Rumors and Gossip

Have
Mariayou
saidheard
that
Really! Viktor Larisa
the
the newsaid
latest that
gossip
teacher
No,
toldwhat
Wow! me is it?
that
Yeah, I the new
about
didn’t teacher
the
give new
any
students
heard he was had given all the
teacher?
homework.
could eat in
an easy students an A
his class.
teacher. last semester.
 Indirect Speech 1
When the reporting verb is in the simple past, the verb
tense in the indirect speech statement often changes.

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

Simple Present  Simple Past

Present Progressive  Past Progressive

Simple Past Tense  Past Perfect

Present Perfect  Past Perfect

 Examples 1
“The She said
teacher the teacher
is strict.” was strict.

He said
“The teacher the
is giving teacher
everyone an was
A.” giving
everyon
e an A.
 Examples 2
She said
“Somebody somebody
put the final
had put the
exam on the final exam
Internet.” on the
Internet.

“The
teacher has
graded our Joe said the
grammar teacher had
tests.” graded our
grammar tests.
 Change the direct speech
Practice 1 into indirect speech.

Example:
“My friend is helping me study.” She said…
She said her friend was helping her study.

1. “The library is closed.” He said…

He said the library was closed.

2. “We have registered for classes.” They said…

They said they had registered for classes.

3. “She got an A on the test.” You said…

You said she had gotten an A on the test.
 Indirect Speech 2

Modals often change in indirect speech.

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

will  would

can  could

may  might

must  had to
 Examples 1
“The test He said the test
will be would be
difficult.” difficult.

“You can She said we

use your could use
notes on our notes
the test.” on the test.
 Examples 2
“We may
She said we
have a
might have a
substitute
substitute
teacher.”
teacher.

“You must
study hard She said we
for the final had to study
exam.” hard for the
final exam.
 Change the direct speech
Practice 2 into indirect speech.

Example:
“You can relax about the exam.” She said…
She said I could relax about the exam.

1. “We’ll help you with your homework.” They said…

They said they would help me with my homework.

2. “Anna must finish her paper.” He said…

He said Anna had to finish her paper.

3. “She may take a different class.” You said…

You said she might take a different class.
 Indirect Speech 3
The following modals do not change in indirect
speech: should, could, might, and ought to.

“You She said I

shouldn’t shouldn’t tell
tell this this secret to
secret to anyone.
anyone.”

“You ought He said I

to tell this to ! ought to tell
a friend.” this to a
friend.
 Indirect Speech 4
The following do not change in indirect speech: the
past perfect, the present and past unreal conditional,
and past modals.

“If
“I I had have
“Icould
thought I had
studied, I would
chosen
gotten help He
He said
said ifhe
hethought
could
had studied,
have gotten
he had he
the easy
from
have an A.”
ateacher.”
tutor.”
gotten would
help
chosen have
thefrom
gotten
a teacher.
easy tutor.
an A.
 Change the direct speech
Practice 3 into indirect speech.

Example:
“We ought to study some more.” He said…
He said we ought to study some more.

1. “If I knew, I would tell you.” She said…

She said if she knew, she would tell me.

2. “I might have known the test was difficult.” He said…

He said he might have known the test was difficult.

3. “She had had that teacher before.” We said…

We said she had had that teacher before.
 Tense changes
The changes are shown in the following table
Direct speech Indirect speech
SIMPLE PRESENT SIMPLE PAST
“ I never eat meat, “ he explained He explained that he never ate meat.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS PAST CONTINUOUS

“ I´m waiting for Ann,” he said He said he was wating for Ann.

PRESENT PERFECT PAST PERFECT

“ I have found a flat, “he said He said he had found a flat.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

He said, “ I´ve been wating for ages” He said he had been wating for ages.

SIMPLE PAST PAST PERFECT

“ I took it home with me,” he said He said he had taken it home with him.

FUTURE CONDITIONAL
He said, “ Ann will be in Paris on Monday” He said that Ann would be in Paris on Monday.

FUTURE CONTINUOUS CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS

“ I´ll be using the car myself on the 24th,” he said He said he´d be using the car himself on the 24th.

14
 Adverbs and adverbial phrases of time
change as follows:

Direct Indirect
Today that day
Yesterday the day before
The day before yesterday two days before
Tomorrow the next day/the following day
The day after tomorrow in two days´time
Next week/ year etc. The following week/year
Last week/ year etc. The previous week/year etc.
A year etc ago a year before/the previous year
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