Reported Speech
Study the following sentences.
Direct
"We will present the paper tomorrow," said the
committee.
Reported
The committee said that they would present the paper the
following day.
Direct
Write your full name, please," said the clerk.
Reported
The clerk asked me to write my full name.
Reported speech refers to reproducing another person's exact
words. When we use reported speech, we are usually talking
about the past. If the "reporting verb" is in form of the simple
past tense or the past perfect tense, the tense, pronoun, and
adverb of place the "reported words" will change.
Verb Tense Changes
Direct Speech Reported Speech
Present Simple Past Simple
He said,"I present my paper." He said he presented his paper
Present Continuous Past Continuous
He said,"I am presenting my He said he was presenting his
paper." paper.
Present Perfect Past Perfect
He said,"I have presented my He said he had presented his paper
paper."
Past Simple Past Perfect
He said,"I presented my paper." He said he had presented his paper
Past Continuous Past Perfect Continuous
He was presenting his paper He said he had been presenting his
paper
Future Simple Future Simple in the Past
He said,"I will present my He said he would present his paper.
paper."
Exercises
Activity 1
Put the following statements into reported speech.
Example: Bobi said, "I have my own apartment."
Bobi said that he had his own apartment.
1. Rendi said, "I will submit my report immediately."
2. Shanti said, "I don't like working under pressure."
3. My boss said, "Our company has successfully achieved
its target."
4. The manager said, "The presentation is really good."
5. Ivan said, "I think I should look for a better job."
6. The secretary said, "You have to make an appoinment
to meet the director."
7. Tuti said, "I have no draft on my desk."
8. Leo said, "I've taken a full time job."
9. Edi said, "I'll make a call tomorrow."
10. Tita said, "I saw a presentation yesterday."
Activity 2
Change the following reported speech into direct
speech.
Examples: Rian asked me if I had ever gone skydiving.
Rian said, "Have you ever gone skydiving?"
1. Jaka wanted to know if I would be at the meeting.
2. Intan wondered whether I was going to quit my job.
3. My boss wanted to know why I wasn't working at my
desk.
4. The secretary told me that I might use the telephone.
5. My friend said that I should take a long vacation.
6. The operator said that I didn't have enough credit to
make a call.
7. Ivan asked me whether I really loved my job.
8. Adi asked me whether I was sick.
9. Ari told Ira to wait for him after lunch.
10. Rini asked Denny what time it was.
