Mohamed Khider University, Biskra

Faculty of Arts and Languages

Department of Foreign Languages
English Language Division
Module: GRAMMAR
Level: First Year LMD
Teacher: SAIHI H. Semester two: sentence structure In Context
Lesson thriteen Reported Speech

Reported Speech
1. Reporting Statements

a. If the introductory sentence starts in the present (Susan says), there is no backshift of tensesin Reported speech.

Example: Direct speech: Susan says: "I work in an office." Reported speech: Susan says that she works in an office.

b. If the introductory sentence starts in the past (Susan said), there is often backshift of tensesin Reported speech. (see: Note)

Example: Susan said: "I work in an office." Susan said that she worked in an office.

Backshift of tenses Backshift of tenses

from to from to

Simple Peter: "I work in the garden." Peter said that he worked in the garden.
Simple Past
Present Peter: "I worked in the garden."
Simple Past Peter: "I have worked in the garden." Peter said that he had worked in the garden.
Present Peter: "I had worked in the garden."
Past Perfect
Perfect
Peter: "I will work in the garden." Peter said that he would work in the garden.
Past Perfect
Peter: "I can work in the garden." Peter said that he could work in the garden.
will would Peter: "I may work in the garden." Peter said that he might work in the garden.
Peter: "I would work in the garden." Peter said that he would work in the garden.
(could, might, should, ought to) (could, might, should, ought to)
Progressive forms Progressive forms
am/are/is was/were Peter: "I'm working in the garden." Peter said that he was working in the garden.

was/were Peter: "I was working in the garden."

has been Peter: "I have been working in the

had been Peter said that he had been working in the
garden."
garden.
had been Peter: "I had been working in the
garden."

c. If the sentence contains an expression of time, you must change it as well.

Peter: "I worked in the garden yesterday." Peter said that he had worked in the garden the day before.

this (evening) that (evening)

today/this day that day
these (days) those (days)
now then
(a week) ago (a week) before
last weekend the weekend before / the previous weekend

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  Shifting of expressions of time here there

Note: next (week) the following (week)

tomorrow the next/following day
In some cases the backshift of tenses is not necessary, e.g. when
statements are still true.

John: "My brother is at Leipzig university."

John said that his brother was at Leipzig university. or
John said that his brother is at Leipzig university.
or
Mandy: "The sun rises in the East."
Mandy said that the sun rose in the East. or
Mandy said that the sun rises in the East.

Let’s practice (01) : These people are saying these things. Report them, using says that.
a. Paul: “Atlanta is a wonderful city.” ____________________________________________________
b. Ruth: “I go jogging every morning.” ___________________________________________________
c. Anna: “Jenny isn’t studying for her exams.” _____________________________________________
d. Andrew: “I used to be very fat.” _______________________________________________________
e. Jim: “I can’t swim.” ______________________________________________________________

Let’s practice (02) : People made these statements. Report them, using said.
a. “Mary works in a bank”, Jane said. ____________________________________________________
b. “I’m staying with some friends”, Jim said. _______________________________________________
c. “I’ve never been to Russia”, Mike said. _________________________________________________
d. “Tom can’t use a computer”, Ella said. _________________________________________________
e. “Everybody must try to do their best”, Jill said. __________________________________________
f. “Jane may move to a new flat”, Rachel said. ____________________________________________
g. “I’ll stay at home on Sunday”, Bill said. _________________________________________________

Let’s practice (03) : Change the following statements into the reported speech.
a. “I have something to show you”, I said to her.
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. “I’m going away tomorrow”, he said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
c. “I’ve been in London for a month but I haven’t had time to visit the Tower”, said Rupert.
_________________________________________________________________________________
d. “I’ll come with you as soon as I’m ready”, she replied.
_________________________________________________________________________________
e. “We have a lift but very often it doesn’t work”, they said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
f. “I must go to the dentist tomorrow”, he said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
g. “I found an old Roman coin in the garden yesterday and I am going to take it to the museum this afternoon”, he said.

2. Reported questions

 If you put a question into Reported speech there are some steps which are the same like in statements: (changing of the
person, backshift of tenses, changing of expressions of time).

 In Reported speech there is no question anymore, the sentence becomes a statement.

That's why the word order is: subject - verb

Question without question words (yes/no questions): Question with question words:
Peter: "Do you play football?" Peter: "When do you play football?"
- Peter asked me whether (if) I played football. - Peter asked me when I played football.

Let’s practice (04) : Write these sentences as reported questions using the words given.
a. “What’s your name?”, he asked. (wanted to know) c. “How old are you?”, she said. (asked)
_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________
b. “Do you like Marlon Brandon?”, she asked. d. “When does the train leave?”, I asked.
_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

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e. “Are you enjoying yourself?”, he asked. p. “Why wasn’t Judy at the party?”, she asked.
_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________
f. “How are you?”, he said. (asked) q. “Why didn’t you telephone?”, my father asked.
_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________
g. “Does your father work here?”, she asked. r. “Did you borrow my dictionary?”, he asked.
_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________
h. “Do you live near your father?”, he asked. s. “Why are you so late?”, the teacher asked.
_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________
i. “Who did you see at the meeting?”, my mother asked. t. “Have you finished your exams?”, she asked.
_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________
j. “Why did you take my wallet?”, he asked. u. “Did you invite Judy and Mitch?”, he asked.
_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________
k. “How did you get to school?”, she asked. v. “Does your brother live in London?”, she asked.
_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________
l. “Are you a foreigner?”, she asked. w. “Why didn’t the police report the crime?”, the judge asked.
_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________
m. “Where do you live?”, the boy asked. x. “Do you know who broke the window?”, he asked.
_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________
n. “Have you met Danny before?”, he asked. y. “Why you won’t let me in?”, he shouted.
_________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________
o. “Are you hungry?”, he asked.
________________________________________________________________________
3. Reported commands

If you put a command into Reported speech there are some steps which are the same like instatements: (changing of the person,
backshift of tenses, changing of expressions of time).

The form is mostly: form of to tell + to + infinitive.

Affirmative commands Negative commands

Father: "Do your homework." Teacher. "Don't talk to your neighbour."
Father told me to do my homework. The teacher told me not to talk to my neighbour.

Let’s practice (05) : Rewrite these sentences in reported speech.

a. “Make some coffee, Bob”, Carol said.(ask) e. “Keep all the windows closed, Bill” they said.(warn)
______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
b. “You must do the homework soon, Jane”, she f. “Go home, Paul”, Francis said.(tell)
said.(tell) ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________ g. “Please stay for supper, Bob”, he said.(try to
c. “Remember to buy a map, Ann” he said.(remind) persuade)
______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
d. “You should see a doctor, Mrs Clark”, he said.(advise)
______________________________________________________________

Let’s practice (06) : Report the following sentences.

a. “Don’t try to be funny.” e.
“Watch the milk and don’t let it boil over.”
______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
b. “Wait here till I come.” f. “Don’t take your coat off.”
______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
c. “Go to bed and don’t get up till you’re called.” g. “Don’t forget to thank Mrs Jones when you’re saying
______________________________________________________________ good bye to her.”
d. “Be a good girl and sit quietly for five minutes.” ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________ h. “Stop that dog.”
______________________________________________________________
Let’s practice (07) : Write the sentences in reported speech using the words given.
a. “Sit down, Mary.” (he told) d. “Don’t be late, Tim.” (Tim’s father told)
______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________
b. “Would you pass my suitcase?” (he asked) e. “Be quiet, children.” (the librarian told)
______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________
c. “Don’t go near the sea, children.” (the children’s f. “Have your tickets ready, please.” (the inspector told
mother warned) us)
______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

4. For suggestions: suggest

“Let’s stop now” He suggested stopping then

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 He suggested that they should stop
Let’s know more on suggestions and offers : Rewrite the sentences with the gerund or the infinitive and the in reported speech.
a. “I’ll bring my CDs to the party.” He promised to bring his CDs to the party.
b. “Let’s go to the cinema tonight, shall we? She suggested _____________________________________________________________________
c. “Yes, I stole the wallet.” He admitted ______________________________________________________________________
d. “Be careful! The water is boiling.” She warned us _____________________________________________________________________
e. “You must apologise to your teacher.” My father insisted (on) ______________________________________________________________
f. “All right! I’ll share the expenses with you.” My friend agreed __________________________________________

5. For exclamatory sentences:

He said, “Thank you” He thanked me
He said, “Curse the wind” He cursed the wind
He said, “Welcome” He welcomed me
He said, “Happy birthday” He wished me a happy birthday
He said, “Congratulations” He congratulated me
He said, “Liar” He called me a liar.

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