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1 - Reported Speech - Statements

The document discusses reported or indirect speech. It explains that reported speech involves changing direct quotes into an indirect version by using reporting verbs like "say" and "told", and making other adjustments to things like pronouns, tenses, adverbs, and time/place expressions. The key changes are: 1) Using reporting verbs like "say" or "told" to introduce the indirect quote, 2) Changing verb tenses, known as backshifting, 3) Adjusting pronouns, adverbs, and time/place expressions to match the new context. Rules for these changes are provided for both statements and questions.

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Johny
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46 views

1 - Reported Speech - Statements

The document discusses reported or indirect speech. It explains that reported speech involves changing direct quotes into an indirect version by using reporting verbs like "say" and "told", and making other adjustments to things like pronouns, tenses, adverbs, and time/place expressions. The key changes are: 1) Using reporting verbs like "say" or "told" to introduce the indirect quote, 2) Changing verb tenses, known as backshifting, 3) Adjusting pronouns, adverbs, and time/place expressions to match the new context. Rules for these changes are provided for both statements and questions.

Uploaded by

Johny
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Reported speech

We use it when we want to retell what we or someone else said earlier or yesterday or some time before
We distinguish:

 Direct speech /priama reč/: „I have a car.“ he said.


 Indirect/Reported speech /nepriama reč/: He said /that/ he had a car.

Reported speech consists of 3 parts:


1. Reported statements
2. Reported questions
3. Reported imperatives /orders, requests, warnings, promises/

1. Reported statements
Rules:
In RS there happen some changes:
- pronouns, persons
- tenses – there is backshift of tenses
- shift of adverbs and adverbials

1. We introduce indirect/reported speech with REPORTING VERBS:


a. TELL ----- TOLD - we use tell sb - it’s important who we talk to
 She told me /that/………….
 They told their parents /that/………….
 Mum told Peter /that/………….
 He told that ………She told that …….
b. SAY ------ SAID -
 we use it when it is not important who we talk to BUT if we want to say it we use
particle „to“ before the object/person, e.g.
a. She said /that/.......
b. She said TO my sister /that/.......
 !!! We DO NOT USE say in reported orders and requests
 My parents said / told us / asked us to open the window in the room.

2. Reporting verbs are commonly used in the PAST TENSE.


If reporting verbs are in PAST form we have to change the tense of an original sentence:

„I´m going to the cinema.“ Keiko said she was going to the cinema.

– say and tell – if these verbs are in present tense we do not change the tense of an original
sentence from direct speech

„I have a car.“ he said. BUT He says he has a car.


3. We use backshift of tenses – see also WB/SB

Direct Speech Reported Speech


Simple Present Simple Past
He said: "I am happy" He said that he was happy
Present Progressive Past Progressive
He said: "I'm looking for my keys" He said that he was looking for his keys
Simple Past Past Perfect Simple
He said: "I visited New York last year" He said that he had visited New York the previous year.
Present Perfect Past Perfect
He said: " I've lived here for a long time " He said that he had lived there for a long time
Past Perfect Past Perfect
He said: "They had finished the work when I arrived" He said that they had finished the work when he had
arrived"
Past Progressive Past Perfect Progressive
He said: "I was playing football when the He said that he had been playing football when the
accident occurred" accident had occurred
Present Perfect Progressive Past Perfect Progressive
He said:"I have been playing football for two hours." He said that he had been playing football for two hours
Past Perfect Progressive Past Perfect Progressive
He said: "I had been reading a newspaper when the He said that he had been reading a newspaper when the
light went off" light had gone off
Future Simple (will+verb) Conditional (would+verb)
He said: "I will open the door." He said that he would open the door.
Conditional (would+verb) Conditional (would+verb)
He said: "I would buy Mercedes if I were rich" He said that he would buy Mercedes if he had been rich"

Modal verbs change:

Modal Direct speech Reported speech


can "I can do it." He said he could do it.
may "May I go out?" He wanted to know if he might go out.
must "She must apply for the job." He said that she must/had to apply for the job.
will "They will call you." He told her that they would call her.
NO CHANGE:

The modal verbs could, should, would, might, needn't, ought to, used to do not normally change.
Example:
He said, "She might be right." – He said that she might be right.

4. Shift of pronouns

„Your father isn’t here.“ My mom told me that my father wasn’t there.

5. Shift of adverbs and adverbials:

 Place, demonstratives and time expressions change if the context of the reported statement (i.e. the location
and/or the period of time) is different from that of the direct speech.

In the following table, you will find the different changes of place; demonstratives and time expressions.

Direct Speech Reported Speech


Time Expressions
today that day
Tonight That night

now Then/at that time/


yesterday the day before/ the previous day
… days ago … days before
last week the week before, the previous week
next year the following year, the next year
tomorrow the next day / the following day
At the moment At that moment
Place
here there
Demonstratives
this That/it/the
these those
 

 
 
 
 

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