ACTIVE VOICE PASSIVE VOICE

something. (original statement) about something. (indirect speech)

The voice of the verb is active, The voice of the verb is passive, Michelle: I'll call them Michelle promised she would call
when the subject performs the when the subjct is acted upon by tomorrow. (original statement) them the next day. (indirect
action. the object of the verb. speech)
We also use indirect speech when we report inner thoughts:
TENSES ACTIVE VOICE PASSIVE VOICE I had no idea where my keys She knew that the lock had been
were. (Where are my keys?) changed. (The lock has been
PRESENT TENSE The article discusses The effects of
changed.)
the effects unemployment are
unemployment discussed in the
article. Tense Change
As a rule when you report something someone has said you go back a
PRESENT PERFECT The class decided that It has been decided by
tense: (the tense on the left changes to the tense on the right):
TENSE everyone should get the class that everyone
Direct speech Indirect speech
an “A.” should get an “A.”
Present simple Past simple
PAST TENSE The company made a A huge profit was ›
She said, "It's cold." She said it was cold.
huge profit. made by the company.
Present continuous Past continuous
PAST PERFECT We had reached an The agreement had
She said, "I'm teaching English ›She said she was teaching English
TENSE agreement when they been reached (by us)
online." online.
presented the plan. when the plan was
Present perfect simple Past perfect simple
presented.
She said, "I've been on the web ›She said she had been on the web
FUTURE TENSE We will mail our Our proposal will be since 1999." since 1999.
proposal next week. mailed next week. Present perfect continuous Past perfect continuous
She said, "I've been teaching ›She said she had been teaching
Other examples: English for seven years." English for seven years.
PRESENT TENSE Past simple Past perfect
= Auxiliary verbs used in Passive Voice: is/are/am She said, "I taught online ›She said she had taught online
ACTIVE VOICES PASSIVE VOICES yesterday." yesterday.
He writes a letter. A letter is written by him. Past perfect continuous
Past continuous
›She said she had been teaching
They sell books. Books are sold by them. She said, "I was teaching earlier."
earlier.
She helps me. I am helped her. Past perfect Past perfect
PRESENT PERFECT TENSE She said, "The lesson had ›NO CHANGE - She said the lesson had
= Auxiliary verbs used in Passive Voice: has been/ have been already started when he arrived." already started when he arrived.
ACTIVE VOICES PASSIVE VOICES Past perfect continuous Past perfect continuous
She said, "I'd already been ›NO CHANGE - She said she'd already
He has completed the work. The work has been completed by
teaching for five minutes." been teaching for five minutes.
him.
Modal verb forms also sometimes change:
She has written five poems. Five poems have been written by
Direct speech Indirect speech
her.
will would
PAST TENSE She said, "I'll teach English online ›She said she would teach English
= Auxiliary verbs used in Passive Voice: was/were tomorrow." online tomorrow.
ACTIVE VOICES PASSIVE VOICES can could
He bought a car. A car was bought by him. She said, "I can teach English ›She said she could teach English
She decorated the walls. The walls were decorated by her. online." online.
must had to
She said, "I must have a computer ›She said she had to have a
PAST PERFECT TENSE to teach English online." computer to teach English online.
= Auxiliary verbs used in Passive Voice: had been shall should
ACTIVE VOICES PASSIVE VOICES She said, "What shall we learn ›She asked what we should learn
They had won the game. The game had been won by them. today?" today.
He had collected coins. Coins had been collected by him. may might
She said, "May I open a new ›She asked if she might open a new
FUTURE TENSE
browser?" browser.
= Auxiliary verbs used in Passive Voice: will be Note - There is no change to; could, would, should, might and ought to.
ACTIVE VOICES PASSIVE VOICES Direct speech Indirect speech
She will write a poem. A poem will be written by her. "I might go to the cinema", he
He said he might go to the cinema.
You will receive the letter. The letter will be received by you. said.
They will arrange the money. The money will be arranged by You can use the present tense in reported speech if you want to say that
them. something is still true i.e. my name has always been and will always be
Lynne so:-
Direct speech Indirect speech
She said her name was Lynne.
"My name is Lynne", she
or She said her name is Lynne.
Direct speech is when we report what someone says by repeating the said.
exact words. In writing, we use inverted commas:
You can also use the present tense if you are talking about a future event.
David: I have to talk to you about "I have to talk to you about Direct speech (exact quote)Indirect speech (not exact)
something. (original statement) something," said David. (direct "Next week's lesson is on She said next week's lesson will be
speech) reported speech", she said. on reported speech.
Michelle: I'll call them Michelle said, "I'll call them Time change
tomorrow. (original statement) tomorrow." (direct speech) If the reported sentence contains an expression of time, you must change
it to fit in with the time of reporting.
Indirect speech (also called reported speech) is when we give the For example we need to change words like here and yesterday if they
same meaning of what someone says without repeating the exact have different meanings at the time and place of reporting.
words. In this case, we do not use inverted commas and certain Now + 24 hours - Indirect speech
changes may be necessary: "Today's lesson is on She said yesterday's lesson was
David: I have to talk to you about David said he had to talk to me presentations." on presentations.
 or Be, do, and have also differ from the other auxiliaries in that they
She said yesterday's lesson would can also serve as ordinary verbs in a given sentence.
be on presentations. The modal verbs are:-
Expressions of time if reported on a different day CAN / COULD / MAY / MIGHT / MUST / OUGHT
this (evening) › that (evening) TO / SHALL / SHOULD / WILL / WOULD
Today › yesterday ... Contextual classes
these (days) › those (days)
Modal
Now › Then
Verb Example Uses
(a week) ago › (a week) before
the weekend before last / the previous
last weekend › Can They can control their own budgets. Ability /
weekend
Here › There We can’t fix it. Possibility
next (week) › the following (week) Can I smoke here? Inability /
Tomorrow › the next/following day Can you help me? Impossibility
In addition if you report something that someone said in a different place Asking for
to where you heard it you must change the place (here) to the place permission
(there). Request
For example:-
At work At home Could Could I borrow your dictionary? Asking for
"How long have you worked She asked me how long I'd worked Could you say that again more permission.
here?" there. slowly? Request
Pronoun change We could try to fix it ourselves. Suggestion
In reported speech, the pronoun often changes. I think we could go to war again. Future
For example: He gave up his old job so he could possibility
Me You work for us. Ability in the
Direct Speech past

She said, "I teach English online." May May I have another cup of coffee? Asking for
"I teach English online", she said. China may become a major permission
Reported Speech economic power. Future
"I teach English online." possibility
She said she teaches English
online.
or Might We'd better phone tomorrow, they Present
She said she taught English might be eating their dinner now. possibility
online. You never know, they might give us Future
Reporting Verbs a 10% discount. possibility
Said, told and asked are the most common verbs used in indirect speech.
We use asked to report questions:- Must We must say good-bye now. Necessity /
For example: I asked Lynne what time the lesson started. They mustn’t disrupt the work more Obligation
We use told with an object. than necessary. Prohibition
For example: Lynne told me she felt tired.
!Note - Here me is the object. Ought We ought to employ a professional Saying what’s
We usually use said without an object. to writer. right or correct.
For example: Lynne said she was going to teach online.
If said is used with an object we must include to ; Shall Shall I help you with your luggage? Offer
For example: Lynne said to me that she'd never been to China. Shall we say 2.30 then? Suggestion
!Note - We usually use told. Shall I do that or will you? Asking what to
For example: Lynne told me (that) she'd never been to China. do
There are many other verbs we can use apart from said, told and asked.
These include:- Should We should sort out this problem at Saying what’s
accused, admitted, advised, alleged, agreed, apologised, begged, once. right or correct
boasted, complained, denied, explained, implied, invited, offered, I think we should check everything Recommending
ordered, promised, replied, suggested and thought. again. action
Using them properly can make what you say much more interesting and You should check your posture Giving advice
informative. when using the computer. Uncertain
For example: Profits should increase next year. prediction
He asked me to come to the party:-
He invited me to the party. Will I can’t see any taxis so I’ll walk. Instant
He begged me to come to the party. I'll do that for you if you like. decisions
He ordered me to come to the party. I’ll get back to you first thing on Offer
He advised me to come to the party. Monday. Promise
He suggested I should come to the Profits will increase next year. Certain
party. prediction

http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/reportedspeech.html#sthash.SXJNnE Would Would you mind if I brought a Asking for

Zz.dpuf colleague with me? permission
http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/reportedspeech.html Would you pass the salt please? Making a
Would you mind waiting a moment? Request
"Would three o`clock suit you?" - Making a
MODAL VERBS "That’d be fine." Request
The modal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, ought to, Would you like to play golf this Making
shall, should, will, and would. Friday? arrangements
All the auxiliary verbs except be, do and have are called modals. Unlike "Would you prefer tea or coffee?" - Invitation
other auxiliary verbs modals only exist in their helping form; they cannot "I’d like tea please." Stating
act alone as the main verb in a sentence. Preferences