REPORTED SPEECH
WHAT IS IT?
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.
characteristics
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 or demostratives and
adverbs of time.
The reporting verb is often said, but it can also be told, or other
verbs like ordered, stated, or reported, depending on the situation.
When reporting questions, you can use verbs like asked or
requested.
tenses
change
Present simple into past simple
example
'I travel a lot in my job' said Jamila.
Jamila said that she travelled a lot in her job.
change
Present continuous into past continuous
example
'The baby is sleeping!' he said.
He told me the baby was sleeping.
change
Present perfect into past perfect
example
'I've hurt my leg.'
She said she had hurt her leg.
change
Past simple into past perfect
example
'We lived in China for five years.'
She told me they had lived in China for five years.
change
Past continuous into past perfect continuous
example
'It was raining all day.'
He told me it had been raining all day.
change
Past perfect does not change.
example
‘I had tried everything without success, but this new medicine is
great.'
He said he had tried everything without success, but the new
medicine was great.
change
Will into would
example
'I will help you!' he said.
He told me he would help me.
change
Must into Had to
example
‘You must pay attention.’
She told me (that) I had to pay attention.
change
Can into Could
example
‘You can stay with me.’
She said (that) I could stay with her.
change
May into Might
example
‘I may arrive late.’
He told me (that) he might arrive late.
change
Could, Should and Might stay the same.
example
‘We should help Tom.’
She said (that) we should help Tom.
change
Questions
example
‘When did they arrive?’ --> He asked me when they had arrived.
‘Did they call?’ --> He asked me if/whether they had called.
change
Imperatives
example
‘Give me the money.’ --> He told me to give him the money.
‘Don’t answer the door’ --> He asked me not to answer the door.
change
Now --> Then/ At that moment
Today --> That day
Tonight --> That night
Yesterday --> The day before
Tomorrow --> The next/following day
This week --> That week
Last week --> The previous week
Next week --> The next/following week
Here --> There
This --> That
These --> Those
EXERCISES
1) "He works in a bank."
2) "We went out last night."
3) "I'm coming!"
4) "I was waiting for the bus when he arrived."
5) "I'd never been there before."
6) "I didn't go to the party.”
7) "Lucy will come later."
8) "He hasn't eaten breakfast."
9) "I can help you tomorrow."
10) "You should go to bed early."
EXERCISES
1) He/She said (that) he worked in a bank.
2) She/He said (that) they/we had gone out the previous night.
3) He/She said he/she was coming.
4) He/She said he/she had been waiting for the bus when he had arrived.
5) She/He said she/he'd never been there before.
6) She/He said she/he hadn’t gone to the party.
7) He/She said Lucy would come later.
8) She/He said he/she hadn't eaten breakfast.
9) She/He said she/he could help me the next/following day.
10) She/He said I should go to bed early.