Reported speech is used to express what others have said. I t is also usefulwhen you are writing a paper at college level. I n this case, it involvesparaphrasing and summarizing what diff erent authors have said.

I n spoken discourse there are certain rules to follow. First of all, to makesentences in reported speech you need verbs like say or tell.

On the other hand the tense used to express and idea is also an importantfactor. Take into consideration the following chart:

Direct Speech Reported Speech

Present Tense

Future with "Going to"

Present Perfect

Sentences with "Can"

Future with "Will"

Present Progressive

Simple Past Tense

Past with "Going to"

Past Perfect

Sentences with "Could"

Sentences with "Would"

Past Progressive

Look at the following examples:

Direct Speech Reported Speech

Julia:"I live in my ownapartment".

Nick:"I am going to visit myparents next weekend".

Tom:"I have studied Italianfor a year".

Linda and John: "We can'tcome to the party next week".

Terry: "I'll write as soon as Iget there".

Andrew:"I'm learning to cookChinese food".

She said that she lived in her ownapartment

He said he was going to visit hisparents next weekend.

Tom said he had studied Italina for ayear.

They said they couldn't come to theparty next week.

She said that she would write as soon ashe got there.

He said he was learning to cookChinese food.

Put the following sentences into the reported speech introducing them with a verb in the past tense

I am ill He said

I met him last year She said

They will be here soon They said

She has finished now She said

I am living in London He said

He is going to Berlin tomorrow He said

I have just been to the super market She said

I can come next week He said

They went away yesterday He said

he was ill

she had met him the year beforeShe said she met him last year

they would be there soon

she had finished then

he was living in London

he was going to Berlin the following day

she had just been to the supermarket

he could come the following week

they had gone away the day afterHe said they went away yesterday

Reported Requests and Commands

Reported requests and commands are made by using verbs like want, would like, ask andtell with an object and an infinitive.

Direct (Affirmative)“Can you come and see me about the job?” (request)“Talk to Bob about the job.” (command)

ReportedClare asked / wants / would like me to go and see her about the job.Clare told me to talk to Bob about it.

Direct (Negative)“Please don’t call me.” (request)“Don’t call me.” (command)

ReportedAlan asked / told me not to call him.

Said is also possible with the infinitive: The doctor said to stay inbed for a few days. (but not said me)

What’s the difference in meaning?1 – He asked me to go.2 – He told me to go.

Reported questions

In reported questions the word order of the question always changes

He asked, «what are you doing?»He asked, «what is your name?»

He asked meHe asked me

If there is no question word (who, what, where etc.) if is used instead.

Are you American? He askedDo you live in Boston? He asked

what I was doingwhat my name was

if I was Americanif I lived in Boston

Put the following sentences into the reported speech

Are you enjoying yourself? She asked me

Do I look all right? She asked me

Is it time to go? He wanted to know

Can you hear a noise? He asked her

Do you sleep in the afternoons? He wanted to know

Was the train full? He asked

Did Bill give you that ring? She wanted to know

if I was enjoying myself

if she looked all right

if it was time to go

if she could hear a noise

if I slept in the afternoons

if the train was full

if Bill had given her that ring

Say and tell

If you say who you are talking to, use tell: Tom told me (that) he didn’t like Brian. (not Tom said me ... )

Otherwise use say: Tom said (that) he didn’t like Brian. (not Tom told (that) he ... )

Also: you can’t say “Tom told about his trip to Mexico.” You have to say: Tom told us (or me/them/Ann, etc) about his trip to Mexico.

If you don’t say who he told, you have to say: Tom talked (or spoke) about his trip to Mexico. (but not said

about)

EXERCISES1 – Give the Reported Speech of these sentences.a) “I live in an apartment in Cambridge.”_________________________________________________________________________________b) “Eat more fruits and vegetables,” the doctor said._________________________________________________________________________________c) “I don’t smoke.”_________________________________________________________________________________d) “I’m working tomorrow evening.”_________________________________________________________________________________e) “You must come back by 9:00 pm.”_________________________________________________________________________________f) “It may rain.”_________________________________________________________________________________g) “I have been to a lot of places.”_________________________________________________________________________________h) “I drove home last night.”_________________________________________________________________________________i) “Speak more slowly.”_________________________________________________________________________________j) “Do you work in Boston?”_________________________________________________________________________________k) “Don’t shout!”_________________________________________________________________________________l) “New York is bigger than London.”_________________________________________________________________________________m) “She has taught English for many years.”_________________________________________________________________________________n) “Mr. Evans didn’t go to the concert last Monday.”_________________________________________________________________________________o) “Can you open the gate for me, please?”_________________________________________________________________________________p) “Ann, answer the question, please!_________________________________________________________________________________q) “I will be there for sure.”_________________________________________________________________________________r) “I can’t come to the party tonight.”_________________________________________________________________________________s) “Don’t come before 6:00,” I said to her._________________________________________________________________________________t) “I wake up very tired this morning.”_________________________________________________________________________________

REPORTING VERBStold said advised warnedsuggestedaskedofferedordered

I would go and see the doctor if I were youJulie

Can you come and help me with this box?John

This is an exam Mr Jones. Shut up now.The headmaster

That road is very dangarous, so just be careful.His mother

Liverpool won the match last nightThe journalistWhy don’t we go and see that film at the cinema?BillI can come and look after the children tomorrow JaneThe lesson starts at six o’clock in the eveningThe teacher

advised me to go and see a doctor

asked me to help him with that box

told me to shut up

warned him that the road was dangerous and asked him to be careful

reported that Liverpool won the match last night

suggested we should go and see that film at the cinema

offered to come and look after the children tomorrow

said that the lesson starts at six o’clock in the evening