Reported Speech

GRAMMAR FOCUS
Reported speech
Reported speech is when you tell somebody else what you or a person said before.
Distinction must be made between direct speech and reported speech.
Direct speech vs Reported speech:
Direct speech Reported speech
She says: "I like tuna fish." She says that she likes tuna fish.
She said: "I'm visiting Paris next She said that she was visiting Paris the following
weekend" weekend.
Different types of sentences

When you use reported speech, you either report:
 statements
 questions
 requests / commands
 other types
In this chapter we will discus about reporting statement
Reporting Statements
When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:
 pronouns
 tense
 place and time expression
1. Pronouns
In reported speech, you often have to change the pronoun depending on who says what.
Example:
She says, “My dad likes roast chicken.” – She says that her dad likes roast chicken.
2. Tenses
 If the sentence starts in the present, there is no backshift of tenses in reported speech.
 If the sentence starts in the past, there is often backshift of tenses in reported speech.
Direct speech Reported speech
(no backshift) “I write poems.” He says that he writes poems.
(backshift) “I write poems.” He said that he wrote poems.
No backshift
Do not change the tense if the introductory clause is in a present tense (e. g. He says).
Note, however, that you might have to change the form of the present tense verb (3rd
person singular).
Example:
He says, “I write poems.” – He says that he writes English.
Backshift
You must change the tense if the introductory clause is in a past tense (e. g. He said).
Example:
He said, “I am happy.” – He said that he was happy.
Examples of the main changes in tense:

Direct Speech Reported Speech
Simple Present Simple Past
He said: "I am happy" He said that he was happy
Present Progressive Past Progressive
He said: "I'm looking for my keys" He said that he was looking for his keys
Past Perfect Simple
Simple Past
He said that he had visited New York the
He said: "I visited New York last year"
previous year.
Past Perfect
Present Perfect
He said that he had lived there for a long
He said: " I've lived here for a long time "
time
Past Perfect Past Perfect
He said: "They had finished the work when He said that they had finished the work
I arrived" when he had arrived"
Past Progressive Past Perfect Progressive
He said: "I was playing football when the He said that he had been playing football
accident occurred" when the accident had occurred
Present Perfect Progressive Past Perfect Progressive
He said:"I have been playing football for He said that he had been playing football
two hours." for two hours
Past Perfect Progressive Past Perfect Progressive
He said: "I had been reading a newspaper He said that he had been reading a
when the light went off" newspaper when the light had gone off
Future Simple (will+verb) Conditional (would+verb)
He said: "I will open the door." He said that he would open the door.
Conditional (would+verb) Conditional (would+verb)
He said: "I would buy Mercedes if I were He said that he would buy Mercedes if he
rich" had been rich"
The modal verbs could, should, would, might, needn't, ought to, used to do not normally
change.
Example:
He said, "She might be right." – He said that she might be right.
Other modal verbs may change:
Modal Direct speech Reported speech
can "I can do it." He said he could do it.
may "May I go out?" He wanted to know if he might go out.
must "She must apply for the job." He said that she must/had to apply for the job.
will "They will call you." He told her that they would call her.
3. Place, demonstratives and time expressions

Place, demonstratives and time expressions change if the context of the reported statement
(i.e. the location and/or the period of time) is different from that of the direct speech.
In the following table, you will find the different changes of place; demonstratives and
time expressions.
Direct Speech Reported Speech
Time Expressions
today that day
now then
yesterday the day before
… days ago … days before
last week the week before
next year the following year
tomorrow the next day / the following day
Place
here there
Demonstratives
this that
these those
Activity 1
Chance these sentense into indirect/reported speecch
1. I said to her,” I have something to show you. “
2. He said,” I’m going away tomorrow, mother .“
3. Mother said,” he has got a new car.”
4. She said,” I can answer all questions.”
5. They told me ,” they have done the task I give.”
6. He said ,” My father has a birthday present for me.”
7. The secretary said,” I will type the report soon.”
8. They said,” we are very hungry.”
9. The small boy said,” I have a German lesson this afternoon and I haven’t done my
homework yet.”
10. My aunt said,” we have moved into our new flat. “

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GRAMMAR FOCUS

Different types of sentences

Examples of the main changes in tense:

Modal Direct speech Reported speech

can "I can do it." He said he could do it.

may "May I go out?" He wanted to know if he might go out.

3. Place, demonstratives and time expressions

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