reported speech definitive

Reported Speech

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Why do we use it ?

1. To tell people what other people have said.2. To repeat information that somebody didn’t

hear or didn’t quite understand.


HowHow do we use it ? When we report something which is always always

truetrue or what someone is saying or thinking nownow, we use indirect speech after “says”, “thinks”, “hopes”, etc., without changing without changing

the verb tense.the verb tense.

He says he loves rock music


“I love rock

music!”

They have said they are flying to Ibiza


“We are flying to Ibiza”


Grandpa - How are you, Tim?Tim - I am fine.Grandpa - What did you say?Tim - I said I am fine. Grandpa - What did he say, dear? Grandma - He said he is fine.

In this situation, we’re not really talking

about the past, so there is no need to

change the verb tense.


When we want to report what someone said to us in the past, then we need to introduce some changes involving…

Verb tensesPronouns

Time expressionsDemonstratives

Adverbs of place

Changes in verb tenses


Statements are usually reported with a past tense verb (said, told,…)

The form of the verb that follows “moves back ” in time.


Direct speech Indirect speechPresent Simple

Present ContinuousPresent Perfect

Past Simplebe going to

willcan

Past SimplePast Continuous

Past PerfectPast perfect or Past

SimpleWas / were going to

wouldcould

Other changes…


Personal pronouns

I I / He / she

we theyme Me / him / herus them

you him / her / us / them

Other changes…


Time expressions

now

today / tonightyesterdaytomorrowlast year

thenthat day / that

nightthe day before

the following daythe year before

Other changes…


Demonstratives and adverbs of place

thishere

thatthere

He said (that) he would see her the following month


I’ll see you next month

He said…

He said (that) he had lost his keys


I’ve lost my keys!

He said…

and turn to page 148


Complete the sentences using reported speech

1. “I can’t remember which exit it is”.

She said (that) she couldn’t remember which exit it was.



2. “I can’t find my mobile”. He said…

He said (that) he couldn’t find his mobile.



3. “We probably won’t get the message”. They said…

They said (that) they probably wouldn’t get the message.



4. “I’ve finished my exams!” She said…

She said (that) she’d finished her exams.



5. “The film will be on tomorrow.” They told us…

They told us (that) the film would be on the next day / the following day.



6. “I can’t stay here very long.” He told me…

He told me (that) he couldn’t stay there very long.



7. “I must leave at 6.30.” She said…

She said (that) she had to leave at 6.30.



8. “We’ve never forgotten our visit.” They told me…

They told me (that) they’d never forgotten their visit.



9. “I saw a man hiding in the bushes.” He said…

He said (that) he saw / had seen a man hiding in the bushes



10.“I don’t really want to see him.” she told me…

She told me (that) she didn’t really want to see him.


Reporting questions


We can report questions with verbs like askask, , wonderwonder, and want to knowwant to know.

In WH-questions we keep the interrogative pronoun.

The order of the subject and the verb subject and the verb is like in affirmative sentences.affirmative sentences.

We report “Yes/No questionsYes/No questions” using if / whether. if / whether.

They wanted to know where the zoo was


Where is the zoo?

They asked…

She asked if / whether the London train stopped there.


He asked…

Does the London

train stop here?

Complete sentences number 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9 on exercise B (page 148)



• “Where do you live?” • He asked me…

He asked me where I lived.Reporting questions



• “How many children do you have?”

• She asked him…

She asked him how many children he had.

Reporting questions



• “Could you take a photo of us?”

• They asked the woman…

They asked the woman if / whether she could take a photo of them.

Reporting questions



• “Will you be able to visit us?”

• They asked us…

They asked us if / whether we would be able to visit them.

Reporting questions



• “Did you arrive on time?”• He asked her…

He asked her if / whether she had arrived on time.

Reporting questions



• “Can you help me with the cooking?”

• She asked me…

She asked me if / whether I could help her with the cooking.

Reporting questions



• “How long have you been waiting?”

• He asked them…

He asked them how long they had been waiting.

Reporting questions



• “Can you confirm your date of birth?”

• He asked her…

He asked her if / whether she could confirm her date of birth.

Reporting questions


Reporting commands and requests


Commands are reported with tell + tell + toto infinitive infinitive

Requests are reported with ask + ask + toto infinitive infinitive

Notice that the negative form of an infinitive is “not to + infinitive”

He told me to wait.


He…

WAIT !!

My computer asked me to wait


My computer …

The authorities recommend not to use your mobile phone while driving


The authorities recommend…

We’re almost done!

Now let’s complete sentences 4, 6, 10 from the last activity.


• “Please fill in the application form.”• He told me…

He told me to fill in the application form.


• “Make sure you buy enough food.”• She told us…

She told us to make sure we bought enough food.


• “Don’t forget to bring your laptops.”• They told us…

They told us not to forget to bring our laptops.


Other reporting verbsWe often use other verbs that give a clearer idea of why someone said something (e.g. to apologize, to advise,…)These verbs can follow different different patternspatterns…

Verb + to + infinitive

agree decide offer promise

refuse threaten



refuse threaten


“OK, I’ll give you a lift”, said JennyJenny agreed to give her a lift


refuse threaten


He threatened to kill us


refuse threaten


He offered to help“Shall I help you?”, he said

Verb + person + to + infinitiveask invite advise encourage remin

dwarn tell convinc

epersuade beg


ask invite advise encourage remind

warn tell convince

persuade beg


“If I were you, I wouldn’t have any more

piercings”, she said

She advised him not to have any more piercings


warn tell convince

persuade beg


“Be careful and don’t drink too much at the

party”, my mum told meShe warned me not

to drink too much


warn tell convince

persuade beg


“Come on! You can play the piano!”, his parents have always told him.

His parents have always encouraged him to encouraged him to

play play the piano

Verb + (preposition) + gerund

deny suggest recommend regret accuseadmit apologize

forinsist

onthank

someone for



“I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to smash your computer”, he said

He apologized for smashing my computer

deny suggest recommend regret accuseadmit apologize for insist on thank s/o for


“I just want to know the thruth! Tell me the truth!”, he said

He insisted on insisted on knowingknowing the

truth



“I wasn’t even there ! I didn’t take it !”, he replied

He denied taking it


Let’s check!


“I’m terribly sorry. I’ve broken the vase”

She apologized for breaking the vase


“I’ll pay for the drinks”

Harry offered to pay for the drinks


“Sally, I think you should get a new job”

Sarah advised Sally to get a new job


“Peter, don’t forget to take the dog to the vet”She reminded Peter to take the dog to the vet.


“It wasn’t me. I didn’t shoot him”

He denied shooting him.


“Please, could you open the window, Helen?”

She asked Helen to open the window.


“Shall we get a taxi?”

She suggested getting a taxi.


“I stole the money”.

She admitted stealing the money.


Well done!

reported speech definitive

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