Table of Contents § REPORTED 1, Reported Speech Definition SPEECH 2. Tense Changes in Reported Speech 3. Changes in Time and Place in Reported Speech 4. No Change in Verb Tenses in Reported Speech 5. Introductory Verbs in Indirect Speech 6. Changes of Pronouns in Reported Speech 7. Reported Questions in English 8. Reported Commands and Requests in EnglishReported Speech DefinitionReported speech is often also called indirect speech in English. Learn useful grammar rules in relation to Reported speech with example sentences and few printable worksheets. 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. For example: = Direct speech: /’ve lost my umbrella. = Reported speech: He said (that) he had lost his umbrella.Tense Changes in Reported Speech Learn how to use Direct and Indirect Speech and Tense Changes When Using Reported Speech. When changing from direct to indirect speech, you need to change the grammar in certain ways Verb tense forms usually need to change. The tenses generally move backwards in this way: = Present Simple Tense into Past Simple Tense = Present Continuous Tense into Past Continuous Tense = Present Perfect Tense into Past Perfect Tense = Past Simple Tense into Past Perfect Tense = Past Continuous Tense into Past Perfect Continuous Tense = Past Perfect Tense (The tense remains unchanged) = Willinto Would «= Will be into Would be * Will have into Would have «= Will have been into Would have beenOther Verb Form Changes in Indirect Speech = Caninto Could Could (The verb remains unchanged) = Have tointo Had to Must into Must/Had to May into Might Might (The verb remains unchanged) Should (The verb remains unchanged)Tense Changes in Reported Speech Present Simple pep] Past Simple She always wears a coat. He said (that) she always wore a coat. Present Continuous pep| Past Continuous tm looking for my keys She sad (tha) he was ooking for her keys Present Perfect She has written three letters for her friend. Past Simple My friend gave me a bar of chocolate, Past Perfect He said (that) she had written three letters for her friend. Past Perfect He said (that) his friend had given him a bar of chocolate, WILL WOULD {will finish my report in two days. e said (that) he would finish his report in two days. CAN COULD can speak English. ‘She said (that) she could speak English. MAY MIGHT {may invite them to dinner. She said (that) she might invite them tothe dinner. MUST HAD TO I must go to the bank and get some money. » HAVE TO have to submit this assignment by 3 pm tomorrow. ‘She said (that) she had to go to the bank and get some money] HAD TO She said (that) she had to submit this assignment by 3 pmChanges in Time and Place in Reported Speech Learn how to use Time and Place in Reported Speech. Time and place references often have to change in Indirect Speech = Now -> Then = Today —> That day = Here -> There = This —> That = Tomorrow —> The following day/ The next day/ The day after = Next week -> The following week/ The next week/ The week after = Yesterday —> The previous day/ The day before = Last week —> The previous week/ The week before = Ago —> Previously/ Before = Tonight -> That nightChanges in Time and Place in Reported Speech | Image DTT iat) ais) ci revere SPEECH Uses isa ease ash) playing outside then. She said that she had got a piano lesson that day. He told us to put the box ‘She said she would be very This busy that week, Tomorrow ‘She said that she had an appointment the following week. Next week They said their English teacher The previous day/| “Our English teacher quizzed Yesterday s had quizzed them the day The day before us yesterday. alien The previous |, They told us they had had an Last week | week/ The week | “Wehad 2 = awful earthquake the before 3 previous week. Previously/ Before jew days. | He said the letter had come a Ago few days before. going for a beer with Karl | He said that he was going for a beer with Karl that night. Tonight That nightNo Change in Verb Tenses in Reported Speech There is no change in verb tenses in Indirect Speech when: = The introductory verb is in the Present, Present Perfect or Future. « /f the reported sentence deals with a fact or general truth. = The reported sentence contains a time clause. = The verb of the sentence is in the unreal past (the second or the third conditional). « The subjunctive stays unchanged in the subordinate clause. = Had better, could, would, used to, should, might, ought to and mustn't remain unchanged. « /f the speaker reports something immediately or soon after it was said.No Change in Verb Tenses in Reported Speech | Image IN CASE OF Waa ag ae gdh The introductory verb is in the Present, Present Perfect or Future Copernicus: “The planets revolve | Copemicus stated that the planets around the sun". revolve around the sun, ) She said, “His parents died while | She said that his parents died HA Sanse ats he was stil at school.” while he was still at school. The second or the third “If |won the lottery, | He ‘that he would travel around] conditional would travel around the world.” | the world if he won the lottery. The children said, “We wish we | The children said they wished \" The subjunctive didn’t have to take exams.” they didn’t have to take exams. © Report something B: He says we should write our ‘A: What did the teacher say? immediately lessons carefully. “Had better", “Could”, “Would”, “Used to", “Should”, "Might", | He said, “Ann might ring today.” LHe said that Ann might ring that “Ought to” and “Mustn't” remain day. unchanged.Introductory Verbs in Indirect Speech List of Introductory Verbs in Reported Speech. = Tell, say, ask = Verb + that + clause: complain, deny, explain, exclaim, remark, promise, boast, inform somebody, claim, agree, suggest = Verb + to + infinitive: agree, offer, refuse, demand, threaten, promise, claim = Verb + indirect object + to + infinitive: advise, allow, beg, command, encourage, forbid, invite, want, instruct, permit, urge, order, remind, warn = Verb + “ing” form: admit (to), accuse somebody of, apologize for, boast about/ of, complain to somebody of, deny, insist on, suggest = Verb + how: explain to somebody = WonderIntroductory Verbs in Indirect Speech | Image 1 INTRODUCTORY VER REPORTED SPEECH iat) ett He agreed to cook for me. He offered to carry her baby. She refused to buy me a car. Demand He demanded to be told the truth. He threatened to punish me if | didn't behave myself. He promised to marry her when he returned. Agree Offer Refuse He claimed to have heard her say that. He advised me to take a coat. He allowed me to park over there. She begged me to call the police. He encouraged me to phone her. My doctor forbade me to eat sweets. ___Hecommanded them to drop their weapons. ‘She invited me to go to his house. He wanted me to drink a cup of tea. He instructed me to insert coin. My parents permitted me to travel with my friends He urged me to finish reading the book. She ordered me to get out of bed. ‘She reminded me to take out the garbage. Warn She warned me not to go near the oven,Introductory Verbs in Indirect Speech | Image 2 AN TOE 13! UCTORY VERBS IN ORTED SPEECH Mat) Cue east Admit (to) He admitted (to) stealing/having stolen her money. Accuse somebody of She accused me of breaking the cup. ve Apologize for He apologized for shouting/having shouted at me. "ING" Complain to s.one of | He demanded to be told the truth. rom Deny ‘He denied murdering/having murdered his wife. Insist on ‘She insisted on me/my wearing warm clothes. Suggest ‘She suggested going to the theatre. Complain ‘She complained that | was always late. Deny ‘She denied that she had flown in an aeroplane. Explain He explained that it was an easy recipe to follow. ‘She exclaimed/remarked that he beautiful Exclaim/remark —_Ste.exclaimedi was a beautify Promise ‘She promised that she would call me. Boast He boasted that he was a brilliant dentist. He informed me that | would be called for Inform somebody He informed me that | wou “ Claim He claimed that he knew the answer. Agree He agreed that it was a beautiful hat, Suggest He suggested that | (should) take the other road. in He to me how to make polite Explain to Sone He explained to me ne Wonder She wondered how he could reach the top. where/what/why/ how + clause He wondered where Joan was. WONDER onder whether + '@ Wondered whether to buy that blender. to-inf or clause’ He wondered where he had in his calculations. senewrons ‘Wonder He wondered what he should wear. where/what/how + to-inf or clause” He wondered how to get to the post office.Reported Questions in English Let's learn how to form Reported Questions in English. When you are changing a question from direct speech into indirect speech, you follow the same kinds of rules as for statements.Changes of Pronouns in Reported Speech Learn the Changes of Pronouns in Reported Speech In indirect speech, you need to be careful with personal pronouns. They need to be changed according to the situation. You need to know the context. Changes of Pronouns in Indirect Speech | Image Pe a eed ee aa a To report a question, we use verbs such as: inquire, wonder, want to know, ask... Reported Questions in English | Image DIRECT Uta § Where is Tondo street? Can you tell me where Tondo street is? What time does the supermarket open? | Do you know what time the supermarlet opens? How much do you earn? [Could you tell me how much you earn? What is he doing? | May | ask what he is doing? What is your last name? ‘May t know what your last name is? Are you living in London? Td like to know if you are living in London oes John like flying? [__de you know whether John likes fying? Did she go shopping? | I'm not sure if she went shopping. Was she a teacher? Can you tell me whether she was a teacher?Reported Commands and Requests in English How to use Reported Commands and Requests in English with examples. Reported Orders, Commands and Requests are formed using the to-infinitive and not to- infinitive. The reporting verbs for the orders/ commands/ requests are: order, shout, demand, warn, beg, command, tell, insist, beseech, threaten, implore, ask, propose, forbid... When we change from direct to indirect speech, the pronoun and tense changes that are also needed.Reported Commands and Requests in English | Image Direct speech: “Don’t be back late.” Reported speech: He ordered me not to be back late. a Reported speech: He 9 lie to him. Direct speech: Direct speech: “| think you should leave now. H's very late.” Reported speech: She ordered us to leave as it was very late. Direct speech: “Turn the music down! I'm trying to get to sleep.” Reported speech: He told us to turn the music down as he was trying to get to sleep.