Larisa said that the new teacher had given all the

students an A last semester.

Really! Victor told me that

students could eat in his class.

No, what is it?

Rumors and Gossip

Have you heard the latest gossip

about the new teacher?

Wow! Yeah, I heard he was

an easy teacher.

Maria said that the new teacher didn’t give any

homework.

Reported Speech 1

The table below presents the changes in verb forms:

Direct Speech Reported Speech

Simple Present

Present Continuous

Simple Past Tense

Present Perfect

Simple Past

Past Continuous

Past Perfect

Past Perfect

Example 1

“The teacher

is strict.”

She said the teacher was strict.

“The teacher is giving

everyone an A.”

He said the

teacher was

giving everyone

an A.

Example 2

“Somebody put the final exam on the

Internet.”

She said somebody had put the final exam

on the Internet.

“The teacher has graded our grammar

tests.”

Joe said the teacher had graded our

grammar tests.

Reported Speech

There are other changes in the Reported Speech

Direct Speech Reported SpeechHere

This /TheseI

MyOurWe

There That / those He / She His / Her Their

They

Direct Speech Reported Speech

NowToday

TonightTomorrow

YesterdayLast week

Ago

Then

That dayThat night

The next day / The following day

The day before

The week beforeBefore

Exercise 1

1. “The library is closed.” He said…

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

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

Rewrite the following sentences into the Reported Speech:

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

She said her friend was helping her study.

He said the library was closed.

They said they had registered for classes.

You said she had gotten an A on the test.

Reported Speech 2

Modal verbs also change in the Reported Speech

Direct Speech Reported Speech

will

can

may

must

would

could

might

had to

Example 1“The test

will be difficult.”

He said the test would be difficult.

She said we could use our notes

on the test.

“You can use your notes on the test.”

Example 2

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

“You must study hard for the final

exam.”

“We may have a

substitute teacher.”

She said we might have a

substitute teacher.

Exercise 2

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

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

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

Rewrite the sentences into the Reported Speech.

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

She said I could relax about the exam.

They said they would help me with my homework.

He said Anna had to finish her paper.

You said she might take a different class.

Reported Speech 3

The following verbs don’t change in the Reported Speech: should, could, might, ought to.

“You shouldn’t tell this

secret to anyone.”

She said I shouldn’t tell this secret to

anyone.

“You ought to tell this to

a friend.”! He said I

ought to tell this to a friend.

“I could have gotten help from a tutor.”

He said he could have gotten help from a tutor.

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

“I thought I had chosen the easy teacher.”

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

He said he thought he had chosen the easy teacher.

Reported Speech 4The Past Perfect and the 3rd Conditional don’t change in the Reported Speech

Exercise 3

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

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

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

Rewrite the sentences into the Reported Speech

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

He said we ought to study some more.

She said if she knew, she would tell me.

He said he might have known the test was difficult.

We said she had had that teacher before.