Reported Speech

REPORTED SPEECH
In this lesson, we are going to revise Reported Speech. It is a good idea to revise certain ideas connected
with Reported Speech and to pay attention to the different verbs that we can use and their patterns. The
big problem of Reported Speech is that we tend to think that the reporting verbs function the same as in
Spanish but this is not so. So revising the different patterns will help us avoid a number of mistakes.
To begin with, we need to say that we use Reported Speech when we want to repeat what another
person said or asked. To use it correctly, there are a number of elements to take into account. To revise
that, let’s watch this “humorous” video that includes the revision:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cetrtFDN2Zg
As it is shown in the video, there are three important things to consider:
The verb SAY is never followed by a person or a personal pronoun unless you use the preposition TO
SAY + (TO PERSON) + (THAT) + ……
The verb TELL is obligatorily followed by a person or pronoun.

TELL + PERSON + (THAT) + …..
The verb ASK can be followed or not by the person or pronoun

ASK + (PERSON) + IF / WHETHER / WH question word
Second point to remember is when you need to backshift (i.e. to change the verb tense to the past or the
previous past).
Finally, remember that, according to the context, personal pronouns, demonstratives and certain
adverbials of time and place may need changes.
1
Tense backshift
1- Report these statements with said (except 13) moving the clauses une tense back.
2
Examples of possible time and place changes
now immediately/then
two days ago two days before/earlier
today that day
time tonight that night
tomorrow the next/the following day
yesterday the previous day/the day before
last night the night before
here here (when what is referred to is clear)
place this place that place
these places those places
verbs come/bring go/take
Reporting statements
“I’m here for the job”

She told me (that) she was here for the job.
Reporting closed questions (Yes or No questions)
“Are you going to the cinema?”

He asked her if I was going to the cinema.
“Do you play chess?”

He asked me if/whether I played chess.
- The word order in these clauses is the one we would expect for a normal declarative statement.
- do, does, did are not used in a reported question.
- There is no reversal of subject and object with primary or modal auxiliary verbs.
- If and whether are interchangeable after ask, want to know, wonder, etc., but whether conveys
slightly greater doubt. Some verbs, like discuss, can only be followed by whether.
- If or whether must always be used when reporting Yes/No questions and cannot be omitted (unlike that
in reported statements).
Tom asked if/whether it was raining
- Whether is usually preferred when there are alternatives.
She asked me whether I wanted tea or coffee.
3
Reporting open-ended questions (wh- questions)
The reporting is done by embedding the questions.
- Word order: be, have and modal auxiliaries
The inversion after a question-word in a direct question changes back to statement word order
(subject + verb) in the reported question and, if necessary, the tense is changed at the same time.
Modals may change from 'present' form to 'past' form.
“Where are you going?” (Wh + inversion)

He asked (us) where we were going. (Wh + subject + verb)
“Where is the station?”

He asked me where the station is / was.
- Word order: do, does and did
Do/does/did in direct questions disappear in reported questions.
“What do you think of it?”

He asked me what I thought of it.
Reporting subject questions
A direct subject question has the same word order as a statement. We keep the same word order when
we report a subject question, though, if necessary, we change the tense.
“Who paid the waiter”

He asked me who (had) paid the waiter.
2- Report these questions.
a) “Are you enjoying yourself?” __________________________________________________________

b) “Who left this bag here?” ____________________________________________________________
c) “Did you study for the exam?” He ______________________________________________________
d) “Have you been working here long?” ___________________________________________________
e) “How can I solve the problem?” _______________________________________________________
f) “What caused the accident?” _________________________________________________________
g) Are you hungry? She asked me_______________________________________________________
h) “Do you always have lessons on Tuesdays?” She asked me_________________________________
i) “What does Frank do for a living?” _____________________________________________________
j) “Who is in charge here?” ____________________________________________________________
k) “Have you seen John recently?” _______________________________________________________
l) “Will Ted and Amy be at the party?” ____________________________________________________
4
█▌REPORTING VERBS
In general, we don’t report every single word that a person utters but, instead, we try to repeat the
message, the general meaning of what people say. To do that, there are a number of verbs (the reporting
verbs) that help us show the intention of the speaker (what effect that person wants their words to have).
These verbs are used in very special patterns.
Verb patterns
GROUP 1 - REPORTING VERB + THAT …..(MESSAGE)
say – complain – explain – insist – promise – confess – *suggest – agree
“It is too expensive” He complained that it was expensive
“I stole the money” He confessed that he had stolen the money
GROUP 2 - REPORTING VERB + PERSON + THAT …. (MESSAGE)

tell – convince – assure – inform – remind – promise
“Remember we start at 3.00” He reminded me that we started at 3.00
“I will definitely be there” He assured me that he would be there.
NOTE that the difference between these two groups is that group 2 needs the person who receives
the message
GROUP 3 - REPORTING VERB + (NOT) TO INFINITIVE

agree – promise – refuse – offer
“Do you want me to help you?” He offered to help me.
“I won’t sit down”. She refused to sit down.
GROUP 4 - REPORTING VERB + PERSON + (NOT) TO INFINITIVE

advise – warn – beg – ask (for requests) – remind – order
“I wouldn’t stop if I were you”. He advised me not to stop.
“Get out of the house” She ordered me to get out of the house
NOTE that the difference between these two groups is that group 4 needs the person who receives
the message
GROUP 5 - REPORTING VERB + VERB ING

deny – admit – *suggest – recommend
“I didn’t break the jar” The child denied breaking the jar
“Let’s go for a walk” She suggested going for a walk
GROUP 6 - REPORTING VERB + PREPOSITION + NOUN/VERB ING

apologize for – accuse of – insist on – complain of/about – blame for
“I’m sorry I shouted at your” She apologized for shouting at him
“The fire was your fault, Alan” He blamed Alan for the fire
*Suggest. There is a difference between the uses of suggest. You should use suggest + V ing when the suggestion
includes both speaker and receptor, whereas you use suggest + that when the recommendation is only for the
receptor.
Compare: “Why don’t you take an aspirin?” She suggested that I took an aspirin
“ Let us all go dancing!” She suggested going dancing.
Go to chapter 18 from Macmillan English Grammar in Context, you will find a longer list. There are
also a lot of activities to practise with their keys.
5

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REPORTED SPEECH

As it is shown in the video, there are three important things to consider:

The verb TELL is obligatorily followed by a person or pronoun.

The verb ASK can be followed or not by the person or pronoun

“I’m here for the job”

Reporting closed questions (Yes or No questions)

“Are you going to the cinema?”

“Do you play chess?”

- do, does, did are not used in a reported question.

Tom asked if/whether it was raining

- Whether is usually preferred when there are alternatives.

She asked me whether I wanted tea or coffee.

The reporting is done by embedding the questions.

- Word order: be, have and modal auxiliaries

“Where are you going?” (Wh + inversion)

“Where is the station?”

- Word order: do, does and did

Do/does/did in direct questions disappear in reported questions.

“What do you think of it?”

Reporting subject questions

“Who paid the waiter”

2- Report these questions.

a) “Are you enjoying yourself?” __________________________________________________________

GROUP 2 - REPORTING VERB + PERSON + THAT …. (MESSAGE)

GROUP 3 - REPORTING VERB + (NOT) TO INFINITIVE

GROUP 4 - REPORTING VERB + PERSON + (NOT) TO INFINITIVE

GROUP 5 - REPORTING VERB + VERB ING

GROUP 6 - REPORTING VERB + PREPOSITION + NOUN/VERB ING

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