night.
My mum doesn't like this reality show,' Tom said.
Tom said that his mum didn't like that reality show.
3 We're going to visit the National Art Gallery tomorrow,' Mrs Jones told us.
Mrs Jones told us that we were going to visit the National Art Gallery the next day.
4 'Susan and Amanda will help me learn my lines,' said Natalie.
Natalie said that Susan and Amanda would help her to learn her lines.
5 I must finish my film review tonight,' Samantha said.
Samantha said that she had to finish her film review that night.
6 I'm watching an interesting documentary at the moment,'Dad said.
Dad said that he was watching an interesting documentary at that time.
7 'Matthew joined the drama group last month,' Bill told me.
Bill told me that Matthew had joined the drama group the previous month.
8 'My grandmother has seen The Phantom of the Opera, Vanessa told us.
Vanessa told us that her grandmother had seen The Phantom of the Opera.
Note: "that" can be omitted.
