+ pearson very good indirectspeech

Indirect Speech:Tense Changes

Rumors and Gossip

10

Focus on Grammar 4Part X, Unit 26By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ WellsCopyright © 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.`

Larisa said that the new teacher had givenhad given all the

students an A last semester.

Larisa said that the new teacher had givenhad given all the

students an A last semester.

Really! Viktor told me that

students could eatcould eat in his class.

Really! Viktor told me that

students could eatcould eat in his class.

No, what is it?No, what is it?

Rumors and GossipRumors and Gossip

Have you heard the latest gossip

about the new teacher?

Have you heard the latest gossip

about the new teacher?

Wow! Yeah, I heard he waswas

an easy teacher.

Wow! Yeah, I heard he waswas

an easy teacher.

Maria said that the new teacher didn’t givedidn’t give any

homework.

Maria said that the new teacher didn’t givedidn’t give any

homework.

Indirect Speech 1Indirect Speech 1

When the reporting verb is in the simple past, the verb tense in the indirect speech statement often changes.

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

Simple Present

Present Progressive

Simple Past Tense

Present Perfect

Simple PastSimple Past

Past ProgressivePast Progressive

Past PerfectPast Perfect

Past Perfect

Examples 1Examples 1

“The teacher

isis strict.”

“The teacher

isis strict.”

She said the teacher waswas strict.

She said the teacher waswas strict.

“The teacher is givingis giving

everyone an A.”

“The teacher is givingis giving

everyone an A.”

He said the

teacher was was

givinggiving everyone

an A.

He said the

teacher was was

givinggiving everyone

an A.


“Somebody putput the final exam on the

Internet.”

“Somebody putput the final exam on the

Internet.”

She said somebody had puthad put the final exam

on the Internet.

She said somebody had puthad put the final exam

on the Internet.

“The teacher has gradedhas graded

our grammar

tests.”

“The teacher has gradedhas graded

our grammar

tests.”

Joe said the teacher had had gradedgraded our

grammar tests.

Joe said the teacher had had gradedgraded our

grammar tests.

Practice 1Practice 1

1. “The library isis closed.” He said…

2. “We have registeredhave registered for classes.” They said…

3. “She gotgot an A on the test.” You said…

Change the direct speech into indirect speech.

“My friend is helpingis helping me study.” She said…She said…

Example:

She said her friend was helpingwas helping her study.

He said the library was closedwas closed.

They said they had registeredhad registered for classes.

You said she had gottenhad gotten an A on the test.


Modals often change in indirect speech.

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

will

can

may

must

wouldwould

couldcould

mightmight

had tohad to


“The test will bewill be

difficult.”

“The test will bewill be

difficult.”

He said the test would bewould be

difficult.

He said the test would bewould be

difficult.

She said we could usecould use our notes

on the test.

She said we could usecould use our notes

on the test.

“You can can useuse your notes on the test.”

“You can can useuse your notes on the test.”


She said we had to studyhad to study hard for the final exam.

She said we had to studyhad to study hard for the final exam.

“You must must studystudy hard for the final

exam.”

“You must must studystudy hard for the final

exam.”

“We may may havehave a

substitute teacher.”

“We may may havehave a

substitute teacher.”

She said we might havemight have a

substitute teacher.

She said we might havemight have a

substitute teacher.


1. “We’ll help’ll help you with your homework.” They said…

2. “Anna must finishmust finish her paper.” He said…

3. “She may takemay take a different class.” You said…


“You can relaxcan relax about the exam.” She said…

Example:

She said I could relaxcould relax about the exam.

They said they would helpwould help me with my homework.

He said Anna had to finishhad to finish her paper.

You said she might takemight take a different class.


The following modals do not change in indirect speech: should, could, might, and ought to.

“You shouldn’t shouldn’t telltell this

secret to anyone.”

“You shouldn’t shouldn’t telltell this

secret to anyone.”

She said I shouldn’t tellshouldn’t tell this secret to

anyone.

She said I shouldn’t tellshouldn’t tell this secret to

anyone.

“You ought ought to tellto tell this to

a friend.”

“You ought ought to tellto tell this to

a friend.”

!!!! He said I ought to tellought to tell

this to a friend.

He said I ought to tellought to tell

this to a friend.

“I could have gottencould have gotten help from a tutor.”

“I could have gottencould have gotten help from a tutor.”

He said he could have could have gottengotten help from a tutor.

He said he could have could have gottengotten help from a tutor.

He said if he had studied,had studied, he would have gottenwould have gotten an A.

He said if he had studied,had studied, he would have gottenwould have gotten an A.

“I thought I had chosenhad chosen the easy teacher.”

“I thought I had chosenhad chosen the easy teacher.”

“If I had studied,had studied, I would would have gottenhave gotten an A.”

“If I had studied,had studied, I would would have gottenhave gotten an A.”

He said he thought he had had chosenchosen the easy teacher.

He said he thought he had had chosenchosen the easy teacher.


The following do not change in indirect speech: the past perfect, the present and past unreal conditional, and past modals.


1. “If I knew,knew, I would tellwould tell you.” She said…

2. “I might have knownmight have known the test was difficult.” He said…

3. “She had hadhad had that teacher before.” We said…


“We ought to studyought to study some more.” He said…

Example:

He said we ought to studyought to study some more.

She said if she knewknew,, she would tellwould tell me.

He said he might have knownmight have known the test was difficult.

We said she had hadhad had that teacher before.