Direct speech: Peter said, “ I am very busy”
Reported speech: Peter said (that) He was very busy
Direct speech → Reported speech
EX He said to me, “I ate a pizza last night”.
• → He told me he had eaten a pizza the previous night.
1. Change reporting verbs: says / say / said to + O → tells/tell/told + O
2. Change the tenses
3. Change personal pronouns ,possessive pronouns and possessive
adjectives
4. Time Expressions
2. Change the tenses
[Link] don't need to change the tense . If verb is in the
present tense, present continuous, present perfect or
future
1
2. You may use the tense in the original direct speech clause when you
report statements that are still true now, such as: Facts or
general truths. Habits
[Link] personal pronouns ,possessive pronouns and possessive
adjectives
[Link] Expressions
S + asked / wanted to know / wondered + if / whether + S + V
John asked, “Do you remember?”
➢John asked me if/ whether I remembered.
Do you like chocolate?
➢She asked me if/ whether I liked chocolate.
• Wh-question: S + asked (+O) / wanted to know / wondered +
Wh-words + S + V
John asked, “Where are you going?”
➢ John asked me where I was going.
Where is Julie?
➢ She asked me where Julie was.
[Link] twins said, "We are five years old.“
➢ The twins said that they were five years old.
[Link] teacher told her, "You speak English very well.“
➢ The teacher told her that she spoke English very well.
[Link] doctor said, "Your mother will recover quickly.“
➢ The doctor said that my mother would recover quickly.
[Link] boy said, "I have been to Australia before.“
➢ The boy said that he had been to Australia before
[Link] said, "I have already read that book.“
➢ Jennifer said that she had already read that book.
[Link] said, "I hope it won't rain tomorrow.“
➢ Jim said he hoped it wouldn't rain the next day.
[Link] mum said," You can go shopping later.“
➢ My mum said that I could go shopping later."
[Link] told me, "We are going to spend the weekend in Barcelona.“
➢ She told me they were going to spend the weekend in Barcelona.
[Link] promised me, "I'll send you a postcard when I get there.“
➢ He promised me he would send me a postcard when he got there.
[Link] said, "I'm very excited.“
➢ She said she was very excited.
not to leave the room.
not to spend too much money on clothes.
to speak more slowly
to eat any sweets.
not to tell anyone.
to help me.
me to see a doctor.
not to give them any homework.
to punish him if he did not behave.
of breaking the vase
[Link] police asked me, "When did you leave the house this morning ?“
The police asked me when I had left the house that morning .
[Link] parents said, "We' going on holiday tomorrow.“
My parents said that they/we were going on holiday the following day
[Link] passenger asked, "Could someone help me with the luggage?“
The passengers asked if someone could help him/her with the luggage
[Link] wanted to know, "What time does the party start ?“
They wanted to know what time the party started .
[Link] old lady asked the policeman, “Is there a shopping centre nearby?”
The old lady wanted to know if there was a shopping centre nearby.
6. Dad asked,” Did you find my glasses ?”
Dad asked me if I had found his glasses.
[Link] biologist wondered, “What kind of marine animals are there in the park”?
The biologist wondered what kind of marine animals there were in the park.
[Link] journalist asked, “Have you published any interesting stories yet?”
The journalist wanted to know if I had published any interesting stories
9. She asked, “Can I go tomorrow?”
She asked if she could go the next/following day
[Link] woman asked,” How long have you worked as a tour guide ?”
The woman wanted to know how long I had worked as a tour guide.