SAMSUN PRIVATE FINAL SCHOOLS

THE REPORTED SPEECH(Also called “Indirect Speech”)

Direct Speech

Before learning Reported Speech (Indirect Speech), one must know what direct speech is.

In direct speech, we repeat what the original speaker says.

He said, “I have a ticket for the concert tomorrow.”

Direct Speech

Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)

• In reported speech, we give the same meaning of the speech without using the speaker’s own words.

He said (that) he had a ticket for the concert the next day.

That is optional

When we convert direct speech into indirect speech, some changes are necessary.

Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)

Direct Speech Indirect SpeechSimple Present Simple PastPresent Continuous Past ContinuesPresent Perfect Past PerfectPresent Perf. Cont. Past Perfect Cont.Simple Past Past Perfect Will Would

Change of Tenses in Indirect Speech

He explained “I never smoke.”(Present simple tense)

He explained (that) he never smoked.(Simple Past Tense)

He said “I’ve applied for a job.” (Present perfect tense)

He said that he’d applied for a job.(Past perfect tense)

Change of Tenses in Indirect SpeechExamples

NOTE

IN THEORY PAST TENSES CHANGE TO THE PAST PERFECT TENSE, BUT IN DAILY SPEECH, IT IS OFTEN UNCHANGED.

NOTE

Direct Speech Indirect SpeechToday that dayYesterday the day beforeTomorrow the next /the following dayNext week/year etc. The following week/year etc.Last week/year etc. The previous week/year etc.A year ago etc. A year before/the previous year

Change of Time in Indirect Speech

• “I saw her yesterday.”, he said. He said that he’d seen her the day before.• She said in a sad manner “My father died a

year ago.” She said that her father had died the previous

year.

Change of Time in Indirect SpeechExamples

• Add Mr. Ergen taught us war of independence and he also added that the Turkish Republic had been founded in 1923.

• Admit He admitted that he had done some silly mistakes.• Answer• Assure + obj. It won’t cost much. Tom assured us. Tom assured us that it wouldn’t cost much.

• Deny• Explain• Object• Promise• Remind + obj.• Reply

Some Alternative Introductory Verbs

YOU CAN ADD LOTS OF SENTENCES LIKE THIS

• When we report questions, we generally use the verb “ask sbd. (if/whether), wonder or want to know”. If the original question has the WH- words (What, where, when etc.) we use the same question word in the reported question.

Reported Questions

He asked, “What do you want?” He asked me what I wanted.She asked, “Where do you live?” She wondered (wanted to know) where I lived.

We report the imperatives with “to”.

He said, “Close the window”. He told (ordered ) me to close the window.

Imperatives

1.” I’m going out now, but I’ll be in by nine.”he said.He said that he was going out then but he’d be in by nine.2. “I’m working in a restaurant, and don’t earn much” she said.She said (that) she was working in a restaurant, and didn’t earn much.3. Bonnie said, “I won’t help you”.Bonnie said that she wouldn’t help me. 4. Jenny asked, “When will you go to Spain?”Jenny wanted to know when I would go to Spain.5. Henry told, “My friends are looking for part time jobs.”Henry told me that his friends were looking for part time jobs.6. Berkay: “Can you introduce me to that girl?”Berkay asked if I could introduce him to that girl.

Time to Practice

Time to Practice

Who stole my wallet?

Jack asked the police who’d stolen his wallet

Can I help you?

Frank asked if he could help us

Time to Practice

Do I really have to do this homework?

Ted asked his teacher whether he really had to do that homework.

How much money will I earn this month?

Fred wondered how much money he’d earn that month.

SAMSUN PRIVATE FINAL SCHOOLS

TAHSİN SANCILI TEACHER OF ENGLISH