reported speech 1

I can’t go because I have to study.

She said that she couldn’t go because she had to study

Yesterday:

Today:

We use reported speech to repeat what someone else said

Reported Speech

Direct Speech vs. Reported SpeechReported Speech:

• The exact meaning of what someone said but not the exact words

• We don’t use quotation marks• We need a reporting verb

such as say, tell, ask…

•Direct Speech:

The exact words said by someoneWe use quotation marks

Example:

“The situation is improving”, he said.

The situation is improving

He said that the situation was improving

Example:

- What did he say?

- He said that the situation was improving.

Reported Speech

What can we report?

Statements•Yes / No questions•WH questions Orders/Requests

DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH

Present Simple:I like basketball

Verb changes in statements and questions



Past Simple:He said that he liked basketball





Present Continuous:They are having a chat






Past Continuous:She said that they were having a chat







Be going to (present):I am going to buy a car








Be going to (past):She said that she was going to buy a car









Past simple:You met your friends










Past perfect:She said that I had met my friends











Present Perfect:I’ve bought you a book












Past Perfect:He told me that he had bought me a book













Will/ would:I’ ll never go there














Would:He said that she would never go there


DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH Present Simple:I like basketball












Can:You can borrow my mp3 player















Could:He said that I could borrow his mp3 player
















Must / have to:I must tell you a secret
















Must / have to:I must tell you a secret

Had to:She told me that she had to tell me a secret


Pronouns / Possessives changes




I



I He/She



I He/She

We



I He/She

We They



I He/She

We They

You



I He/She

We They

You I /We



I He/She

We They

You I /We

Me



I He/She

We They

You I /We

Me Him / Her



I He/She

We They

You I /We

Me Him / Her

Us



I He/She

We They

You I /We

Me Him / Her

Us Them



I He/She

We They

You I /We

Me Him / Her

Us Them

You



I He/She

We They

You I /We

Me Him / Her

Us Them

You Me / Us



I He/She

We They

You I /We

Me Him / Her

Us Them

You Me / Us

My



I He/She

We They

You I /We

Me Him / Her

Us Them

You Me / Us

My His / Her



I He/She

We They

You I /We

Me Him / Her

Us Them

You Me / Us

My His / Her

Our



I He/She

We They

You I /We

Me Him / Her

Us Them

You Me / Us

My His / Her

Our Their



I He/She

We They

You I /We

Me Him / Her

Us Them

You Me / Us

My His / Her

Our Their

Your



I He/She

We They

You I /We

Me Him / Her

Us Them

You Me / Us

My His / Her

Our Their

Your My /Our

Time / Place expressions changes




Now



Now Then



Now Then

Today



Now Then

Today That day



Now Then

Today That day

Tonight



Now Then

Today That day

Tonight That night



Now Then

Today That day

Tonight That night

Yesterday



Now Then

Today That day

Tonight That night

Yesterday The previous day / The day before



Now Then

Today That day

Tonight That night


Last week The previous week / The week before



Now Then

Today That day

Tonight That night



A month ago



Now Then

Today That day

Tonight That night



A month ago The previous month / The month before



Now Then

Today That day

Tonight That night




Tomorrow



Now Then

Today That day

Tonight That night




Tomorrow The next day / The following day / the day after



Now Then

Today That day

Tonight That night





Next week



Now Then

Today That day

Tonight That night





Next week The following week / the week after



Now Then

Today That day

Tonight That night






Here / This / These



Now Then

Today That day

Tonight That night






Here / This / These There / That / Those

How to report a statementWe need to change:

•The verb tense

•The pronouns

•The possessives

•The time / place expressions

We also need:

• A reporting verb

Main Reporting Verbs:

Say (+ to + person /object pronoun) (+ that)…

EX.: He said (to him /Peter) (that) he

needed a new job •Tell + person /object pronoun (+ that)…

EX.: He told him/ Peter ( that) he needed a

new job

How to report a questionWe need to change: The verb tense, the pronouns, the possessives, the time/place expressions. We also need: A reporting verb

And…

… If/Whether + the previous question but in affirmative order (no subject/verb inversion!!!)

EX.: -“Can you answer the question?”, the teacher asked me -The teacher asked me if I could answer the question.

…Wh + the previous question but in affirmative order ( no subject/verb inversion !!!)

EX.:-”What did you study last weekend?”, the teacher asked me - The teacher asked me what I had studied the previous weekend

Main Reporting Verb: Ask (+ person /object pronoun) …

Yes/No questions

Wh questions

How to report a question

Summary:• Reported questions have the same order

as affirmative sentences. The subject comes before the verb.

• We use “If” or “Whether” in reported Yes/ No questions.

• We keep the WH- word in wh- questions.

How to report Commands and Requests

• The main reporting verb is Tell: Tell + person/object pronoun + (not) to Infinitive EX.: “Be quiet” said the teacher. The teacher told us to be quiet.

• The sentence in direct speech usually has the word “please”• The main reporting verb is Ask:

Ask + person/object pronoun + (not) to Infinitive EX.:”Please, close the door”, said my brother My brother asked me to close the door.

Commands

Requests

reported speech 1

Education