witha “Yi Reported speech 1 (He said that ...) BY seuey this example situation: You want to tell somebody what Paul said. There are two ways of doing this: You can repeat Paul's words (direct speech): Paul said, ‘Vm feeling ill.” Or you can use reported speech: Paul said that he was feeling ill. Pave Compare: = t - direct Paul said,* I am feeling ill.” | In writing we use these quotation roy | marks to show direct speech. reported Paul said that he was feeling ill. BEE] When we use reported speech, the main verb of the sentence is usually past (Paul said that ... / I told her that ... etc.). The rest of the sentence is usually past too: © Paul said that he was feeling ill. © L told Lisa that I didn't have any money. You can leave out that. So you can say: © Paul said that he was feeling ill. or Paul said he was feeling ill. In general, the present form in direct speech changes to the past form in reported speech: amfis > was doldoes — did will + would are -> were havelhas - had can > could wantllike/know/go etc. > wanted/liked/knew/went etc. Compare direct speech and reported speech: You met Jenny. Here are some of the Later you tell somebody what Jenny You use reported speech: “My parents are very well.” 3 Jenny said that her parents were very well ‘I'm going to learn to drive.” © She said that she was going to learn to drive. ‘Lwant to buy a car’ J)SZ/ © She said that she wanted to buy a car. o ‘John has a new job.” She said thar John had a new job. = She said that she couldn’t come to the ‘I can’t come to the party on Friday.” party on Friday. ‘I don’t have much free time.’ She said she didn’t have much free time. ‘’'m going away for a few 5 She said that she was going away for a days. I'll phone you when I few days and would phone me when she get back.” got back. WEY 1he past simple (did/saw/knew etc.) can usually stay the same in reported speech, or you can change it to the past perfect (had done / had seen / had known etc.): O direct Paul said: ‘I woke up feeling ill, so I didn’t go to work.” reported Paul said (that) he woke up feeling ill, so he didn’t go to work. or Paul said (that) he had woken up feeling ill, so he hadn’t gone to work. 94 Reported speech 2 > Unit 48 Reported questions ~> Unit 508Exercises Unit 47 471 Yesterday you met a friend of yours, Steve. You hadn't seen him for a long time. Here are some of the things Steve said to you: 1m fiving in London. 7 haven't seen Diane recently. 2 My father isn't very well —\ fo 8m not enjoying my job very much. 3 Rachel and Mark are getting ——_ & 9 You can come and stay at my place married next month. 4S if you're ever in London pane a 4 My sister has had a we \ 10. My car was stolen a few days ago. I don't know what 11 I want to go on holiday, but | Frank is doing, can't afford it. 6 I saw Helen at a party in 12 Iiltell Chris I saw you. June and she seemed fine, Later that day you tell another friend what Steve said. Use reported speech. Steve said. that he was living in London. ce emunnnnnee cee He said that .. on oe ne on He - - . ss sw 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 co - 10 cs — a 1 12 47.2 Somebody says something to you which is the opposite of what they said earlier. Complete the answers. 1 a: That restaurant is expensive. Bs Is it? I thought you said ....W%.was. cheap. 2 a: Sue is coming to the party tonight. &: Is she? I thought you said she 3 A: Sarah likes Paul. B: Does she? Last week you said... 4 a: [know lots of people. Do you? I thought you said Jane will be here next week. : Will she? But didn’t you say a ne a: I'm going out this evening. &: Are you? But you said. Ff 4: Lean speak a little French, &: Can you? But earlier you said... 8 a: T haven't been to the cinema for ages. 8: Haven't you? I thought you said .... a st ional exercise 25 (page 316) 95Unit re) Reported speech 2 It is not always necessary to change the verb in reported speech. If you report something and the situation hasn't changed, you do not need to change the verb to the past: 0 direct Paul said, ‘My new job is very interesting,” reported Paul said that his new job is very interesting. (The situation hasn't changed. His job is still interesting.) Ci direct Helen said, ‘I want to go to New York next year.’ reported Helen told me that she wants to go to New York next year. (Helen still wants to go to New York next year.) You can also change the verb to the past: © Paul said that his new job was very interesting. © Helen told me that she wanted to go'to New York next year. But if you are reporting a finished situation, you must use a past verb: 10 Paul left the room suddenly. He said he had to go. (not has to go) You need to use a past form when there is a difference iveyou heard? between what was said and what is really true. For example: \ Joe & in hospital ‘You met Sonia a few days ago. sonia. Sey e She said: ‘Joe is in hospital.’ (direct speech) ° ~~ f Later that day you meet Joe in the street. You sa ‘I didn’t expect to see you, Joe. Sonia said you were in hospital.” (not ‘Sonia said you are in hospital’, because clearly he is not) you were in hospital Say and tell If you say who somebody is talking to, use tell: TELL SOMEBODY 1 Sonia told me that you were in hospital. (rot Sonia said me) © What did you tell the police? (not say the police) Otherwise use say: SAY SOMEBODY 10 Sonia said that you were in hospital. (so Sonia told that ...) © What did you say2 But you can ‘say something to somebody’: 15 Ann said goodbye to me and left. (not Ann said me goodbye) © What did you say to the police? TelVask somebody to do something We also use the infinitive (to do / to stay eté.) in reported speech, especially with tell and ask (for orders and requests): D direct ‘Stay in bed for a few days,’ the doctor said to me. reported The doctor told me to stay in bed for a few days. © direct ‘Don’t shout,’ I said to Jim. reported told Jim not to shout. 0 direct ‘Please don’t tell anybody what happened,’ Jackie said to me. reported Jackie asked me not to tell anybody what (had) happened. You can also say ‘Somebody said (not) to do something © Jackie said not to tell anyone. (but not Jackie said me) Reported speech — Unit 47 Reported questions — Unit 508e S = p ao Exercises 48.1 Here are some things that Sarah said to you: =~ Ive never been to the United States. | don't have any brothers or sisters. (Can't drive Jane has @ very well-paid job But later Sarah says something different to you. What do you say? Sarah YX Dave works very hard. Let's have fish for dinner. I'm going to buy a car. Jane is always short of money. My sister lives in Par I think New York is a grear place. Ler’s go out tomorrow evening. ve never spoken to Jane. But. you, said. Bur... LOU b we 48.2 Complete the sentences with say or tell (in thie correct form). Use only one word each time. 1 Ann ... 44... goodbye to me and left. 2 us about your holiday. Did you have a nice time? 3. Don’t just stand the something! 4 Lwonder where Sue is. She she would be here at 8 o'clock. Dan me that he was bored with his job. that I should rest for at least a week. Don’t anybody what I soon + HPS a secret just between us. 8 ‘Did she you what happened?” ‘No, she didn’t anything to me.” 9 Gary couldn't help me. He me to ask Caroline. 10 Gary couldn't help me. He to ask Caroline. z a g g 48.3. The following sentences are direct speech: (C Don't wait for me if I'm late. (Mind your own business. (Don't worry, Sue. X (Please siow st) Can you open your bag, please? ) G Could you get a newspaper?) VY (Horep-opt (wit you marry me?) Do you think you could give me a hand, Tom? Now choose one of these to complete each of the sentences below. Use reported speech. 1 Bill was taking a long time to get ready, so I ...told...him,.to.. hurry. up. 2 Sarah was driving too fast, so I asked 3 Sue was nervous abour the situation. I told .. . 4 Icouldn’t move the piano alone, so I ma 7 5 The customs officer looked at me suspiciously and 6 Tom was going to the shop, $0 I srmmnnnn 7 The man started asking me personal questions, so I 8 John was very much in love with Mary, so he «.... =a 9. I didn’t want to delay Helen, $0 1 ov.oonmn oceania ain — Additional exercise 25 (page 316) 97