The Reported Speech

The Reported Speech...

• Sometimes someone says a sentence…

For example:
"I am going to the cinema tonight."

• Later, maybe we want to tell someone else what the first person said.

When do we use
the reported speech?
When do we use
the reported speech?
He told me he was going to the cinema that night.
We usually use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell‘.
The Reported Speech…
For example:
He told me that he loved me.
He said to me that he wanted to marry me.
Reporting Verbs… Say & Tell

• With ‘tell' we NEED to use the direct object ('me‘, ‘you’, ‘us’).

John told me (that) he was going to be late.

• With 'say' we CAN or CAN’T use the direct object.

John said (that) he would be late.
John said to me (that) he would be late.

OR…
Example of Reporting Verbs…

• He decided ….
• He affirmed …
• He exclaimed …
• He explained …
• He confessed …

• He asked…
• He questioned…
• He wondered…
• He inquired…

The Reported Speech...
If the sentence starts in the past, pay attention to the following transformations…

TENSE	DIRECT SPEECH	REPORTED SPEECH
Present Simple	“I like ice cream.”	She said (that) she liked ice cream.
Present Continuous	“I am living in London.”	She said she was living in London.
Past Simple	“I bought a car.”	She said she had bought a car (OR…) She said she bought a car.
Past Continuous	“I was walking along the street.”	She said she had been walking along the street.
Present Perfect	“I haven't seen Julie”	She said she hadn't seen Julie.
Past Perfect	“I had taken English lessons before.”	She said she had taken English lessons before.
Will	“I'll see you later.”	She said she would see me later.
Would	“I would help, but...”	She said she would help but...
Can	“I can speak perfect English.”	She said she could speak perfect English

The Reported Speech...
If the sentence starts in the past, pay attention to the following transformations…

From	To
this (evening)	that (evening)
today/this day	that day
these (days)	those (days)
now	then
(a week) ago	(the week) before
last weekend	the weekend before / the previous weekend
here	there
next (week)	the following (week)
tomorrow	the next/following day

Reporting Questions...

Direct Questions	Reported Questions
Where is the Post Office, please?	She asked me where the Post Office was.
What are you doing?	She asked me what I was doing.
Who was that fantastic man?	She asked me who that fantastic man had been.

For 'wh' questions…
Subject + Verb
Reporting Questions...
To report a 'yes / no' question… we use 'if‘…

Direct Question	Reported Question
Do you love me?	He asked me if I loved him.
Have you ever been to Mexico?	She asked me if I had ever been to Mexico.
Are you living here?	She asked me if I was living there.

Now, let’s practise...

Reporting Statements...
Choose the correct verb...

• Everybody said / told the concert had been terrible.
• I didn’t say / didn’t tell Meg that I was coming today.
• The Prime Minister said / told that things would get better soon.
• Nancy didn’t say / didn’t tell us anything.
• Mr Jones said / told the manager he was leaving.
• She said / told us to stand up.
• Alice said / told she was sick.

The Reported Speech...

• “I’m having a party tonight.”

He said __________________________________

• “John is so happy.”

Mary said ________________________________

Put the sentences in the Reported Speech.
(that) he was having a party that night.
(that) John was so happy.
The Reported Speech...

• “They are going to meet Susan at four.”

She said __________________________________

• “I don’t understand anything!”

John explained ______________________________

Put the sentences in the Reported Speech.
(that) they were going to meet Susan at 4.
(that) he didn’t understand anything.
The Reported Speech...

• “I will write to my parents.”

Tom said __________________________________

• “Jane has already been to France.”

John explained _______________________________

Put the sentences in the Reported Speech.
(that) he would write to his parents.
(that) she had already been to France.

Now, let’s practise... … on your own!

Reporting Questions
Reporting Statements