Grammar Reported Speech

• TABLE: CHANGES IN REPORTED SPEECH (WHEN REPORTING VERB IS IN THE PAST)

Direct Speech Reported Speech

present simple past simple

present continuous past continuous

present perfect past perfect

past simple past perfect

will would

can could

may might

must had to

Direct Reported

now then

today that day

tomorrow the next day / the following day

yesterday the day before

ago before

this that

these those

here there

• TYPES OF REPORTED SPEECH

1. Reported Statements

Structure: Reporting verb + that + clause

Example:

Direct: She said, "I am tired."

Reported: She said that she was tired.

Another example

Direct: Ali said, "I will travel tomorrow."

Reported: Ali said that he would travel the next day.

Common verbs: say, tell, explain, mention, state, declare, add, report

2. Reported Commands and Requests

Structure: Verb + object + to + infinitive

Examples

Direct: "Open the door," she said.

Reported: She told me to open the door.

Direct: "Please help me."

Reported: She asked me to help her.

Negative commands

Direct: "Don't smoke."

Reported: He told them not to smoke.

3. Reported Questions

Yes / No Questions

Use if/whether

Direct
She said, "Are you ready?"

Reported
She asked if I was ready.

• WH-questions

Keep the question word

Direct: He said, "Where do you live?"

Reported: He asked where I lived.

Important change

No inversion in reported speech.

Incorrect
He asked where did I live

Correct
He asked where I lived
PART 4 — REPORTING VERBS

• Reporting verbs are used to describe how something is said.

• Table of Reporting Verbs

Verbs + that Verbs + Verbs + infinitive Verbs + preposition + Verbs + object +

+ clause gerund (-ing) (to + verb) gerund infinitive

say admit agree apologise for advise

tell deny offer complain about ask

state suggest promise insist on beg

declare recommend refuse object to encourage

explain mention threaten congratulate on invite

add report decide accuse of order

point out acknowledge plan blame for persuade

stress anticipate attempt warn remind

claim consider choose criticise for tell

insist propose fail thank for teach

admit recall learn praise for force

deny resent manage approve of enable

agree avoid prepare succeed in permit

announce appreciate intend prevent from allow

confirm regret undertake forgive for encourage

maintain risk seek talk about convince

Structure Example

warn + someone + to + verb The teacher warned us to work harder.

warn + someone + not to + verb She warned me not to touch the fire.

warn + someone + about + noun He warned them about the danger.

warn + someone + that + clause The doctor warned him that he needed rest.

warn against + noun/verb-ing Experts warn against smoking.

Direct Speech Reported Speech

1. He said, “I am tired.” 1. He said that he was tired.

2. She said, “The meeting is cancelled.” 2. She told me that the meeting was cancelled.

3. The report stated, “The results are positive.” 3. The report stated that the results were positive.

4. She said, “The problem is complex.” 4. She explained that the problem was complex.

5. He said, “Further research is necessary.” 5. He added that further research was necessary.

Direct Speech Reported Speech

1. She said, “The policy is ineffective.” 1. She pointed out that the policy was ineffective.
2. The minister stressed that cooperation was essential.
2. The minister said, “Cooperation is essential.” 3. He claimed that he had seen the accident.
3. He said, “I have seen the accident.” 4. She insisted that she was innocent.
5. They agreed that change was necessary.
4. She said, “I am innocent.” 6. He admitted that he had made a mistake.
7. She denied that she had stolen the money.
5. They said, “Change is necessary.”

6. He said, “I have made a mistake.”

7. She said, “I have not stolen the money.”

Direct Speech Reported Speech

1. He said, “I stole the money.” 1. He admitted stealing the money.

2. She said, “I didn’t break the window.” 2. She denied breaking the window.

3. She said, “Let’s go to the cinema.” 3. She suggested going to the cinema.

4. The doctor said, “You should take a rest.” 4. The doctor recommended taking a rest.

5. He said, “I have met her before.” 5. He mentioned meeting her before.

6. They said, “We saw smoke in the building.” 6. They reported seeing smoke in the building.

Direct Speech Reported Speech

1. She said, “I will help you.” 1. She agreed to help us.

2. He said, “I will return soon.” 2. He promised to return soon.

3. She said, “I won’t answer the question.” 3. She refused to answer the question.

4. He said, “I will carry the bags.” 4. He offered to carry the bags.

5. They said, “We will postpone the meeting.” 5. They decided to postpone the meeting.

6. He said, “I will call the police.” 6. He threatened to call the police.

 • 1. Verbs + that + clause-These verbs are usually followed by that + subject + verb.

Exercise

1. He said, "I am tired."

2. She told me, "The meeting is cancelled."
3. The report stated, "The results are positive."
4. She explained, "The problem is complex."
5. He added, "Further research is necessary."
6. He mentioned, "The project has failed."
7. She pointed out, "The policy is ineffective."
8. The minister stressed, "Cooperation is essential."
9. He claimed, "I have seen the accident."
10. She insisted, "I am innocent."
11. They agreed, "Change is necessary."
12. He admitted, "I have made a mistake."
13. She denied, "I have not stolen the money."

Answers

Reporting Verb Example

say He said that he was tired.

tell She told me that the meeting was cancelled.

state The report stated that the results were positive.

explain She explained that the problem was complex.

add He added that further research was necessary.

mention He mentioned that the project had failed.

point out She pointed out that the policy was ineffective.

stress The minister stressed that cooperation was essential.

claim He claimed that he had seen the accident.

insist She insisted that she was innocent.

agree They agreed that change was necessary.

admit He admitted that he had made a mistake.

deny She denied that she had stolen the money.

• Exercise

1. He admitted, "I stole the money."

2. She denied, "I didn’t break the window."
3. She suggested, "Let’s go to the cinema."
4. The doctor recommended, "You should take a rest."
5. He mentioned, "I have met her before."
6. They reported, "We saw smoke in the building."
 • 2. Verbs + Gerund (-ing): These verbs are followed by verb + ing.

Answers

Reporting Verb Example

admit He admitted stealing the money.

deny She denied breaking the window.

suggest She suggested going to the cinema.

recommend The doctor recommended taking a rest.

mention He mentioned meeting her before.

report They reported seeing smoke in the building.

Exercise:

1. She said, “I will help you.”

2. He said, “I will return soon.”

3. She said, “I won’t answer the question.”

4. He said, “I will carry the bags.”

5. They said, “We will postpone the meeting.”

6. He said, “I will call the police.”

Answers

Reporting Verb Example

agree She agreed to help us.

promise He promised to return soon.

refuse She refused to answer the question.

offer He offered to carry the bags.

decide They decided to postpone the meeting.

threaten He threatened to call the police.

 4. Verbs + Preposition + Gerund: These verbs require a preposition before the -ing form.

Reporting Verb Example

accuse someone of They accused him of stealing the money.

blame someone for She blamed him for breaking the window.

apologise for He apologised for arriving late.

complain about She complained about working too much.

insist on He insisted on paying the bill.

congratulate someone on They congratulated her on winning the prize.

1. She said, “Wait outside.” 1. She told me to wait outside.

2. He said, “Can you help me?” 2. He asked me to help him.
3. The teacher said, “You should study harder.” 3. The teacher advised us to study harder.
4. She said, “Don’t forget to call your mother.” 4. She reminded him to call his mother.
5. He said, “Don’t touch the wire.” 5. He warned them not to touch the wire.
6. The officer said, “Stop!” 6. The officer ordered the soldiers to stop.
7. She said, “You should apply for the job.” 7. She persuaded him to apply for the job.
8. The coach said, “Keep going!” 8. The coach encouraged the players to continue.
9. They said, “Would you like to attend the ceremony?” 9. They invited us to attend the ceremony.
10. The police said, “Confess!” 10. The police forced him to confess.

5. Verbs + Object + Infinitive: These verbs require an object before the infinitive.
Structure: verb + object + to + infinitive

Reporting Verb Example

tell She told me to wait outside.

ask He asked me to help him.

advise The teacher advised us to study harder.

remind She reminded him to call his mother.

warn He warned them not to touch the wire.

order The officer ordered the soldiers to stop.

persuade She persuaded him to apply for the job.

encourage The coach encouraged the players to continue.

invite They invited us to attend the ceremony.

force The police forced him to confess.