REPORTED SPEECH

dr.sc. Jasmina Rogulj

 1. Reporting words just said
Direct Speech
He says / has just said: “I speak English.”
Reported speech
He says / has just said that he speaks
English.
2. Reporting words said in the past
• “We are not going to • He said (that) they were not
panick.” going to panick.

• “I left my briefcase at work.”• She said (that) she (had)

left her briefcase at work.

• “I’ve already spoken to • He said (that) he had

her.” already spoken to her.

• “We won’t know before • She said (that) they

Friday.” wouldn’t know before
Friday.
• “I can’t give you a lower
price.” • He said (that) he couldn’t
give me a lower price.
 2. Reporting words said in the past (2)
would, could and should do not change

• “I would tell you if I could.” • She said (that) she would

tell me if she could.

• “You should be more • He said (that) I should be

careful.” more careful.

• “Hurry up!” • She told me to hurry up!

• “Do not increase the price!”• They told us not to

increase the price.
 3. Say vs. tell

• She said she would come later.

(NOT She said me...)

• She told me she would come later.

(NOT She told she would...)
4. Reporting questions
a) ask +/- object, ie. ask (me)
b) word order: 1. question word; 2. subject; 3. verb

Open questions (When, why, how, what...)

• “When do you want to • He asked (him) when he

take your vacation?” wanted to take his
vacation.

• “How long is the • He asked (her) how long

conference?” the conference was.
 4. Reporting questions (2)
yes / no questions

• “Do you want to take • He asked (him) if /

your vacation in July whether he wanted to
or August?” take his vacation in July
or August.

• Will you be able to • He asked (her) if /

attend the whether she would be
conference? able to attend the
conference.
• He said: "I live in Paris.“
• He said: "I am cooking
dinner."
• He said: "I have visited
London twice."
• He said: "I went to New
York last week.”
• He said he lived in Paris.
• He said he was cooking
dinner.
• He said he had visited
London twice.
• He said he had gone to
New York the week
before.
• He said, "I had already • He said he had already
eaten." eaten.

• He said, "I am going to • He said he was going to

find a new job." find a new job.

• He said, "I will give Jack a • He said he would give

call." Jack a call.
• She said: "I am reading.“→ She said that

• They said: "We are busy."→ They said that

• He said: "I know a better restaurant."→ He said that

• She said: "I woke up early."→ She said that

• He said: "I will ring her."→ He said that

• They said: "We have just arrived."→ They said that

• He said: "I will clean the car."
→ He said that

• She said: "I did not say that."

→ She said that

• She said: "I don't know where my shoes are."

→ She said that

• He said: "I won't tell anyone."

→ He said that