INDIRECT / REPORTED SPEECH :

* When the main verb of the sentence is in the past tense, the tense in the reported speech is
changed.
I.e. Ill talk to Mr. Jones, he said --- He said (that) he would talk to Mr. Jones.
Be careful !! Ill talk to Mr. Jones, he says --- He says (that) he will talk to Mr. Jones.
* Main verbs in indirect speech: ask, remark, say, tell, want to know....
TENSE CHANGES:
Will ---------- would
Shall ---------- should
Is going to ---------was going to
Present simple --------past simple
Present continuous -------- past continuous
Past continuous ----------- past perfect continuous
Past simple ; present perfect -----------past perfect
May --------- might
Must --------- had to
Can ---------- could
Would -------- would (no change)
Past perfect --------- past perfect (no change)
OTHER CHANGES:
Tomorrow --------- the next day; the following day
Yesterday ---------- the day before
Here --------- there
This / that ------- the
These --------- those
This morning --------- that morning
Today ----------- that day
Tonight ----------- that night
Next /on Tuesday --------- the following Tuesday
Last Tuesday --------- the previous Tuesday
The day after tomorrow --------- in two days time
Ago --------- before, previously

*The personal and possessive pronouns must also be changed according to the person referred to.
i.e. Peter asked Ann: When are we going to visit your parents?
Peter asked Ann when they were going to visit her parents.

INDIRECT SPEECH TYPES:

*STATEMENTS:
We use that. (It can be omitted).
i.e. John said: I dont like meat ------- John said that he didnt like meat.
John said he didnt like meat.
*IF / WHETHER QUESTIONS:
(La respuesta suele ser si o no)
-Any question, except those starting with any wh- pronoun:
i.e. Are you angry? ----- He asked if I was angry.
Did you see the film? ------ She asked if I had seen the film.
-We use whether when there are two options to choose:
i.e. Do you prefer coffee or tea? ------ He asked whether I preferred coffee or tea.
*WH- QUESTIONS:
Reported questions change the word order of the original question:
i.e. Whats the time? ------- she asked what time it was.
How is your mother? ------ he asked me how my mother was.
Word order: wh- + subject + verb + complements
EXCEPT questions using who (there is no subject): who + verb + complements
*COMMANDS / REQUESTS:
-In commands we use a personal direct object and the infinitive (with to).
i.e. Stop! ----- he told the children to stop / he told them to stop.
Negative sentences with not to.
i.e. Dont go! ------ he told me not to go.
-In requests, its the same grammatical form as in commands. Its when you are asking someone to
do something for you.
i.e. Would you open the door, please? ----- she asked me to open the door.
Could you lend me some money, please? ------- he asked me to lend him some money.

EXERCISES:
STATEMENTS:
1. She said: Im wating for Joan.
2. He said: I dont like the idea.
3. She said: the car isnt at my house.
4. He said: the washing machines broken
5. He said: Im working
6. They said: We are worried about Peter
7. Mary said: dont somoke
8. John said: Im waiting for my exams results
9. Mr. Johnson said: I work for an American company
10. The little boy said: I feel ill
11. Susan said: Im watching television
12. Mary said: I like the new house
13. Ann said: Im washing the car.
14. He said: my names Ian
15. She said: Im writing a letter
16. She said: Im very tired
17. He said: Ill see them soon
18. She said: Im going to the cinema
19. He said: I see the children quite often
20. She said: Im having a bath
21. He said: Ive already met their parents
22. She said: I stayed in a hotel for a few weeks
23. He said: I must go home to make the dinner
24. She said: I havent been waiting long
25. He said: Im listening to the radio
26. She said: Ill tell them the news on Saturday
27. He said: I like swimming, dancing and playing tennis
28. She said: I can drive
29. He said: I walked home after the party
30. She said: Im going to be sick
31. He said: I must go out to post a letter
32. She said: I spoke to Jane last week
33. He said: Im trying to listen to the music
34. She said: Ill phone the office from the airport
35. He said: I cant speak any foreign languages
36. She said: Ill see you tomorrow
37. He said: I saw her today
38. She said: I dont like this film
39. She said: we went swimming today
40. She said: Ill see Mary on Sunday
41. He said: I met her about three months ago
42. She said: Pete and Sue are getting married tomorrow
43. He said: Stephens bringing some records to the party tonight
44. She said: I really like this furniture
45. She said: my parents are arriving tomorrow
46. They said: we visited her this morning

47. They said: well see her next summer

48. He said: they were here three months ago
49. He said: Im meeting them at four oclock today
50. She said: I can see you tomorrow
STATEMENTS WITH NO VERBAL CHANGE:
For example: she says: I havent done my homework
She says that she hasnt done her homework.
He says: Ill visit my family tomorrow
He says that he will visit his family tomorrow
1. Hell tell you : I havent got any money
2. She says: Ive seen the film before
3. Hes already told you: I want to go home
4. He says: I havent seen my mother for years
5. She says: I dont know how much it costs
6. Shes told me: I dont like going to parties
7. They say: weve never been to Berlin
8. Hell say: I need the money to visit my friends
9. Theyve told me: we cant come on Tuesday
10. The president will announce: Im going to visit Europe this year
11. Mary tells me: I cant stand classical music
12. The pilot has just announced: the plane will land in half an hour
13. The booking office says: there are no tickets left for tonights performance
14. The children say: we havent had anything to eat
15. Hes told me: Ive already seen the play
16. Ive told them: Ill come again next year
17. Simon says: Im not feeling very well

WH-QUESTIONS:
For example: He asked: whats your name? (wanted to know)
He wanted to know what my name was.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

She asked: how old are you?

I asked: when does the train leave?
He asked: how are you?
My mother wanted to know: why did you take my wallet?
She asked: how did you get to school?
The boy wanted to know: where do you live?
She asked: why wasnt Judy at the party?
My father wanted to know: why didnt you telephone?

9. The teacher demanded to know: why are you so late?

10. The judge inquired: why didnt the police report the crime?
11. He demanded to know: why wont you let me in?
12. We inquired: what time does the plane arrive?
13. She asked: who do you want to talk to?
YES / NO QUESTIONS:
1. She asked: do you like Marlon Brando?
2. He asked: are you enjoying yourself?
3. She asked: does your father work here?
4. He asked: do you live near your family?
5. She asked: are you a foreigner?
6. He asked: have you met Danny before?
7. She asked: are you hungry?
8. He asked: did you borrow my dictionary?
9. She asked: have you finished your exams?
10. He asked: did you invite Judy and Pat?
11. She asked: does your brother live in London?
12. He asked : do you know who broke the window?

COMMANDS:
For example: He told: sit down Mary!
He told Mary to sit down

The officer ordered: dont shoot, men!

The officer ordered the men not to shoot.

1. The childrens mother warned: Dont go near the sea, children

2. Tims father told: dont be late, Tim
3. The librarian told: be quiet, children
4. The inspector told us: have your tickets ready, please
5. The landlady told us: dont use the telephone after eleven oclock
6. The recepcionist told us: leave your keys on the desk, please
7. The customs officer told us: have your passports ready, please
8. My boss told me: finish the job tonight, please
9. The general ordered the soldiers: run!
10. My mother told me: open the door, please
11. My father told me: dont spend too much money on your holiday
12. He told me: hurry up!
13. She told me: dont be frightened

REQUESTS:
It is different: He asked: would you pass my suitcase, please?
He asked me to pass his suitcase.

Its a request.

From:

Its a yes/no question.

She asked: would you like some coffee?

She asked if I would like some coffee.

1. He asked: would you take the children to school for me?

2. She asked: would you sit down, please?
3. He asked: would you talk more quietly, please?
4. She asked: would you like a lift into town?
5. He asked: could you tell me how much a return ticket costs?
6. She asked: would you turn on the radio, please?
7. He asked: would you move your car, please?
8. She asked: would you like to eat in the hotel or in a restaurant?
9. He asked: would you pass my cup, please?
10. She asked: would you check the oil for me, please?
11. He asked: would you turn the car engine off, please?
12. She asked: could you tell me the exchange rate for dollars and pounds?
13. He asked: would you check the bill for me, please?

QUESTIONS (WH- AND YES/NO):

For example: Which book did you take? (he)
He wanted to know which book I had taken.
Are you wearing your overcoat? (she)
She wanted to know if I was wearing my overcoat.
1. Did you telephone your mother? (he)
2. Is the box made of cardboard? (she)
3. How much did it cost? (he)
4. Are you meeting the director tomorrow? (she)
5. What are you doing? (he)
6. How far do I have to walk? (she)
7. Have you had anything to eat? (he)
8. Are you in a hurry? (she)
9. When does the performance start? (he)
10. How long does the journey take? (she)
11. Where did you stay in Paris? (he)
12. Have you had any letters? (she)
13. Do you like having holidays abroad? (he)

14. Did you see the accident? (she)

15. Which school did you go to? (he)
16. When did you start learning Spanish? (she)
17. Are you French? (he)
18. Have you ever been to Japan? (she)

REWRITE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES INTO DIRECT OR INDIRECT SPEECH:

1. The captain said: I dont believe my ship is badly damaged.

2. The doctor told him: you cantt expect vitamin pills to improve your health if you smoke
three packets of cigarettes a day
3. The waitress ask me: why has she not eaten anything?
4. He asked them what their names were.
5. John shouted: dont open the present, its for Mary
6. The little girl said: how could you be so unkind?
7. The boss said to Peter: Please, dont forget to send this letter today
8. She said that she had not enjoyed the film as much as her friend had.
9. She ordered me not to shout at her in front of her parents.
10. The passengers asked: will we be safe in the lifeboats?
11. Sally wanted to know: when will my dress be finished?
12. They asked me: do you sleep in the afternoons?
13. He asked if he should open the door.
14. My neighbour asked me if she could use my telephone.
15. The old man asked: do you know the way to the station?
16. They told me: please, dont speak loud in class
17. My mother asked me: have they been to Australia?
18. He asked: would you like a cup of tea, John?
19. Mary has said: I want to be rich
20. They said to me: we met Mary in Paris a few days ago