Reporting others’ words

Prof Jesús Moya

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Reported Speech

• Introduction
• Reporting statement
• Reporting questions
• Reporting orders, command, suggestions, etc
• Didactic resources (picture books)
• References

From Functional Grammar to

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Functional Discourse Grammar
 Introductory questions
Read chapter 10 by Yule (1998). See also Video: Introduction to Reported
Speech.

• What is the difference between direct and indirect speech? Where is the
reporting verb placed in direct speech? (Yule 1998: 274-275)
• What are the most common introductory verbs to report statements? Can
we omit “that” after them? Are there differences between “say” and “tell”
when they are used to report statements?
• How do English speakers report statements? When the reporting verb is in
the past, tenses are backshifted. What does this mean? How do tenses
change? Can “backshift” be ignored? (Yule 1998: 272-273) How do modal
verbs change in indirect speech? If the reporting verb is in the present,
future or present perfect, are tenses backshifted?

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 Reported speech. Contents
• Do pronouns change in Indirect Speech? How and when do they
change?
• Do adverbs change in Indirect Speech? Why and when do they
change? Are there any exceptions?
• What are the most common verbs for reporting questions?
• How do we report yes / no questions? Is “if…not” an alternative to
“whether” in reported speech? How do we report wh-questions?
• How are commands, requests, suggestions and advice reported in
English?
• What are the main features of free indirect discourse? (see Yule
1998: 280-281)

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 How to report statements
• CHANGES OF TENSE (See video: How do verbs change in indirect speech?)
• When we use indirect speech after a past tense reporting verb (said,
complained), we usually change the tense in the sentences we are
reporting. We use a tense one step further in the past (backshift), so
present forms become past forms. In addition, past forms become past
perfect forms. Notice that the past perfect simple and continuous do not
change.
• Present (direct speech)……………..past (indirect speech)
“I am leaving in ten minutes” / She decided she was leaving in ten minutes
• Present perfect………………………past perfect
“We’ve been living here for years / She revealed they’d been living there for years
• Past…………………………………...past or past perfect (in spoken English the past is left
unchanged, especially when an adverbial makes the time references of the
action clear)
John said that the exhibition finished the preceding week

From Functional Grammar to

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Functional Discourse Grammar
 How to report statements
• MODAL VERBS: We often need to make changes to modal
verbs. Where possible, the present form of the modal verb
changes to its past form
• Will…….........would:
• May…........…might (possibility)…could (permission)
• Shall…………would (future)…….should (suggestion)
• Must…………must (general obligation or logical necessity) or Had to
• Mustn’t………mustn’t or weren’t to
• Ought to, could, might, would and should do not change when reported
• Needn’t…………..Needn’t or didn’t have to…
• -“The new law will be in place soon” / She said that the new law would be in place soon.
- “I shall tell them everything” / I decided I would tell them everything.
“Shall we tell the manager” / She suggested that they should tell the manager.
-The doctor said that I must / had to lose twenty kilos.
-They said that children must obey their parents

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Rewrite the following sentences, changing the direct
statements into reported statements

• “I don’t know”, he told them / He told…

• “Then we know more about your money than you do”, they said /
The officials said…
• “You’ll find out later”, they told him / They told…
• “I have nothing to conceal”, he claimed / He…
• “Everything I’ve told you has been true”, he insisted / He insisted
that…
• “But perhaps I’ve forgotten a few things”, he admitted / He
admitted…

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 How to report statements
EXCEPTIONS TO BACKSHIFT (See video: Do verbs always change in Indirect
Speech?)
• In some cases we can choose to change the tense or not. This often depends
on the relationship of the reported event to the time of reporting it. If we report on
the day it is said (immediate reporting), tenses are not necessarily backshifted: “I
am going to go on holiday tomorrow morning” / Susana said she’s going to go on
holiday tomorrow morning (the situation is still valid).

• We don’t usually change the tense when:

• The action in indirect speech is still happening or going to happen: They said it
will/would be windy tomorrow.
• The reporting verb expresses a fact or situation that cannot or is unlikely to
change: He proved that the earth is/was round (universal truth); I asked how old you
are /were.

Note that in all these cases, it is also possible to change the tense.

Also notice that we do not change the tense of the original words in reported
speech when the reporting verb is in a present tense: He says that he will be in time.

From Functional Grammar to

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Functional Discourse Grammar
Example

• Woman in focus. Nov 3, 2003

Letizia Ortiz
…The Spanish Royal Palace announced on Saturday that the
35-year-old heir to the Spanish throne will wed Ms Ortiz, 31,
a well-known anchorwoman for Spanish national television,
next summer at Madrid’s Almudena Cathedral…
… In a quick poll conducted by El Mundo newspaper, 70 per
cent of respondents said that they support the marriage and
30 per cent are against it…
(The Straits times INTERACTIVE. Web Special)

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 How to report statements
See Video: How do reference words change in Indirect Speech?
CHANGES OF PRONOUN
When we report another person’s words in indirect speech, we often have to change
the pronouns used in the direct speech. First person pronouns usually change to
third person: “I like my house” / She said she liked her house.

Second person pronouns are shifted to first or third person, according to the identity
of the listener: “You are too noisy” / Pamela told them that they were too noisy.

However, when the speaker is reporting his own words, pronouns don’t change in
indirect speech: I said I would do it.

Also notice that the reported situation specifies the appropriate pronoun to use:
“You should be ashamed of yourself” / she told me that …. should be ashamed of
……….

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How to report statements
CHANGES OF ADVERB: why do adverbs change?
• If the place or time of reporting is significantly different from that in the
original speech, we often need to make changes to adverbs of place and
time:
• Today (direct speech)........the same day / that day (indirect speech)
• Yesterday………………….the day before / the previous day
• Tomorrow………………….the next day
• Next (week) …….… …..the following (week)
• Last (Monday) ……………the previous / the last (Monday)
• Now…………………………then
• Here………………………...there
Mary said, “I’ll meet you here again tomorrow at 3.30”
Mary said she would meet us there again the next day at 3.30.
Notice that if the statement is reported on the same day and in the same
place, adverbs do not necessarily change: Mary said that she would meet us
here again tomorrow at 3.30..

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Use reported speech

• Nora and Jim are getting married next month / Charlie said
that…
• You can come and stay with me if you are ever in London /
Charlie said that…
• Tom had an accident last week but he wasn’t injured /
Charlie said…
• I saw Jack at a party a few months ago and he seemed fine /
Charlie said that…
• I’ll be here next week / I thought you said…

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How to report statements

CHANGES OF DEMONSTRATIVES

• Demonstratives also change in reported speech according to the relative

distance or proximity to the referent at the time of the reported
utterance. This and These imply proximity to the referent. However, That
and Those imply distance from the referent.

• He said: “I want this one” / He said he wanted that one.

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Change these sentences to indirect speech

• 1. He’s ill. (She thought)

• 2. I’ll be back tomorrow. (He said)
• 3. I don’t like this music. (She said)
• 4. Nobody loves me. (I felt)
• 5. I’ll clean the flat. (She offered)
• 6. The earth is not flat. (He proved)
• 7. These figures can’t be right (I knew)
• 8. Her cat understands everyting she says. (She thought)
• 9. You ought to see the doctor. (She advised me)
• 10. I hardly ever go out these days. (He said that)
• 11. I can’t afford a holiday this year. (I thought you said..)
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Task
•Reporting extracts from The Very
Hungry Caterpillar:
•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
75NQK-Sm1YY
•See video:Telling a story using indirect
speech

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How to report questions
• The most common verbs for reporting questions are ask and want to know.
We also use enquire for formal questions and wonder for asking ourselves.

• When we turn a direct question into an indirect question some rules must
be taken into account: (i) tenses, demonstratives, pronouns and adverbs
change the same as for statements, (ii) the question mark is omitted and (iii)
there is no subject-operator inversion.
He asked me if he could leave it there
“Which train did he take?” / He asked me which train he had taken

• Yes / No questions are introduced with if or whether: Lester wondered if/whether

there was anything better in life. We can present alternatives in closed questions
with whether or not. Note that if or not is not possible, except by putting or
not at the end of the question:
Deborah asked whether or not there was a lift in the apartment block
Debora asked whether / if there was a lift in the apartment block or not
Example: “are you satisfied or not” I asked her

From Functional Grammar to

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Functional Discourse Grammar
How to report questions

• When we report Wh-questions we use a wh- element:

The nurse asked when exactly the pain had started

• If the reporting verb is say, it is changed to a verb of enquiry

such as ask, wonder, inquire, want to know…”Where is the station”,
he said / He asked where the station was

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 Turn these into indirect questions, beginning with I asked
• 1. What’s Peter’s address?
• 2. When’s the new manager coming?
• 3. How does she know my name?
• 4. Why are all the windows open?
• 5.How many books does she want?
• 6.What time is the meeting?
• 7.When does the last train leave?
• 8. How often does Ann go shopping?

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Turn these into indirect questions, beginning I wondered

• 1. Do they like me?

• 2. Will I be ready in time?
• 3. Is there any food in the house?
• 4. Is service included or not?
• 5. Can I pay by cheque?
• 6. Does my hair look funny?
• 7. Do they speak French?
• 8. Am I doing the right thing?
• 9. Is the meeting on Tuesday or on Wednesday?

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How to report command and requests

• Verbs used to report commands are tell, order, command

and forbid (negative). We use ask for reporting requests, and
beg or urge with urgent requests: He forbade us to pass on any of
the information to the authorities; His secretary asked me to come back
later
• In indirect commands we use a reporting verb and (not) to +
infinitive: She told her (not) to open the door
• A that clause with should or a subjunctive is also possible to
report a command: he told that he (should) see a doctor.
• Notice that a to infinitive clause is also used after refusals,
offers, promises and threats. However, after apologies: for +
ing: She apologized for being late.
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How to report suggestions

• “Let’s go home”, he suggested

He suggested going home

• “Why don’t you see a doctor”, he said to Jack

He suggested that Jack should see a doctor

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How would you report these sentences?

• “Eat more fruit and vegetables”, the doctor told / The doctor told…
• “Shut the door but don’t lock it”, she said to us/ She…
• “Can you speak more slowly?”. I can’t understand”, he said to me / He…
• “Don’t come before 6 o’clock”, I said to him / I…
• “I won’t lend you a penny”, my father shouted / My father refused…
• “Let me give you the money”, my mother said / My mother offered…
• “I’ll kill you if you ever see my sister again”, Julia’s brother told Roland /
Julia’s brother threatened …
• “I’ll be there on time”, Allan said / Allan promised…
• “I’m sorry I’m late again”, he said the next day / The next day he
apologized…

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Exclamations. Yes and No

• “What a beautiful girl!”, he exclaimed

• “Will you have time to do it?”, asked Robert. I said, “yes”

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Using a tale to tell the story in indirect speech

•Little Red Riding Hood:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=LDMWJCrDVMI

•Reporting some extracts from the tale

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Reporting and speaking about others

•Reporting and gossiping: He(she)

told me that….. Later, s/he asked me
if /to….. Finally, s/he apologized
for…..

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References

• Biber, D. et alia (1999). Longman Grammar of Spoken and

Written English. London: Longman. Sections B and D.
• Carter, R. et alia (2000). Exploring Grammar in Context.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, chapter 20.
• Foley, M. and D. Hall (2004). Advanced Learner’s Grammar.
China: Longman, chapter 9.
• Swan, M. and C. Walter 81997). How English Works. Oxford:
Oxford University Press, pages 248-255.
• Yule, G. (1998). Explaining English Grammar. Oxford: Oxford
University Press, chapter 10.
• Vince, M. (1994). Advanced Language Practice. London:
Heinemann, unit 16.

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