1 Reported speech is when we tell someone what another person said.
To do this, we can use direct speech or
indirect speech.
Direct speech: “I work in a bank,” said Daniel.
Indirect speech: Daniel said that he worked in
a bank. 2 ● In indirect speech, we often use a tense which is 'further back' in the past (e.g. worked) than the tense originally used (e.g. work). This is called 'backshift’.
● We also may need to change other words
that were used, for example pronouns. 3 General rules: 1. When the introductory verb (say, tell, inform, state, claim…) is in the present, present perfect or future tense, no change in tense or adverbs of time and place is necessary
Direct speech: He says: “I don’t understand this question”. Reported speech: He says that he doesn’t understand this question. 4 2. When the introductory verb is in the Past Tense, there is a change of tense and adverbs of time and place.
Direct speech: He said: “I don’t understand this question”. Reported speech: He said that he didn’t understand that question.
5 CHANGE OF TENSES: ● DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH
● present 🡪 past ● present perfect 🡪 past perfect ● past 🡪 past perfect ● future 🡪 past future
Shakespeare said, “I will Shakespeare said that he
write another drama would write another drama the tomorrow.” next day. 6 Possessive Adjectives
Direct speech Indirect speech
My/mine His/her(s) Your our/ my Our Their If you are the person or one of the people who spoke, then the pronouns don't change.
'I'm working on my thesis,' I said.
I told her that I was working on my thesis. 7 CHANGE OF ADVERBS OF TIME & PLACE
● DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH
● yesterday 🡪 the day before
● tomorrow 🡪 the next/following day ● next day/week 🡪 the following day/week ● today 🡪 that day ● here 🡪 there
8 CHANGE OF IMPERATIVE (COMMANDS, WARNINGS, REQUESTS) ● Direct speech: He said: “Go home.” ● Reported speech: He told me to go home. (Infinitive)
● “Stay in bed for a few days”, the doctor told me.
🡪 The doctor told me to stay in bed for a few days. ● “Don’t shout”, I said to Jim. 🡪 I told Jim not to shout. 9 Reporting Verbs
Add, comment, explain, offer, state, admit,
complain, hint, order, suggest, advise, confess, inform, point out, threaten, agree, confirm, insist, promise, warn, announce, continue, interrupt, protest, wonder, answer, cry, shout, maintain, repeat, ask, demand, note, reply, claim, enquire, observe, shout 10 CHANGE OF QUESTIONS a) YES-NO-questions: we introduce conjunction if or whether D.S. He asked me: “Do you find law interesting?” R.S. He asked me if I found law interesting. a) WH-questions: Word order changes into that of a statement. D.R. “What are you doing?” R.P: She asked us what we were doing. 11 ● D.S. The police officer said to us: “Where are you going?” ● R.S. The police officer asked us where we were going.
● D.S. Clare said: “What time do the banks
close?” ● R.S. Clare wanted to know what time the banks closed.
12 SAY and TELL ● If you say who you are talking to, use tell: ⚪ Sonia told me that you were ill. (not “Sonia said me”) ⚪ What did you tell the police? (not “say the police”) ● Otherwise use say: ⚪ Sonia said that you were ill. (not “Sonia told that..”) ⚪ What did you say? ● But you can “say something to somebody”: ⚪ Ann said goodbye to me and left. (not “Ann said me goodbye.”) ⚪ What did you say to the police?
13 Exercises
14 ● The following sentences are direct speech:
Please slow Don’t Don’t wait for Will you down! worry, me if I’m late. marry me? Sue.
Now choose one of these to complete each
sentence below. Use the reported speech. 1) Sarah was driving too fast, so I asked….. 2) I didn’t want to delay Ann, so I told….. 3) John was in love with Mary, so he…. 4) Sue was very pessimistic about the situation. I told…. 15 ● Complete the sentences with SAY or TELL.
1. Ann …. goodbye to me and left.
2. …. us about your holidays. Did you have a nice time? 3. Jack …. me that he was fed up with his job. 4. Don’t …. anybody what I …. It’s a secret just between us. 5. George couldn’t help me. He …. me to ask Kate. 6. George couldn’t help me. He …. to ask Kate. 7. I wonder where Sue is. She …. she would be here at 8 o’clock. 8. The doctor …. that I should rest for at least a week.
☺ 16 1. “I’m going out now, but I’ll be in by nine”, he said. 2. “I can’t live on my basic salary”, said Peter. “I’ll have to offer to do overtime.” 3. “We are waiting for the school bus”, said the children. “It is late again.” 4. “The ice will soon be hard enough to skate on”, said Tom. “I’ll look for my skates when I get home”, Ann said. 5. “Don’t lend Harry any money”, Lucy told us. “He never pays his debts.” 6. “Get into the right lane”, said the driving instructor. 7. “Who has been using my typewriter?” my mother asked. 8. “Would you like to come with us?” they asked. 17 1. He said that he was going out then, but he would be in by nine. 2. Peter said that he couldn’t live on his basic salary and that he would have to offer to do overtime. 3. The children said that they were waiting for the school bus and it was late again. 4. Tom told Anne that the ice would soon be hard enough to skate on. Anne replied that she would look for her skates when she got home. 5. Lucy told us to not lend Harry any money as he never paid his debts. 6. The driving instructor ordered us to get into the right lane. 7. My mother asked who had been using her typewriter. 8. They asked us if we would like to go with them. Further exercises
