Direct, Indirect, Reported Speech

DIRECT,
INDIRECT,
REPORTED
speech
When we report people’s words we can
use the exact words that were spoken.
This structure is called ‘direct speech.’
She asked: “What do you want?”
When we make somebody’s words part
of our own sentence, changing
pronouns, tenses and words, if
necessary we use ‘indirect or reported
speech.’
She asked what I wanted
When we use reported speech, we
are usually talking about the past
(because obviously the person who
spoke originally spoke in the past).
The verbs therefore usually have to
be in the past too
Direct speech: He said: “I’m going to the cinema.”
Reported speech: “He said he was going to the
cinema”
Tense changes
Original words Reported speech
Present continuous: Past continuous

“I’m going to the supermarket.” She said (that) she was going shopping.
Past simple/ continuous: Past perfect simple/ continuous:
“I went to the cinema yesterday.” She told me (that) he had gone to the cinema
yesterday.
Present perfect simple/ continuous: Past perfetct simple/ continuous:
“I have had a terrible cold, but I’m She said (that) she had had a terrible cold.
better now.”
Past perfect simple/ continuous: Past perfect simple/ continuous:
“I had had the wrong impression She said (that) she had had the wrong
when I first met her.” impression when she first met her.
Will: Would:
“My mother will water my plants She told me her mother would water the
while I am away.” plants while she is away.
Be going to + verb: Was/ were going to + verb
“They are going to have a party.” She said they were going to have a party.
Other tenses…
MODALS
I can swim under water for 2 He said he could swim under water….
minutes.
All tickets must be bought in He said that all tickets had to be
advance. bought in advance.
What shall we do about it? He asked what we should do about it.
May I smoke? He asked if he might smoke.
IMPERATIVE
Shut up? He told me to shut up
Don’t do that again He told me not to do it again
• In reported speech we need to use a past
form when there is a difference between
what was said and what is really true.
– She said: “Joe is in hospital.”
– She said Joe was in hospital.
Exceptions:
• If the reported sentence deals with a fact or general

truth, the present tense is (can be) retained. She said
that the moon causes the tides.
• If the speaker reports something immediately or soon
after it was said, the noun clause verb often remains as
spoken.
A: What did the conductor say?
B: He said that the next stop is Northgate.
• If will is the modal in the reported utterance and
expresses future time, and if the situation described in
the quote still holds true at the time of the indirect
report, the will may not be changed to would even
though the reporting verb is in the past tense:
Mr. Arden said that a volcanic eruption will occur next
year.
We don’t need to change the verb when:
• What we are reporting is still true;
– Paul said. “My new job is very interesting.”
– Paul said his new job is very interesting.
• The reporting verb is in the present;
– She says she’s going to be late.
• The original words are in the past simple
or past continuous.
– I loved him / she said she loved him
Quoted speech Later reporting
present tense verb simple past
present continuous past continuous
present perfect
simple past past perfect
past perfect
simple future (will) would
future (be going to) was/were going to
modals:
can could
may (possibility) might
may (permission) could
will would
might might
must had to
have to had to
should should
ought to ought to
shall would (future)
shall should (ask for advice)
imperative infinitive
yes/no question if + noun clause
• Note:
• If the reporting verb (the main verb of the sentences,
e.g., said, is in the past, the verb in the noun clause
will usually be in a past form.
• If the reporting verb is simple present, present perfect,
or future, the noun clause verb is not changed.
• She says, "I wash my hair every day."She says she

washes her hair every day.She has said, "I wash my hair
every day."She has said that she washes her hair every
day.She will say, "I wash my hair every day."She will
say that she washes her hair every day.
Personal pronouns
• You also need to be careful with personal

pronouns. They need to be changed according
to the situation. You need to know the context.
For example, there is possible confusion when
you try to change reported speech to direct
speech:
• She said she'd been waiting for hours.
(Is she one person or two different people?)
• I told them they would have to ask permission.
(Are we talking about two groups of people or
only one?)
Say and tell
• If you say who somebody is talking to use
tell:
– Sonia told me that you were in hospital
– What did you tell the police?
• Otherwise use say:

– What did you say?
• But you can ‘say something to somebody’:

– Ann said goodbye to me and left.
“The doctor told my husband to double his
physical activity, so now he changes the
channels with both hands!”
Tell/ask somebody to do something
• “Stay in bed for a few days.” The doctor said to me.
• The doctor told me to stay in bed for a few days.
• “Don’t shout” I said to Jim.

• He told me not to shout.
We use the infinitive (to stay, to shout) in reported

speech especially with TELL and ASK (for orders
and requests)
ask
• The verb ask, when used to report a
request, is followed by an object and to.
– Trevor asked me to get a newspaper for him.
• The verbs warn, remind and tell can be

followed by an object and to or that.
– She told Sarah to be careful.
– She told Sarah that she must be careful.
• The verbs complain, explain, exclaim,
think ,hope, say and suggest can be
followed by that but NOT by an object.
– She said that the rent must be paid.
– He suggested that we stayed in and watched
television.
• It is possible to omit THAT after reporting

verbs.
Promise and offer
• Speech related to actions (e.g. promises,
agreements, offers, requests, advice) is
often reported with infinitives.
– He promised to write soon.
– He offered to help in case of need.
– She agreed to wait for me.
A change of place and time may mean changing
words like the following.
now Then, at that time
today that day
tomorrow the following day, the next day
yesterday the previous day, the day before
next month the following month
next year the following year
last month the month before, the previous month
last year the year before, the previous year
five days ago five days ago, five days earlier
here there
Reported questions
• In reported questions the subject usually
comes before the verb:
– Direct: “Where is Alice?”
– Reported: I asked where Alice was.
– D. “When are you leaving?”

– R. He wanted to know when I was leaving.
Yes/no questions
• Yes/no questions are reported with if or
whether.
– “Do you want the town centre?”
– The taxi driver asked if I wanted the town
centre.
Change the sentences below into
indirect speech
a) She said: “What time are you all leaving?”
b) “Help!” he said, “I’m stuck! Pull me out!”
c) “Is it possible they have disconnected the
phone?” she said.
d) “I didn’t believe it!” he said.
e) “It’s a rat! Take it away!” he said.
Perhaps,
Perhaps,
Perhaps
PERHAPS, PERHAPS, PERHAPS
You won’t ____ you love me.
And so how am I ____________?
You only tell me
Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.
A million times I ask you,
And then I ask you _______.
You only answer
If you can’t make your _______ ,
We’ll never get started.
And I don’t wanna _______
Being parted, broken-hearted.
So if you really love me,
Say yes.
But if you don’t, _____, confess.
And please don’t tell me
If you can’t make your __________,
And I don’t wanna ________
Say yes.
But if you don’t, _____, confess.
Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps,
PERHAPS, PERHAPS, PERHAPS
You won’t admit you love me.
And so how am I ever to know?
You only tell me
A million times I ask you,
And then I ask you over again.
You only answer
If you can’t make your mind up,
And I don’t wanna wind up
Say yes.
But if you don’t, dear, confess.
If you can’t make your mind up,
And I don’t wanna wind up
Say yes.
But if you don’t, dear, confess.

Direct, Indirect, Reported Speech

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Direct, Indirect, Reported Speech

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DIRECT,

Present continuous: Past continuous

• If the reported sentence deals with a fact or general

• She says, "I wash my hair every day."She says she

• You also need to be careful with personal

• Otherwise use say:

• But you can ‘say something to somebody’:

• “Don’t shout” I said to Jim.

We use the infinitive (to stay, to shout) in reported

• The verbs warn, remind and tell can be

• It is possible to omit THAT after reporting

– D. “When are you leaving?”

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