Follow-up:Reported speech

Old Mr Moneybag, a very rich old man, was killed last night. A case for Sherlock Holmes and Mr Watson! Here is

what the people in the house told Watson.

The widow…

Mrs Moneybag:

“I am very sad. I cannot believe that he is dead. I loved my husband very much! We led a very happy marriage.

We have been married for thirty-five years now and I can't imagine my life without him. Gregory was such a

good husband.”

Mrs Moneybag:

“I am very sad. I cannot believe that he is dead. I loved my husband very much! We led a very happy marriage.

We have been married for thirty-five years now and I can't imagine my life without him. Gregory was such a

good husband.”

The niece…

Miss Campbell:

“My uncle was often sad. We had tea together only last week and he told me that his marriage wasn't so happy after all. I last saw him at 6 o’clock yesterday.

He was entering the house. I am very sad.”

Miss Campbell:

“My uncle was often sad. We had tea together only last week and he told me that his marriage wasn't so happy after all. I last saw him at 6 o’clock yesterday.

He was entering the house. I am very sad.”

Mr Green:

“I haven’t seen him for days. He hasn’t been in the garden. My boss wasn't interested in my work. He only cared for money. Well, his wife is different,

and so I am very happy that I have the opportunity of working here.”

Mr Green:

“I haven’t seen him for days. He hasn’t been in the garden. My boss wasn't interested in my work. He only cared for money. Well, his wife is different,

and so I am very happy that I have the opportunity of working here.”

The gardener…

Mr Fast:

“I won’t find a better employer here. I will leave tomorrow, but never forget him. Mr Moneybag

employed me twenty years ago, and he has always been kind and generous. I believe there were problems in his marriage, but he never talked

about it."

Mr Fast:

“I won’t find a better employer here. I will leave tomorrow, but never forget him. Mr Moneybag

employed me twenty years ago, and he has always been kind and generous. I believe there were problems in his marriage, but he never talked

about it."

The butler…

I have lived together with my wife, Marjorie Moneybag, for the

last 35 years, but I don’t love her any more. I found out that she has been unfaithful to me: She has had an love affair with our gardener, Mr Willie Green. I cannot forgive her. My heart belongs to my beloved niece, Miss Susie Campbell, who will receive all my money and all my belongings in case of my death. Marjorie shall get nothing because of her love affair with this horrible Scotsman.

London, November 13th, 2010Gregory Moneybag

The will…

Who killed Mr Moneybag…?

Let‘s take a closer look now.

Sherlock Holmes tells Watson about the alibis.

We use the reported speech to say indirectly what another person said.

Tenses in reported speech

tensessimple present simple pastpresent progressive past progressivesimple past past perfectpresent perfect past perfectpast perfect past perfectwill wouldcan couldmay might shall should

Adverbials of time and place

Adverbials of time / placeyesterday the day beforetomorrow the following daynow thenhere therethis thatthese thosenext the following

Other changes

personal pronouns depending on the context!(no automatism)e.g. I he / she no changes with:could, would, might, shouldpast perfect

Now let‘s practise!

Mrs Moneybag (widow):“I am very sad. I cannot believe that he is

dead. I love my husband very much!”Mrs Moneybag said that…

she was very sad. She could not believe that he was dead. She loved her husband very much.

Miss Campbell:

“My uncle was often sad. He told me that his marriage wasn't happy. I saw him at 6 o’clock yesterday. I am very

sad.”

Miss Campbell said…

Miss Campbell:

“My uncle was often sad. He told me that his marriage wasn't happy. I saw him at 6 o’clock yesterday. I am very

sad.”

Miss Campbell said…

her uncle had often been sad.He had told her that his marriage hadn‘t been happy.She had seen him at 6 o‘clock the day before.She was very sad.

Mr Green:

“I haven’t seen my boss for days. He hasn’t been in the garden. My boss wasn't interested in my work. He only

cared for money.“

Mr Green said that...

Mr Green:

“I haven’t seen my boss for days. He hasn’t been in the garden. My boss wasn't interested in my work. He only

cared for money.“

Mr Green said that...

he hadn‘t seen his boss for days.He hadn‘t been in the garden.His boss had only been interested in his work.He had only cared for money.

Mr Fast:

“I won’t find a better employer here. I will leave tomorrow. Mr Moneybag employed me twenty

years ago.“

Mr Fast said…

Mr Fast:

“I won’t find a better employer here. I will leave tomorrow. Mr Moneybag employed me twenty

years ago.“

Mr Fast said…

he wouldn‘t find a better employee there.He would leave the next day.Mr Moneybag had employed him twenty years before.