Professional Documents
Culture Documents
6 - Fame! - Reported Speech
6 - Fame! - Reported Speech
When we report the exact words someone says or writes. When we report something that has been said or written.
Kerry told Julia, “James is so nice…” “Kerry told me that you were so nice…” Julia said to James.
Kerry told me
James is so that you were so
nice... nice...
VERB CHANGES
DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH
PRESENT SIMPLE PAST SIMPLE
“I work very long hours”, Helen said Helen said (that) she worked very long hours
PRESENT CONTINUOUS PAST CONTINUOUS
“We are writing a postcard”, Tom said Tom said (that) they were writing a postcard
PAST SIMPLE PAST PERFECT SIMPLE
“Carol worked as a secretary”, Jim said to me Jim said to me (that) Carol had worked as a secretary
PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE PAST PERFECT SIMPLE
“Frank has been to USA twice”, Bob said Bob said (that) Frank had been to USA twice
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
“We have been cooking all morning”, Chris said Chis said (that) they had been cooking all morning
FUTURE “WILL” CONDITIONAL “WOULD”
Tom said, “I won’t win the match” Tom said (that) he wouldn’t win the match
FUTURE “BE GOING TO” FUTURE “WAS/WERE GOING TO”
“They are going to travel next week” He said He said (that) they were going to travel the following week
CAN COULD
“We can’t speak German” Flora said Flora said (that) they couldn’t speak German
MUST HAD TO
“You must take off your shoes”, The girl said to me The girl said to me (that) I had to take off my shoes
MAY MIGHT
“I may arrive late”, The boss said The boss said (that) he might arrive late
Verbs in the PAST CONTINUOUS, PAST PERFECT, USED TO, WOULD, SHOULD, COULD and MIGHT do not change
Ex. “He had been missing for several months”, she said She said he had been missing for several months.
“We were playing cards when he arrived”, I said I said we were playing cards when he arrived.
“You should tell him the truth”, He said He said I should tell him the truth
OTHER CHANGES
DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH
now then, at that moment
today / tonight that (day / night)
tomorrow the next day / the following day
yesterday the day before / the previous day
this (morning) that (morning)
last (week) the (week) before / the previous (week)
next (month) the following (month)
ago before
here there
this / that the
REPORTED STATEMENTS
When there is no question word in the direct speech, we use “IF / WHETHER”
The word order is the same as in the statements. REPORTING VERB + IF / WHETHER + SUBJECT + VERB
The verb tense and other changes are the same as for other types of reported speech
Ex. “Are you going to Peter’s party?” she asked me She asked me IF I was going to Peter’s party.
Where Question Word is used in the direct speech, the Question Word is also used in reported speech.
The word order is the same as in the statements. REPORTING VERB + QUESTION WORD + SUBJECT + VERB
The verb tense and other changes are the same as for other types of reported speech
Ex. “What’s your favourite colour?” she asked him She asked me WHAT his favourite colour was.
REPORTED ORDERS
REPORTED SUGGESTIONS
REPORTING VERBS
VERB + OBJECT + INFINITIVE (advise, ask, beg, encourage, order, persuade, remind, warn)
“Why don’t you take up a new sport?” She encouraged me to take up a new sport.
VERB + THAT + CLAUSE (claim, admit, say, explain, promise)
“I won’t do it again” She promised me that she wouldn’t do it again.
VERB + OBJECT + (THAT) + CLAUSE (tell, remind, warn)
“Remember that you work for a big company” He reminded us that we were working for a big company.
VERB + GERUND (admit, deny, suggest, recommend)
“I lied to the teacher” She admitted lying to the teacher
VERB + PREPOSITION + GERUND (accuse of, apologize for, blame for, congratulate on, insist on)
“I’m sorry to be so rude” He apologized for being so rude
VERB + INFINITIVE (agree, decide, offer, promise, refuse, threaten)
“Let’s meet again in September” We agreed to meet again in September
Put the following sentences into Reported Speech. Good luck!