REPORTED SPEECH

• Use reported speech to say what another person said. The word
that is optional
I’m an artist.”
Meg said (that) she was an artist.

• The verb in reported speech usually changes:

1) from present to past
2) from past to past perfect
“I paint every day.”
He said (that) he painted every day.

“I won an award.”
She said she had won an award.
• Pronouns usually change in reported speech.
“We saw some sculptures downtown.”
Tom told me they had seen some sculptures downtown.

• Other words can also change in reported speech.

“I’m returning the books tomorrow.”
She said that she was returning the books the next day.

• this afternoon ⇨ that afternoon

• today ⇨ that day
• now ⇨ then/at that time
• tomorrow ⇨ the following/next day
• last week ⇨ the week before/the previous week
• next month ⇨ the following month
Present simple ⇨ Past Simple
• I’m from Spain. ⇨ He said he was from Spain.
• I love speaking in English ⇨ She said she loved speaking in English.
• I live in London. ⇨ He said he lived in London.

Past Simple ⇨ Past Perfect

• I drove to Paris yesterday. ⇨ He said he had driven to Paris the
previous day.
• I woke up in the hospital. ⇨ He said he had woken up in the hospital.
• I worked last Sunday. ⇨ He said he had worked the previous Sunday
1. I read a book per month.
James said _______
2. I visited my parents last week.
She said ________
3. I go to the cinema on Saturdays.
Peter said ________
4. Teachers don’t like noise.
Maria said ______
5. Sam ate sushi yesterday.
He said ______
6. We are very calm.
They said ______
With modals or modal verbs:

- Will
I’ll see you later.
She said she would see me later.
- Can
I can speak perfect English.
She said she could speak perfect English.
- Shall
I shall come later.
He said he would come later.
BUT:
- Past perfect
I had taken English clases before.
She said she had taken English clases before.
- Would
I would help.
She said she would help.
- Could
I could swim when I was four.
He said he could swim when he was four.
- Should
I should call my mother.
He said he should call his mother.
- Might
I might be late.
She said she might be late.