REPORTED (INDIRECT) SPEECH

Direct speech refers to statements that are made without an intermediary. Quoted statements, for example, are a type of direct speech. Reported (indirect) speech refers to statements that are made through an intermediary. In reported speech, the sequence of tenses rule is usually employed (EXCEPT when the application of the rule would result in an am iguous or unclear sentence!. The sequence of tenses rule" If the #er in the main clause of a sentence is in a past tense, su ordinate clause #er s must also e in their respecti#e past forms. Examples" DIRECT SPEECH
$. %I ha#e two sisters.% '. %(e li#e on )aple *treet.% +. %It is too windy to play tennis.% ,. %They ha#e + children.% -. %I saw her stealing the glo#es.% .. %(e ha#e eaten dinner.% /. %It is raining outside.% 0. %I will meet you here at 0"11.% 2. %I can finish my homewor3 4uic3ly.%

REPORTED (INDIRECT) SPEECH

&e says (that! he has two sisters. *he said (that! they li#ed on )aple *treet. &e said (that! it was too windy to play tennis. &e said (that! they had + children. &e said (that! he had seen her stealing the glo#es. They said (that! they had eaten dinner. *he said (that! it was raining outside. &e said (that! he would meet me there at 0"11. *he said (that! she could finish her homewor3 4uic3ly.

5otes" 6that is usually omitted efore the su ordinate clause 6if the main clause #er is in the present tense (see ex. $ a o#e!, the su ordinate clause #er is not changed 6the past of the past is past perfect (see ex. - a o#e! 6the past of the present perfect is also past perfect (see ex. . a o#e! 6the past forms of the modal #er s are as follows" can 67 could will 67 would shall 67 should may 67 might must 67 had to 6sometimes pronouns, possessi#es, and time8place references must e changed (see examples ', 0, and 2! EXERCISE Change the following direct statements to reported speech"
%I play inline6s3ate hoc3ey for the national team.% %I want to play professionally in the future.% %I too3 some medicine for my cold.% %I ha#e ne#er ta3en ana olic steroids.% %I must go now.% %The pharmacy is closing in $1 minutes.% &e says &e said &e said &e said &e said &e said . . . . . .

SAY is 9ust one of many #er s that can e used in the main clause of a reported statement. &ere are some other commonly used #er s" announce answer complain mention predict promise declare remar3 deny explain reply state tell insist

Examples" (as an exercise, form the direct statements that ser#ed as the asis for the following reported statements! )a3e the direct (4uoted! statement" REPORTED (INDIRECT) SPEECH
The weatherman announced that it would rain. The President insisted that he hadn:t had sex with )s. ;ewins3i. The accused stated that he was innocent. )y teacher told me that I had to study more or I would fail. The oss told us that we could lea#e early.

5ote" 6the #er TELL re4uires an indirect object (see examples , and -!. The #er SAY, on the other hand, ta3es no indirect o 9ect. REPORTED QUESTIONS <eported 4uestions usually employ the #er ASK in the main clause (also possi le are the #er s INQ IRE, !"NDER, or !ANT T" KN"!!. (hen reporting verb questions (yes/no 4uestions!, the su ordinating con9unction I# (or !$ET$ER! is used to introduce the su ordinate clause. =or infor !tion questions, the appropriate interrogati#e pronoun is used (as a relati#e pronoun! to introduce the su ordinate clause. Examples" DIRECT SPEECH
%Is the an3 open>% %(here is the nearest post office>% %(here did you put my glasses>% %(hen will this noise stop>% %&ow many cats do you ha#e>%

REPORTED (INDIRECT) SPEECH

&e as3ed (me! if the an3 was open. *he as3ed (me! where the nearest post office was. &e as3ed (me! where I had put his glasses. They as3ed (us! when the noise would stop. *he as3ed (me! how many cats I had.

5ote" <eported 4uestions are technically NOT 4uestions themsel#es, so they are not followed y 4uestion mar3s, and T&E<E I* 5? I5@E<*I?5 ?= T&E @E<A B5C T&E *DAEECT.

REPORTED CO""#NDS Commands (imperati#e sentences! are reported using the #er TE$$ followed y an infiniti#e phrase. Examples" DIRECT SPEECH
%Fi#e me all of your moneyG% %*top tal3ingG% %Eat your scram led eggs.%

REPORTED (INDIRECT) SPEECH

The ro er told me to gi#e him all of my money. The teacher told us to stop tal3ing. *he told him oy to eat his scram led eggs.

RE%IE& EXERCISE ' REPORTED SPEECH

=orm reported speech statements from the following direct speech 4uotes" DIRECT SPEECH
$. %It is not my pro lem,% said Eohn. '. %There are too many people,% said &elen. +. %Can I ha#e another piece>% as3ed the little oy. ,. %Co you uy the )ontreal FaHette>% as3ed the telemar3eter. -. %Cid you go to high school in ;a#al>% as3ed the teacher. .. %(here is the li rary>% as3ed the new student. /. %&ow long is rea3>% as3ed all the students. 0. %It is ten minutes li3e always,% said the teacher. 2. %&a#e you seen the magnificent <oc3ies>% as3ed )r. Fratton. $1.%Fo west, young man,% said &orace Freely. $$.%=uc3 offG% said the pun3. $'.%The Prime )inister will lose the election,% the 9ournalist predicted. $+.%(hen are you going to fix the sin3>% as3ed his wife. $,.%(e are considering all possi le options,% said the politician. $-.%Come out with your hands in the airG% said the policeman. $..%Is this all 9ust a dream>% wondered the philosopher. $/.%(ho was the first man on the moon>% as3ed the historian. $0.%(here did you find my wallet>% as3ed *te#en.

REPORTED (INDIRECT) SPEECH

&e said *he said &e as3ed &e as3ed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .