He said / She said

He said / She saidReported Speech

Im sick today.She said she is sick today.

Discussion Questions

When would a person use reported speech?

Reported speech (aka: indirect speech) is commonly used in spoken conversations and in writing to report what others have said.

When you want to report what someone else has said:We can use Direct Speech:

He said, I love you.We can use Indirect Speech:

He said that he loved me.Option 1Option 2

Have you ever eavesdropped on a conversation? What do you do if you notice someone eavesdropping on you?

Can you report back a news story that you heard or read recently?

Can you tell me about a conversation you had with your boss / colleague recently?

Can you talk about a conversation you recently had with a friend or family member?

Have you had to speak in a direct way to someone recently? What did you say?

Some reported speech examples

So, what did her mother say exactly?

When people report back information, they usually use the word Said and Asked.

Can you think of other words to use?

Alternatives to SaidadmittedMentionedtoldexplainedreplied (that)felt (that)revealedcommanded

Alternatives to AskedRequestedWanted inquired (whether)questionedbeggedpleadedinterrogated

Reported Speech Quiz: Test your knowledge

In the reported speech sentence, which word is optional?:He said that it was raining outside.

Mary: Where is it

a) Mary said where is it.

b) Mary asked where it was.

c) Mary asked where was it.

Mary: Where is it

a) Mary said where is it.

b) Mary asked where it was.

c) Mary asked where was it.

I bought a motorbike last week.

Last week, he said he bought a motorbike ________.a week ago

next week

the week before

I bought a motorbike last week.

Last week, he said he bought a motorbike ________.a week ago

next week

the week before

Which of these is usually required with reported YES/NO questions?

if

do

why

Which of these is usually required with reported YES/NO questions?

if (or whether)

do

why

He asked if I could help.

He asked whether I could help.

Tom asked me what I did on the weekend.

What were Toms exact words:

Did you do something on the weekend?

What did you do on the weekend?

What did you do last weekend?

Tom asked me what I did on the weekend.

What were Toms exact words:

Did you do something on the weekend?

What did you do on the weekend?

What did you do last weekend?

Come to my office. is a.

Direct order

Direct request

Reported order

Come to my office. is a.

Direct order

Direct request

Reported order

Turn down your music. said her boss.

Can you make this into a Reported Order?

Turn down your music. said her boss.

Can you make this into a Reported Order?

Her boss told her to turn down her music. demanded she instructed her to commanded her to ordered her to

Please wipe your feet.

I asked them to

wipe their feet please.

wipe your feet please.

wipe their feet.

Please wipe your feet.

I asked them to

wipe their feet please.

wipe your feet please.

wipe their feet.

She always asks me not to be late.

She always says

a) Not to be late!

b) Dont be late.

c) Please dont be late.

She always asks me not to be late.

She always says

a) Not to be late!

b) Dont be late.

c) Please dont be late.

The Friend QuizHow well do you know each other?

Answer the following questions 1) using the correct pronouns (she/he; his/her) 2) Reported Speech form: ex. She said she had

When is your friends Birthday?

*his/her birthday is ....

Where is your friends hometown?

How many years has your friend worked for their current company?

She/he told me that she/he has worked for her/his current company for ______ years.She/he said that she/he has worked for her/his current company for ______ years.example response:

Whats your friends favorite color to wear?

Your friend asks you to pick them up their favorite food. What food would you get?

If you invited your friend to do something, which activity would they prefer to do?:

sit in a caf and chatgo shoppinghang out at home and cookwatch a movie at the cinemasomething else

Do you know what your friends biggest fear is?

Do you know the name of your friends most challengingwork colleague?

Do you know the name(s) of your friends sibling(s)?

Do you know your friends shoe size?

Watch the following video and report what happened.

1. How long did Emma say she booked the deluxe suite?

3 Nights

Emma/She said she booked the deluxe suite for 3 nights.Emma said, My name is Emma Wallace and I have booked the deluxe suite for 3 nights.

Reported Speech:

What did Emma say to the receptionist when she couldnt find her pen?

Emma said, Could I use your pen?

Emma asked the receptionist if she coulduse her pen.

She asked her if she could use her pen. Reported Speech

What did the receptionist say when Emma asked what time breakfast was served?

The receptionist said, Breakfast is servedfrom 7am to 9:30am in the restaurant.

The receptionist said that breakfast was served from 7am to 9:30am in the restaurant.

She: replied thatresponded thatanswered thattold her thatReported Speech

A51

What special request did Emma ask for regarding her breakfast?

Room Service, 11AM

Emma asked, Would it be possible to haveroom service later on. Lets say, 11:30?

Emma asked if it were/would be possible to have room service at 11:30.

She requested to have asked to havewanted to have wanted to know if it were possible Reported Speech

What was Emmas final request to the receptionist?

Emma requested, Could you take a photo of me here in the hotel? My fans will love it?

Emma asked the receptionist if she could take her photo in the hotel because her fans would love it.

She wanted her (the receptionist) to take a photo of her in the lobby because her fans would love it. Reported Speech

The Rules of Reporting SpeechGrammar Rules

Present statements Past tenseAm / Is Was

Do/Does Did

Have/has Has

Go Went

Will Would

Can Could

Want WantedLets Practice..

John: Im going.

John: Im going.

John said that he was going.

Jane: He is tall.

Jane: He is tall.

Jane said that he was tall.

John: I always do my work.

John: I always do my work.

John said that he always did his work.

Jane: My boss doesnt understand.

Jane: My boss doesnt understand.

Jane said that her boss didnt understand.

John: I have your email.

John: I have your email.

John said that he had my email.

Jane: She has caught a terrible cold.

Jane: Mary has caught a terrible cold.

Jane said that Mary had caught a terrible cold.

John: I go to the gym on Sundays

John: I go to the gym on Sundays

John said that we went to the gym on Sundays.

Jane: Ill call Dr. Smith.

Jane: Ill call Dr. Smith.

Jane said she would call Dr. Smith.

John: I can exceed the target.

John: I can exceed the target.

John said he could exceed the target.

Jane: I want to be promoted.

Jane: I want to be promoted.

Jane said she wanted to be promoted.

No Change to the VerbWhen direct speech uses the past tense we do not need to make a change:

John: I broke my arm.

John: I broke my arm.

John said he broke his arm.

Jane: I forgot to call you!

Jane: I forgot to call you!

Jane said she forgot to call me.

Reported Speech for QuestionsThis type of question is reported by using 'ask' + 'if / whether' + clause:

Yes/No Questions:Question Words:This type of question is reported by using 'ask' (or another verb like 'ask') + question word + clause.

The clause contains the question, in normal word order and with the necessary tense change.

John: Where does Jane live?

John: Where does Jane live?

John asked him where Jane lived.

Jane: Where are you going?

Jane: Where are you going?

Jane asked where I was going.

John: Are you okay?

John: Are you okay?

John asked if I was okay. wondered whether questioned whether

Jane: Are you free on Friday?

Jane: Are you free on Friday?

Jane asked whether I was free on Friday.

John: Where are we having the conference?

John: Where are we having the conference?

John enquired where we would have the conference.John asked where we were having the conference.

Jane: Whats your favorite color.

Jane: Whats your favorite color.

Jane asked me my favorite color.Jane asked me what my favorite color was.

John: Why are we meeting at 5?

John: Why are we meeting at 5?

John asked (me) why we were meeting at 5.

More Practice

I always drink coffee.

I always drink coffee.She said she always drank coffee.

Im reading a history book.

Im reading a history book.He explained that he was reading a history book.

My sister and her family arrived on Sunday,she said.

My sister and her family arrived on Sunday,she said.She said her sister & her family had arrived on Sunday.

Ive been to Spain he told me.

Ive been to Spain he told me.

He told me he had been to Spain.

I had just bought my airline ticket she explained.

I had just bought my airline ticket she explained.

She explained that she had just boughther airline ticket.

Weve been waiting for hours! They complained.

Weve been waiting for hours! They complained.They complained that they had been waiting for hours.

Ill be traveling next week.