ING 292B MODULE 2 LANGUAGE STRUCTURE The introductory sentence in the Simple Present →

How to use Reported Speech Susan says (that)* Mary works in an office.
The introductory sentence in the Simple Past → Susan
If you have a sentence in Direct Speech, follow our 5 said (that)* Mary worked in an office.
steps to put the sentence into Reported Speech.
3. Change of persons/pronouns
Define the type of the sentence (statement, questions, If there is a pronoun in Direct Speech, it has possibly to
command) be changed in Reported Speech, depending on the
What tense is used in the introductory sentence? situation.
Do you have to change the person (pronoun)?
Do you have to backshift the tenses? Direct Speech → Susan, “I work in an office.”
Do you have to change expressions of time and place? Reported Speech → Susan said (that)* she worked in an
office.
1. Statements, Questions, Commands Here (I am) changed to (she).
Mind the type of sentences when you use Reported
Speech. More detailed information is on the following 4. Backshift of tenses
pages. If there is a backshift of tenses in Reported Speech, the
Statements tenses are shifted the following way.
Questions
Commands, Requests Direct Speech → Peter, “I work in the garden.”
Reported Speech → Peter said (that)* he worked in the
2. The introductory sentence garden.
If you use Reported Speech, there are mostly two main Direct Speech Reported Speech
differences. Simple forms
Simple Present Simple Past
 The introductory sentence in Reported Speech can Simple Past Past Perfect
be in the Present or the Past. Present Perfect
 If the introductory sentence is in the Simple Past Perfect
Present, there is no backshift of tenses. will
Progressive forms
Direct Speech: am/are/is was/were
Susan, “Mary works in an office.” was/were had been
Reported Speech: has been
had been Mandy, “The sun rises in the east.”
Mandy said (that) the sun rose in the east. or
5. Conversion of expressions of time and place Mandy said (that) the sun rises in the east.
If there is an expression of time/place in the sentence, it * The optional word, that is the reason why we put it in
may change depending on the situation. brackets.

Direct Speech → Peter, “I worked in the garden Statements in Reported Speech

yesterday.”
Reported Speech → Peter said (that) he had worked in Changing of the person, backshift of tenses, shifting of
the garden the day before. expressions of time/place.

Direct Speech Reported Speech 1. The introductory sentence

this evening that evening 1.1. The introductory sentence in the Simple Present
today/this day that day * If the introductory sentence is in the Simple Present,
these days those days there is no backshift of tenses.
now then
week ago a week before Direct Speech → Susan, “Mary works in an office.”
last weekend the weekend before / the Reported Speech → Susan says (that)* Mary works in an
previous weekend office.
next week the following week The introductory sentence is here: Susan says ... → this
tomorrow the next/following day sentence is in the Simple Present, so there is no
here there backshift of tenses.

6. Additional information 1.2. The introductory sentence in the Simple Past

In some cases, a backshift of tenses is not necessary, If the introductory sentence is in the Simple Past, there
e.g. when statements are still true. Backshift of tenses is is mostly a backshift of tenses.
never wrong.
Direct Speech → Susan, “Mary works in an office.”
John, “My brother is at Leipzig University.” Reported Speech → Susan said (that)* Mary worked in
John said (that) his brother was at Leipzig University. or an office.
John said (that) his brother is at Leipzig University. The introductory sentence is here: Susan said ... → this
Or when you use general statements. sentence is in the Simple Past, so there is a backshift of
tenses.
 tense used in Direct Speech one step back in Reported
1.3. Types of introductory sentences Speech. If we use Past Perfect or the modals would,
The word say in introductory sentences can be could, should, might, must, ought to, and needn't in
substituted with other words, e.g. Direct Speech there is the possibility to shift the tense
add back in Reported Speech.
decide
know 3.1. Simple Present → Simple Past
mention Direct Speech Reported Speech
remark Peter, “I work in the garden.” Peter said (that) he worked
in the garden.
tell *
think 3.2. Simple Past, Present Perfect, Past Perfect → Past
Perfect
2. Change of persons/pronouns Direct Speech Reported Speech
The person/pronoun used in Direct Speech may be Peter, “I worked in the garden.” Peter said (that) he
adapted in Reported Speech, depending on the had worked in the garden.
Peter, “I have worked in the garden.” Peter, “I had worked
situation.
in the garden.”

Emily and John are talking about fashion at school. Emily 3.3. Auxiliaries, Modals
says to John: Direct Speech Reported Speech
Peter, “I will work in the garden.” Peter said (that) he
Emily, “I like your new T-shirt.” would work in the garden.
Peter, “I can work in the garden.” Peter said (that) he
Possibility 1:
could work in the garden.
John says to his friend Max in the afternoon:
Peter, “I may work in the garden.” Peter said (that) he
might work in the garden.
Emily said (that) she liked my new T-shirt.
Peter, “I would work in the garden.” Peter said (that) he
Possibility 2:
would work in the garden.
Emily says to her friend Julia in the afternoon: Could Could
Might Might
I said (that) I liked his new T-shirt. Should Should
ought to Ought to
3. Backshift of tenses
If the introductory sentence is in the Simple Past, there 3.4. Present Progressive → Past Progressive
is a backshift of tenses in Reported Speech. We shift the Direct Speech Reported Speech
Peter, “I'm working in the garden.” Peter said (that) he John says to Gerry → Emily said (that) she had lost her
was working in the garden. red pen at our school that morning.
John says to Gerry → Emily said (that) she had lost her
3.5. Past Progressive, Present Perfect Progressive, Past red pen there yesterday morning.
Perfect Direct Speech Reported Speech
this evening that evening
Progressive → Past Perfect Progressive today/this day that day
Direct Speech Reported Speech these days those days
Peter, “I was working in the garden.” Peter said now then
(that) he had been week ago a week before
working in the last weekend the weekend before
garden. /The previous weekend
Peter, “I have been working in the garden.” Peter, “I had next week the following week
been working in the tomorrow the next/following day
garden.” here there
* Do not forget the person after the word tell:
4. Shifting/Conversion of expressions of time and place
If there is an expression of time/place in the sentence, it She told me (that) ...
may be shifted, depending on the situation. She told George (that) ...

Emily is at school, writing in her workbook. She misses

Reported Questions
her red pen at lunchtime. Emily says to John:
In the Reported speech, the question becomes a
statement. Mind the word order: subject-verb
“I lost my red pen here this morning.”
Possibility 1:
1. The introductory sentence in Reported Questions
John says to his friend Max who is in the same room.
1.1. The introductory sentence is in the Simple Present
* If the introductory sentence is in the Simple Present,
Emily said (that) she had lost her red pen here this
there is no backshift of tenses.
morning.
Possibility 2:
Direct Speech → Susan, “Does Mary work in an office?”
One day later, John sees his friend Gerry at his house.
Reported Speech → Susan asks if/whether Mary works in
They talk about school.
an office.
The introductory sentence: Susan asks ... → is in the
Simple Present. There is no backshift of tenses. The Peter, “When do you play football?” → Peter asked me
auxiliary do is dropped in the Reported speech. when I played football.

1. Reported Commands
1.2. The introductory sentence in the Simple Past There is no backshift of tenses with commands/requests
If the introductory sentence is in the Simple Past, there in Reported Speech.
is usually a backshift of tenses.
You only have to change the person and shift
Direct Speech → Susan, “Does Mary work in an office?” expressions of time/place described on our page
Reported Speech → Susan asked if/whether Mary worked Reported Speech – Summary.
in an office.
The introductory sentence: Susan asked... → is in the Form
Simple Past. There is a backshift of tenses. affirmative commands → to + infinitive
negative commands → not + to + infinitive
1.3. Types of introductory sentences
The word asks in introductory sentences in Reported 1.1. Affirmative commands
Questions can be substituted with other words, e.g. Direct Speech → Dad, “Do your homework.”
want to know Reported Speech → Dad told me to do my homework.
wonder
1.2. Negative commands
2. Questions with and without question words Direct Speech → Teacher, “Don't talk to your friend.”
Questions can be formed with or without question Reported Speech → The teacher told me not to talk to
words. my friend.

If there is a question without a question word in Direct 1.3. The introductory sentence in commands
Speech, use whether or if in Reported Speech. The word tell in introductory sentences in Reported
Commands can be substituted with other words, e.g.
Peter, “Do you play football?” → Peter asked me whether  advise
(if) I played football.  ask
*If there is a question with a question word in Direct There is no backshift of tenses, no matter which tense is
Speech, use this question word in Reported Speech. used in the introductory sentence.
Direct Speech
Dad, “Do your homework.”
Reported Speech
Dad tells me to do my homework.
Dad told me to do my homework.
2. Suggestions
Direct Speech
Father, “Let's watch a film.”
Reported Speech
Father suggested watching a film.
Father suggested that they should watch a film
Do not use the infinitive after suggest: Father suggested
watching a film.