How do you write speech in the past tense?

Here's how to write speech in the past tense, along with examples:

1. Use the Past Tense of Verbs

* Present tense: "She says, 'I love this book.'"

* Past tense: "She said, 'I loved this book.'"

2. Adjust Pronouns and Time References

* Present tense: "He asks, 'Where are you going?'"

* Past tense: "He asked, 'Where were you going?'"

3. Consider the Context

* Direct Quotes: Keep the original tense if the quote is intended to be directly verbatim.

* Indirect Speech: Use the past tense to report what was said.

Examples:

Direct Speech:

* "I'm going to the store," she said.

* "Can you help me?" he asked.

Indirect Speech:

* She said she was going to the store.

* He asked if I could help him.

Past Tense in Narrated Dialogue:

* "I'm tired," he mumbled, "I want to go home."

* "You don't understand!" she shouted, "I need this job!"

Tips:

* Be consistent: If you start with the past tense, use it throughout the dialogue.

* Use dialogue tags: "He said," "she asked," and "they replied" help to clarify who is speaking.

* Show, don't tell: Use strong verbs and vivid language to make your dialogue come alive.

Remember: Writing dialogue in the past tense requires careful attention to verb conjugation, pronoun usage, and time references. Pay close attention to the context of the conversation to ensure your dialogue flows naturally and accurately reflects the past event.