IES Pealba

REPORTED SPEECH

4 ESO

We use the Reported Speech when we want to report what another

person said but without using the speakers exact words.
When we report someones words, some changes are necessary:
a) TENSES
Direct speech

Reported speech

Present Simple:
I never eat meat, he explained.
I dont eat meat he explained.
Present continuous:
Im waiting for Ann he said.
Im not waiting for Carol, he said.
Future:
I will/shall be in Paris on Monday, she said.
I wont be in Paris on Sunday, she said.
Future with BE going to:
Im going to go to the cinema, he told me.
Im not going to go to the park, he told me.
Modals verb CAN / MUST
They said, We can do it
They said, We cant visit you later.
I must study every day, she explained.
You mustnt park here she said.

Past Simple:
He explained that he never ate meat.
He explained that he didnt eat meat.
Past continuous;
He said (that) he was waiting for Ann.
He said (that) he wasnt waiting for Carol
Conditional:
She said she would be in Paris on Monday.
She said she wouldnt be in Paris in Sunday.
Future with WAS/WERE going to:
He told me he was going to go to the cinema.
He told me he wasnt going to go to the park.
COULD / HAD TO:
They said they could do it.
They said they couldnt visit us later.
She explained that she had to study every day.
She said that I didnt have to park there.

b) TIME EXPRESSIONS AND PLACE EXPRESSIONS

Direct speech
Now
Today
Tonight

Reported speech
Then
That day
That night

Tomorrow
Next week, month

The next/ following day

The next/ following week,
month

This
These
Here

That
Those
There

c) PRONOUNS AND POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES

They change according to the context.
DS: He told me, Ill lend you my laptop
me his laptop.

RS: He told me (that) he would lend

IES Pealba
REPORTED SPEECH
Apart from these changes, we must always take into account if we are transforming a
statement, a question or a request/ command (type of sentence):

4 ESO

They are affirmative and negative sentences.

We often use these reporting verbs: say that / tell sb that / explain
1. Turn these statements into reported speech.
1. We like your attitude this year, the teachers told me.
The teachers told me
that________________________________________________________________
2. We dont want to watch TV in our bedroom, the children told me.
The children told me
that________________________________________________________________
3. Im getting bored of reading this book, he said.
He said
that___________________________________________________________________________
4. We are taking an exam tomorrow, they explained.
They explained
that_____________________________________________________________________
5. This place is absolutely gorgeous, Samantha said.
Samantha said
that_____________________________________________________________________
6. The weather will be better next week, the weatherman explained.
The weatherman explained
that___________________________________________________________
7. My dad cant take me to school today, Charles told me.
Charles told me that
____________________________________________________________________
8. You must tidy your bedroom before going out with your friends, my mother told me.
My mother told me that
_________________________________________________________________
9. Im studying French now, she explained.
She explained
that______________________________________________________________________
10. We are going to the disco with our friends tonight, the girls said.
The girls said that
______________________________________________________________________
11. This is my favourite film, Susan told me.
Susan told
me_________________________________________________________________________
12. I dont know your address, Peter told Carol.
Peter told Carol that
___________________________________________________________________
13. You mustnt eat so much sugar, the doctor told Ann.
The doctor told Ann
____________________________________________________________________
14. I wont phone you tonight, Betty explained Carl.

IES Pealba
REPORTED SPEECH
4 ESO
Betty told
Carl_________________________________________________________________________
15. We arent going to go to the beach this summer, they said.
They said
_____________________________________________________________________________
REMEMBER
Say + (that) + clause
Tell + someone + (that) + clause

- He said that his parents were working.

- He told me that his parents were working.

2. Fill in the gaps with said or told.

1. She _________ that she was tired.
2. He _________ me that he was bored.
3. I _________ her that it was important.
4. Jack _________ me you were ill.
5. She _________ she didnt like Peter.

6. Lucy _________ she would be late.

7. He _________ he was a reporter.
8. She _________ them she didnt know their
names.

The question mark is omitted.

We always use affirmative word order: subject + verb + objects
We often use these reporting verbs: ask (sb) , wonder, want to know
YES / NO QUESTIONS

REPORTED SPEECH: IF / WHETHER

Are you a student?, he asked.

He asked if/whether I was a student.

Do you live with your parents?, he asked

me.

He asked me if/whether I lived with my

parents.

Are you studying in Moral?, she asked.

She wanted to know if/whether I was living in

Moral

Will you study abroad?, she asked.

Are you going to stay out late today?, he
asked.

She asked if/whether I would study abroad.

He wondered if/whether I was going to stay
out late that night.

Can you drive?, she asked.

She wanted to know if/whether I could drive.

WH-WORD QUESTIONS

REPORTED SPEECH:

When is your birthday?, she asked me.

She asked me when my birthday was.

How often do you brush your teeth, he

asked.

He asked how often I brushed my teeth.

What time are you seeing the doctor, she

asked.

WH + SUB + VERB

She wanted to know what time I was seeing

the doctor.
She wondered what I would do the next
weekend.

What will you do next weekend?, he asked.

She asked where I was going to go that day.

Where are you going to go today?, she

asked.

He asked us who could play the guitar in that

class.

Who can play the guitar in this class?, he

asked us.

2. Turn these questions into reported speech.

1. Are you usually at home in the afternoon? / She

2. Where are you going to spend your holiday this summer, Sue?

asked

me

..

IES Pealba
REPORTED SPEECH
4 ESO
Mary
asked
Sue
.

3. How long is it from London to Cambridge?

Tom asked me ...

4. Is Sue coming to the library with you, Paul? / Tina asked Paul.

5. Do the children play football in the park every day?

Grandma
wanted
to
know.

6. How much does the ticket for the concert cost?

Father
wondered

....
7. Can you help me with the housework tomorrow, Linda?
He asked Linda ..

8. What time does the new TV series begin tonight?

Terry
asked

..
9. Are you going to buy a new computer next month, Lewis?
I wanted to know .
..
10.
When
is
Tim
celebrating
his
birthday?
/
Sarah
asked
me

11. Will you phone me as soon as you arrive in Oxford, Carol?

Cindy
asked
Carol

12. How often do you play chess with your brother, Alice?
Sam
wanted
to
know
.
..
13. Are you revising for tomorrows exam?/ The teacher asked the students
..

In commands there isnt any subject.

We often use these reporting verbs: order sb, ask sb, tell sb
The reporting verb is always followed by a to infinitive or not to infinitive.

DIRECT SPEECH
Eat your food.
Dont speak with your partner.

REPORTED SPEECH
Rachels mother ordered her TO EAT her food.
The teacher told us NOT TO SPEAK with our
partners.

3. Turn these requests and commands into reported speech.

IES Pealba
1. Sleep eight hour a day

REPORTED SPEECH
4 ESO
/The doctor told me..

2. Dont fish in this river.

/ The farmer told the

children.....
3. Take this parcel to my office. / The boss ordered Susan
...
4. Stay away from me

/ Peter told his

sister...
5. Call me in the morning

/ Bob asked

Sue
6. Dont shout at me

/She told him..

7. Be careful crossing the road. / He told his

daughter.
8. Dont run in the corridors.

/ The teacher told the

students..
9. Dance with me

/ Philip told

Rose.
10. Show me your driving licence / The policeman asked the driver.
.
11. Come to my party tomorrow.

/ My friend asked

me
12. Make your beds and have breakfast quickly.
Anne asked her
children

13. Dont speak to your mother like this

Toms father ordered
him
..
14. Bring your literature books tomorrow.
The teacher asked the
students

15. Don't bathe when the red flag is flying".

The lifeguard ordered
us
..