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In Black, the Reported SpeechIn Green, the Direct Speech

M= Michel; W= Woman; S=Secretary

IMPORTANT: Pronouns and possessives

Direct Speech Reported Speech

I He/SheMy His/HerMine HersWe TheyOur TheirOurs Theirs

Tenses

Direct Speech Reported SpeechPresent Simple Past SimplePresent continuous Past ContinuousPresent Perfect Past PerfectPresent Perfect Continuous Past Perfect ContinuousPast Simple Past PerfectPast Continuous Past Perfect Continuous

Past Perfect Past PerfectPast Perfect Continuous Past Perfect ContinuousWill WouldCan CouldYesterday The day Before

1- Michael asked ifhe could speak to Mr Bell.M: Can Ispeak to Mr Bell please?

Could on the Reported Speech ------ Can on the Direct SpeechThe Past Simple on the Reported Speech ------ Present Simple on the DirectSpeech

Said/told: verb to use when reporting the speech.To say and To tell are the mostcommon verbs used to report a conversation: She said to him, she told me.

2- The woman said shewas sorry, but shehad only just started working there , andshedidnt know who Mr Bell was .W: Im sorry but Ihave only juststarted working here , andI dont know who Mr Bell

is .

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- She was sorry:Past simple on Reported Speech ----- I am sorry:Present simpleon Direct speech- She had started: Past Perfect on Reported Speech ---- I have started:Presentperfect on direct Speech- There on Reported Speech ----- Here on Direct Speech- She didnt know who Mr Bell was:Past simple on Reported Speech ---- I dontknow who Mr Bell is:Present simple on Direct Speech

3- She asked him to ring back later, whenher boss, Mr findlater,was there .W: Can you ring back later, whenmy boss, Mr Findlater, is here ?

- She asked him: Reported Speech ---- Can you: Direct Speech modal verb- Her boss in Reported Speech ----- My boss in Direct Speech because she isspeaking.- Was there : Reported Speech (Past Simple) ---- is here Direct Speech (PresentSimple)

IMPORTANT: As she asked, you will need to add a ? on the Direct Speech tomark the question.Ask introduces a question

4- Michael said hewould ring back later, andasked her if Mr Findlaters namewasHarry.

M: Yes, I will. Is Mr Findlaters name Harry?

Would in Reported Speech ------ Will in Direct Speech Asked in Reported Speech ----- question in Direct Speech

5- The woman said that itwas .W: Yes itis

Said introduces a statementwas: past simple in Reported Speech --- is: Present Simple in Direct Speech

6- Becoming excited now, Michael asked her whether she had ever noticed a tattoo onthe back of his hand.M: Have you ever noticed a tattoo on the back of his hand?

She had noticed: Past Perfect in the Reported Speech ---- Have you noticed:Present Perfect in the Direct Speech

7- She told him that he had a tattoo of an owl on his hand.W: Yes I have a tattoo of an owl

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Here, she says yes I have to confirm the question of Michael Have you ever noticed

8- When Michaels secretary came back to work , he asked herwho had given he r hisbrothers number.M: Who gave you my brothers number?

Here, the phrase When Michaels secretary came back from work is just anindication of context, situation, which doesnt need to be mentioned in the Direct Speech.These indications are for the listener of the Reported Speech, so that he can understandthat the conversation happens at a different moment, on another day.

9- The secretary told him that itwas not a phone number, itwas a bank account number

for Mr Bell, one oftheir customers.S: Itis not a phone number, itis the number of a bank account for Mr Bell, one ofourcustomers.

Was, Reported Speech ------- is Direct SpeechTheir customers in Reported Speech ------ our customers in Direct Speech

10- Thanks for this amazing coincidence; Michael had found his brother at last.

--- these are additional informations, not present in the Direct Speech.