REPORTEDREPORTED SPEECHSPEECH

StatementsStatementsWe can use direct speech or reported speech We can use direct speech or reported speech when we talk or write about things people said in when we talk or write about things people said in the past.the past.

When reporting statements, we usually use the When reporting statements, we usually use the verbs verbs saysay or or telltell and the conjunction and the conjunction thatthat, and we , and we make some changes in the sentence.make some changes in the sentence.

The reporting verb is usually in the past tense The reporting verb is usually in the past tense ((saidsaid or or toldtold) so the reported clause goes one ) so the reported clause goes one step back into the past from the original.step back into the past from the original.

formform Direct SpeechDirect Speech Reported SpeechReported Speech

* * Present Simple Past SimplePresent Simple Past Simple““He studies Spanish … he studied SpanishHe studies Spanish … he studied Spanish

* * Present Continuous Past ContinuousPresent Continuous Past Continuous““He is studying Spanish.” … he was studying He is studying Spanish.” … he was studying

SpanishSpanish

* * Present Perfect Simple Past Perfect SimplePresent Perfect Simple Past Perfect Simple““He has studied Spanish.” … he had studied He has studied Spanish.” … he had studied

Spanish.Spanish.

Pres Perf Continuous Past Perf ContinuousPres Perf Continuous Past Perf Continuous““He’s been studying Spanish” … he had beenHe’s been studying Spanish” … he had been studying Spanish.studying Spanish.

Past Simple Past Perfect SimplePast Simple Past Perfect Simple““He studied Spanish” … he had studied He studied Spanish” … he had studied

Spanish.Spanish.

Past Continuous Past Perfect ContinuousPast Continuous Past Perfect Continuous““He was studying Spanish” … he had been studying He was studying Spanish” … he had been studying Spanish.Spanish.

* Future Simple Conditional* Future Simple Conditional““He will study Spanish” … he would studySpanish.He will study Spanish” … he would studySpanish.

* * Can CouldCan Could““He can study Spanish.” … he could study Spanish.He can study Spanish.” … he could study Spanish.

* * May MightMay Might““He may study Spanish.” … he might study Spanish.He may study Spanish.” … he might study Spanish.

* * Must / Have to Must / HadMust / Have to Must / Had to to““He must / has to study … he must / had to studyHe must / has to study … he must / had to study

We often have to change other words We often have to change other words apart from the verb formapart from the verb form

PronounsPronounsTime and placeTime and placeDemonstrativesDemonstratives

pronounspronounsII →→ he/she he/sheYou You →→ I / me / they / them I / me / they / themWe We →→ they theyUsUs →→ them themMyMy →→ his / her his / herYour Your →→ my / their my / their

time and placetime and placeHere Here →→ there thereNowNow →→ then / at the moment then / at the momentTomorrowTomorrow →→ the next day the next dayTonightTonight →→ that night that night Next week Next week →→ the following week the following weekYesterdayYesterday →→ the day before the day beforeLast weekLast week →→ the week before the week beforeAgoAgo →→ before before

demonstrativesdemonstratives

This that→This that→These those→These those→

We only make tense changes when the We only make tense changes when the reporting verb (say, etc) is in the past.reporting verb (say, etc) is in the past.

Tom Tom says says he he is goingis going to study History. to study History. *Tom *Tom says he was going says he was going to study to study

History.History.

We don’t change tha We don’t change tha past perfect past perfect simplesimple and the and the past perfect continuous.past perfect continuous.

“ “I I had readhad read the book before.” the book before.” He said he He said he had readhad read the book before. the book before.

We also don’t change We also don’t change wouldwould, , shouldshould, , couldcould and and mightmight..

“ “I I mightmight take up painting.” take up painting.” She said she She said she mightmight take up painting. take up painting.

If the speaker wants to transmit some kind of If the speaker wants to transmit some kind of tone or intention, we can use many other tone or intention, we can use many other reporting verbs: reporting verbs: admit, agree, announce, admit, agree, announce, apologise, complain, convince explain, hear, apologise, complain, convince explain, hear, insist, remind, replyinsist, remind, reply……

questionsquestionsWe can report questions with verbs like We can report questions with verbs like askask, , wonderwonder and and want to knowwant to know..

““Where do you live” he asked.Where do you live” he asked.He He askedasked me where I lived. me where I lived.

““Do you live in Dublin?” he askedDo you live in Dublin?” he askedHe He wanted to knowwanted to know if I lived in Dublin.if I lived in Dublin.

The word order in a reported question is like The word order in a reported question is like a normal statement, with the a normal statement, with the subject before subject before the verbthe verb..

““Where Where is the bus stationis the bus station?” she asked?” she askedShe asked She asked wherewhere the bus station wasthe bus station was..

““What What are you doingare you doing?” he asked?” he askedHe wanted to know what He wanted to know what I was doingI was doing..

In reported speech In reported speech yes/no questions yes/no questions we use we use ifif or or whetherwhether and normal and normal statement word statement word orderorder..

““Did you speak to Marina?” he askedDid you speak to Marina?” he askedHe wanted to know He wanted to know whether I had spoken whether I had spoken to to

MarinaMarina..

““Are you a police officer?” she askedAre you a police officer?” she askedShe asked me She asked me if I was if I was a police officer.a police officer.

commands and requestscommands and requestsCommandsCommands are reported with are reported with telltell and and the the infinitiveinfinitive..

He said “Stay here.”He said “Stay here.” He told us to stay there.He told us to stay there.

RequestsRequests are reported with are reported with askask and and the the infinitiveinfinitive..

““John John don’t open the window, please.” I saiddon’t open the window, please.” I said I asked John not to open the windowI asked John not to open the window