Reported Speech

Reported / Indirect SpeechWhen using indirect or reported speech,

the form changes. Usually indirect speech is introduced by the verb said, as in I said, Bill said, or they said. Using the verb say in this tense, indicates that something was said in the past. In these cases, the main verb in the reported sentence is put in the past. If the main verb is already in a past tense, then the tense changes to another past tense; it can almost be seen as moving even further into the past.

• : I don’t like it. • : I hate it.

• A: Amy, how did you get to class today?

• B: I came by car. • A: Sorry, I didn’t get that.

Yvonne, what did Amy say? • C: He said __________________. • A: Thanks.

• A: Amy, how did you get to class today?

• B: I came by car. • A: Sorry, I didn’t get that.

Yvonne, what did Amy say? • C: He said he had come by car. • A: Thanks.

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

simple presentHe said, “I go to school every day.”

simple pastHe said (that) he went to school every day.

simple past He said, “I went to school every day.”

past perfectHe said (that) he had gone to school every day.

present perfect He said, “I have gone to school every day.”

past perfect He said (that) he had gone to school every day.

present progressiveHe said, “I am going to school every day.”

past progressiveHe said (that) he was going to school every day.

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

past progressiveHe said, “I was going to school every day.”

perfect progressiveHe said (that) he had been going to school every day,

future (will)He said, “I will go to school every day.”

would + verb nameHe said (that) he would go to school every day.

future (going to)He said, “I am going to school every day.”

present progressiveHe said (that) he is going to school every day.

past progressiveHe said (that) he was going to school every day

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

auxiliary + verb nameHe said, “Do you go to school every day?”He said, “Where do you go to school?”

simple pastHe asked me if I went to school every day.*He asked me where I went to school.

*Note than when a Yes/No question is being asked in direct speech, then a construction with if or whether is used. If a WH question is being asked, then use the WH to introduce the clause.

imperativeHe said, “Go to school every day.”

infinitiveHe said to go to school every day.

• I’m sorry I’m late.• These salads are delicious.• What time is it? I don’t have a watch.• Excuse me, I’m looking for my

husband/wife.• Do those pizzas have meat in them? I’m

a vegetarian.• I have a PhD from Harvard University.• Do we know each other?• Remember me? We met at last year’s

party.

• The Indonesian foreign minister said that the summit was held not only as an ordinary meeting to commemorate old memories of cooperation among members of the two continents, but to help create a better future.

• The gallery's 16th century curator Dr Tarnya Cooper said the fake image of Shakespeare could be found on the cover of a number of Shakespeare editions found in book shops.

• Sitting in the place where Pope John Paul II lay in state following his death, Benedict thanked the cardinals for their support and faith.

• Hamish Hamilton and The Rude Corp claim that Madonna owes them $175,000 (£91,000) in directing and production fees.

• Judge Garzon says Spain was a key base for hiding, helping, recruiting and financing al-Qaeda members

Reported Speech: Statement

• 1) If the sentence starts in the present, there is no backshift of tenses in Reported speech.Example: Susan: "I work in an office." Susan says that she works in an office.

• 2) If the sentence starts in the past, there is often backshift of tenses in Reported speech. (see: Note)Example: Susan: "I work in an office." Susan said that she worked in an office.

Reported Speech: Statement

• If the sentence contains an expression of time, you must change it as well.

• Peter: "I worked in the garden yesterday."Peter said that he had worked in the garden the day before.

Complete the sentences in reported speech (no backshift). Note the change of pronouns and verbs.

• Helen: I want to tell you something about my holiday in London.

• Gareth: What does she say? • You: She says that __________________

• Helen: I went to London in July. • Gareth: What does she say? • You: She says that ________________

• Helen: My parents went with me. • Gareth: What does she say? • You: She says that _________________

• Helen: We spent three days in London. • Gareth: What does she say? • You: She says that _____________________

Complete the sentences in reported speech (no backshift). Note the change of pronouns and verbs.

• Helen: I want to tell you something about my holiday in London.

• Gareth: What does she say? • You: She says that she wants to tell us something

about her holiday in London.

• Helen: I went to London in July. • Gareth: What does she say? • You: She says that she went to London in July.

• Helen: My parents went with me. • Gareth: What does she say? • You: She says that her parents went with her.

• Helen: We spent three days in London. • Gareth: What does she say? • You: She says that they spent three days in London.

• Helen: Me and my parents visited the Tower. • Gareth: What does she say? • You: She says that _____________

• Helen: One evening we went to see a musical.

• Gareth: What does she say? • You: She says that ____________

• Helen: I love London. • Gareth: What does she say? • You: She says that __________

• Helen: Me and my parents visited the Tower. • Gareth: What does she say? • You: She says that she and her parents visited

the Tower.

• Helen: One evening we went to see a musical. • Gareth: What does she say? • You: She says that one evening they went to

see a musical.

• Helen: I love London. • Gareth: What does she say? • You: She says that she loves London.

1) John:"Mandy is at home."John said that ________________

2) Max:"Frank often reads a book."Max told me that _________________.

3) Susan:"I'm watching TV."Susan said to me that ______________

4) Simon:"David was ill."Simon said that _______________

5) Peggy:"The girls helped in the house."Peggy told me that ________________

6) Richard:"I am going to ride a skateboard."Richard said to me that ___________________

7) Stephen and Claire:"We have cleaned the windows."Stephen and Claire told me that ______________

8) Charles:"I didn't have time to do my homework."Charles remarked that _______________

9) Mrs Jones:"My mother will be 50 years old."Mrs Jones told me that ___________________

10)Jean:"The boss must sign the letter."Jean said that _____________.

1) John:"Mandy is at home."John said that Mandy was at home.

2) Max:"Frank often reads a book."Max told me that Frank often read a book.

3) Susan:"I'm watching TV."Susan said to me that she was watching TV.

4) Simon:"David was ill."Simon said that David had been ill.

5) Peggy:"The girls helped in the house."Peggy told me that the girls had helped in the house.

6) Richard:"I am going to ride a skateboard."Richard said to me that he was going to ride a skateboard.

7) Stephen and Claire:"We have cleaned the windows."Stephen and Claire told me that they had cleaned the windows.

8) Charles:"I didn't have time to do my homework."Charles remarked that he hadn't had time to do his homework.

9) Mrs Jones:"My mother will be 50 years old."Mrs Jones told me that her mother would be 50 years old.

10)Jean:"The boss must sign the letter."Jean said that the boss had to sign the letter.

1) Emily:"Our teacher will go to Leipzig tomorrow."Emily said that ___________

2) Helen:"I was writing a letter yesterday."Helen told me that _________

3) Robert:"My father flew to Dallas last year."Robert told me that _________

4) Lisa:"Tim went to the stadium an hour ago."Lisa said that _________

5) Patricia:"My mother will celebrate her birthday next weekend."Patricia said that __________

6) Michael:"I am going to read a book this week."Michael said to me that _________

7) Jason and Victoria:"We will do our best in the exams tomorrow."Jason and Victoria told me that ________

8) Andrew:"We didn't eat fish two days ago."Andrew remarked that _________

9) Alice:"I spent all my pocket money on Monday."Alice complained that ________

10)David:"John had already gone at six."David said that ________

1) Emily:"Our teacher will go to Leipzig tomorrow."Emily said that their teacher would go to Leipzig the next day.

2) Helen:"I was writing a letter yesterday."Helen told me that she had been writing a letter the day before.

3) Robert:"My father flew to Dallas last year."Robert told me that his father had flown to Dallas the year before.

4) Lisa:"Tim went to the stadium an hour ago."Lisa said that Tim had gone to the stadium an hour before.

5) Patricia:"My mother will celebrate her birthday next weekend."Patricia said that her mother would celebrate her birthday the following weekend.

6) Michael:"I am going to read a book this week."Michael said to me that he was going to read a book that week.

7) Jason and Victoria:"We will do our best in the exams tomorrow."Jason and Victoria told me that they would do their best in the exams the next day.

8) Andrew:"We didn't eat fish two days ago."Andrew remarked that they hadn't eaten fish two days before.

9) Alice:"I spent all my pocket money on Monday."Alice complained that she had spent all her pocket money on Monday.

10)David:"John had already gone at six."David said that John had already gone at six.

Reported Command• If you put a command into Reported speech

there are some steps which are the same like in statements: (changing of the person, backshift of tenses, changing of expressions of time).

• The form is mostly: form of to tell + to + infinitive.

• Affirmative commandsFather: "Do your homework.“Father told me to do my homework.

• Negative commands Teacher. "Don't talk to your neighbour.“The teacher told me not to talk to my neighbour.

• 1) Andrew: "Clean the blue bike!"• Andrew told me . • 2) Jessica: "Write a text message!"• Jessica told me . • 3) Nelly: "Help Peter's sister!"• Nelly told me . • 4) Fred: "Wash your hands!"• Fred told me . • 5) Anna: "Open the window!"• Anna told me . • 6) Tom: "Come at 8!"• Tom told me . • 7) Teacher: "Do your homework!"• The teacher told me . • 8) Doris: "Dance with me!"• Doris told me . • 9) Sabine: "Meet Sandy at the station!"• Sabine told me . • 10) Victoria: "Check your e-mails!"• Victoria told me .

• 1) Karen: "Don't play football in the garden!"• Karen told me . • 2) Teacher: "Don't forget your homework!"• The teacher reminded me . • 3) Mike: "Don't shout at Peter!"• Mike told me . • 4) Yvonne: "Don't talk to your neighbour!"• Yvonne told me . • 5) Denise: "Don't open the door!"• Denise told me . • 6) Marcel: "Don't sing that song!"• Marcel reminded me . • 7) Jane: "Don't watch the new film!"• Jane advised me . • 8) Walter: "Don't ring Romy on Sunday!"• Walter told me . • 9) Lisa: "Don't fly via Paris!"• Lisa advised me . • 10) Jamie: "Don't eat so much junk food!"• Jamie reminded me .

Reported Questions• If you put a question into Reported speech

there are some steps which are the same like in statements: (changing of the person, backshift of tenses, changing of expressions of time).

• In Reported speech there is no question anymore, the sentence becomes a statement.That's why the word order is: subject - verb

• Question without question words (yes/no questions):Peter: "Do you play football?" - Peter asked me whether (if) I played football.

• Question with question words:Peter: "When do you play football?" - Peter asked me when I played football.

1) Christopher:"Do you want to dance?"Christopher asked me ____________.

2) Betty:"When did you come?"Betty wanted to know _____________

3) Mark:"Has John arrived?"Mark asked me ______________.

4) Ronald:"Where does Maria park her car?"Ronald asked me ______________.

5) Elisabeth:"Did you watch the latest film?"Elisabeth asked me _________________.

6) Mandy:"Can I help you?"Mandy wanted to know ____________.

7) Andrew:"Will Mandy have lunch with Sue?"Andrew asked me __________________.

8) Justin:"What are you doing?"Justin asked me ______________.

9) Frank:"How much pocket money does Lisa get?"Frank wanted to know __________.

10)Anne:"Must I do the shopping?"Anne asked _____________.

1) Christopher:"Do you want to dance?"Christopher asked me if I wanted to dance.

2) Betty:"When did you come?"Betty wanted to know when I had come

3) Mark:"Has John arrived?"Mark asked me if John had arrived.

4) Ronald:"Where does Maria park her car?"Ronald asked me where Maria parked her car.

5) Elisabeth:"Did you watch the latest film?"Elisabeth asked me if I had watched the latest film.

6) Mandy:"Can I help you?"Mandy wanted to know if she could help me.

7) Andrew:"Will Mandy have lunch with Sue?"Andrew asked me if Mandy would have lunch with Sue.

8) Justin:"What are you doing?"Justin asked me what I was doing.

9) Frank:"How much pocket money does Lisa get?"Frank wanted to know how much pocket money Lisa got.

10)Anne:"Must I do the shopping?"Anne asked if she had to do the shopping.

• Q: Tom said, 'I want to visit my friends this weekend.'

• Tom said he wants to visit his friends that weekend.Tom said he wanted to visit his friends that weekend.Tom said he wanted to visit his friends this weekend.

• Q: Jerry said, 'I'm studying English a lot at the moment.'

• Jerry said he was studying English a lot at that moment.Jerry said he was studying English a lot at the moment.Jerry said I was studying English a lot at that moment.

• Q: Tom said, 'I want to visit my friends this weekend.' (B)

• Tom said he wants to visit his friends that weekend.Tom said he wanted to visit his friends that weekend.Tom said he wanted to visit his friends this weekend.

• Q: Jerry said, 'I'm studying English a lot at the moment.' (A)

• Jerry said he was studying English a lot at that moment.Jerry said he was studying English a lot at the moment.Jerry said I was studying English a lot at that moment.

• Q: They said, 'We've lived here for a long time.'

• They said they have lived there for a long time.They said they lived here for a long time.They said they had lived there for a long time.

• Q: He asked me, 'Have you finished reading the newspaper?'

• He asked me if had I finished reading the newspaper.He asked me if I had finished reading the newspaper.He asked me if I finished reading the newspaper.

• Q: They said, 'We've lived here for a long time.' C

• They said they have lived there for a long time.They said they lived here for a long time.They said they had lived there for a long time.

• Q: He asked me, 'Have you finished reading the newspaper?' B

• He asked me if had I finished reading the newspaper.He asked me if I had finished reading the newspaper.He asked me if I finished reading the newspaper.

• Mr. Smith: "Are you a student?""What did Mr. Smith say?"

• Ms. Washington: "What is your name?""What did Ms. Washington say?"

• Teacher: "Stand up, please, Maurice!""What did the teacher say?"

• Mr. Brown: "Don't speak now, Melissa!""What did Mr. Brown say?"

• Miss Claymore: "One month ago, I warned you to study for that test!""What did the Miss Claymore say?"

• Mr. Jones: "I will teach you how to do research on the Web.""What did the Mr. Jones say?"