THE REPORTED

SPEECH
Grammar B1+
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 The Reported Speech
Types of changes

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 The Reported Speech
Types of changes

1. Verb tenses
2. People
3. Time expressions
4. Demonstratives

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 Changes: people
Direct speech Reported speech
I he/she
We you
My his/her
Our your
You I (usually)

First and second Third person

person

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 Changes: Time expressions
Direct speech Reported speech
Now Then
Today That day
Yesterday The previous day, the day before
Tomorrow The next/ following day, the day after
Next week / month The following week
Last week / month The previous week / month
A week / month ago The week / month before

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 Changes: Demonstratives
Direct speech Reported speech
Here There
This That
These Those

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 Changes: verb tenses
Statements and questions

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 Changes: verb tenses
Statements and questions

Past Perfect S Past S Present S

Anna: "I play basketball every Sunday".

Anna said that she played basketball every Sunday

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 Changes: verb tenses
Statements and questions

Past Perfect S Past S Present S

Past Perfect C Past C Present C

Anna: "I play basketball every Sunday".

Anna said that she played basketball every Sunday

Jack: "I was studying yesterday at 8 o'clock".

Jack explained that he had been studying the previous day at 8 o'clock.
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 Changes: verb tenses
Statements and questions

Past Perfect S Present Perfect S

Carla: "I have practiced basketball since I was 10".

Carla said that she had practiced basketball since she was 10.

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 Changes: verb tenses
Statements and questions

Past Perfect S Present Perfect S

Past Perfect C Present Perfect C

Carla: "I have practiced basketball since I was 10".

Carla said that she had practiced basketball since she was 10.

Mike: "I have been studying English for 5 years".

Mike explained that he had been studying English for 5 years.
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 Changes: verb tenses
Statements and questions

Future Past Future Simple

Sarah: "I will dance in a competition this month".

Sarah explained that she would dance in a competition that month.

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 Changes: verb tenses
Statements and questions

Future Past Future Simple

Could / Might Can / May

Had to / Should Have to / Shall

Sarah: "I will dance in a competition this month".

Sarah explained that she would dance in a competition that month.

Jordan: "I have to pass that English exam".

Jordan commented that he had to pass that English exam.
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 Changes: verb tenses
Questions

(S + V)
If/Whether + Sentence order Yes/No questions

Sandra: "Do you play basketball?"

Sandra asked if/whether I played basketball. we move the
verb back
one tense

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 Changes: verb tenses
Questions

(S + V)
If/Whether + Sentence order Yes/No questions

Wh- + Sentence order Wh-questions

(S + V)

Sandra: "Do you play basketball?"

Sandra asked if/whether I played basketball. we move the
verb back
Elliot: "Where do you study?" one tense
Elliot asked where I studied.
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 Changes: verb tenses
Commands and requests

to + base form Infinitive (Do this)

not to + base form Negation (Don't do this)

Ainhoa: "Dario, please stay quiet".

Ainhoa ordered Dario to stay quiet.
Reporting verb + object + (not) to-inf

Ainhoa: "Dario, don't talk".

Ainhoa told Dario not to talk.
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 Changes: verb tenses
Suggestions

gerund modal + base form

Diego suggested: "You should watch the Eternals movie".

Diego suggested watching the Eternals movie.

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 Notes: changes in the verb
1. The tense does not change when:

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 Notes: changes in the verb
1. The tense does not change when:

a) The reporting verb is in Present Simple

Sarah says: "I'm hungry" Sarah says that she is hungry.

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 Notes: changes in the verb
1. The tense does not change when:

a) The reporting verb is in Present Simple

Sarah says: "I'm hungry" Sarah says that she is hungry.

b) The verb in direct speech is in Past Perfect Simple or

Past Perfect Continuous
Carlos said: "I had already finished the shcool by the time my mom got home".
Carlos said that he had already finished the school by the time his mom got home.

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 Notes: changes in the verb
1. The tense does not change when:

c) The modals should, could, would, might, ought to are

used
Sofia said: "I might visit you later". Sofia said that she might visit me later.

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 Notes: changes in the verb
2. You can omit "that" without a change of
meaning

But be careful not to forget the subject

She said that she had turned off the music.

She said she had turned off the music.

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 Notes: changes in the verb
3. To report general truths or scientific facts,
you can leave the verb in the present tense or
move it back one tense

The teacher: an apple a day keeps the doctor away.

The teacher explained that an apple a day keeps the doctor away.
The teacher explained that an apple a day kept the doctor away.

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 Reporting verbs
Common reporting verbs

For statements: say, tell, explain, complain, admit, confess, estimate.

For questions: ask, want to know, wonder, inquire.

For commands and instructions: tell, order, remind, advise, warn, ask.

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 Reporting verbs
Careful: say vs tell

Say
They said that they loved their new house.

Tell is followed by an object

They told me that they loved their new house.

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 Reporting verbs
Different reporting verbs are followed by
different structures.

We can sometimes report the general meaning of the

sentence instead of the exact words. For that, we use
specific verbs that have a similar meaning
Carla said: "Perhaps we should order a taxi". (function: making a suggestion)
Carla said we should order a taxi. (exact words) or:
Carla suggested ordering a taxi.

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 Reporting verbs
Different structures

(1) Verb + gerund

Accuse someone of, admit, apologise for, blame someone for, deny, suggest...

Klaudia: "he copied my homework".

Klaudia said that he had copied her homework
OR
Klaudia accused him of copying her homework.

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 Reporting verbs
Different structures

(2) Verb + infinitive

Agree, decide, demand, offer, promise, refuse...

Karim: "we will go to a party this weekend".

Karim said that they would go to a party that weekend.
OR
Karim decided to go to a party that weekend.

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 Reporting verbs
Different structures

(3) Verb + that + clause

Agree, complain, confess, decide, explain...

My mom: "your bedroom is a mess".

My mom said that my bedroom was a mess.
OR
My mom complained that my bedroom was a mess.

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 Reporting verbs
Different structures

(4) Verb + whether/if + sentence

Ask, inquire, want to know, wonder

Adrián: "are we going to have an exam this month?"

Adrián asked if we were going to have an exam that month.
OR
Adrián wanted to know if we were going to have an exam that month.

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 Reporting verbs
Different structures

(5) Verb + object + to-infinitive

Advise, beg, invite, remind, warn...

Ainhoa: "you should start reading the book during Christmas".

Ainhoa said that we should start reading the book during Christmas.
OR
Ainhoa advised us to start reading the book during Christmas.

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 Do you have
any questions?

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