REPORTED SPEECH
Direct Speech: The exact words
someone said.
Reported Speech: The exact meaning of
what someone said, but not the exact
words.
1
REPORTED SPEECH
In reported speech personal pronouns,
possessive adjectives and possessive
pronouns change according to the
meaning of the sentence.
Tom said, “I’m meeting my girlfriend
tomorrow”.
Tom said that he was meeting his
girlfriend the next day.
2
REPORTED SPEECH
The changes do not only occur in
pronouns, possessive adjectives and so
on, but also in TENSES.
How do the following sentences change
in reported speech?
3
REPORTED SPEECH
“I want to go to bed early”, he said.
He said (that) he wanted to go to bed early.
(simple present : simple past)
“She’s watering the flowers”, he said .
He said (that) she was watering the flowers.
(present progressive: past progressive)
4
REPORTED SPEECH
“I’ve bought a new car”, he said.
He said (that) he had bought a new car.
(present perfect: past perfect)
“I went to bed early”, he said.
He said (that) he had gone to bed early.
(simple past: past perfect)
5
REPORTED SPEECH
“I was reading the paper”, he said .
He said (that) he had been reading the paper.
(past progressive: past perfect progressive)
“I’ll phone you tomorrow”, he said .
He said (that) he would phone me the next
day.
(Future will: would)
6
REPORTED SPEECH
“I can give you my address”, she said.
She said (that) she could give me her
address.
(Can: could)
7
REPORTED SPEECH
Certain time expressions change according to
the meaning of the sentence .
today that day
tomorrow the next / following day
next week/month/year... the following week/month/year...
now then/at that moment
last week/month/year ... the week/month/year before
yesterday the day before
ago before
8
REPORTED SPEECH
Certain expressions of place change according
to the meaning of the sentence .
here there
But what about this or these?
this that
these those
9
REPORTED SPEECH
Say & Tell
TELL + personal object
He told me he was Ted.
SAY
He said he was Ted.
SAY + personal object.
When used with a personal object it is always followed by the
preposition TO.
He said to me he was Ted.
10
REPORTED SPEECH
Reported questions
“What do you want to drink?” she asked me.
She asked me what I wanted to drink.
“Have you seen this film before?” he asked me.
He asked me if/whether I had seen the film before.
“Can you close the window, please?” the lady asked me.
The lady asked me if I could close the window.
11
REPORTED SPEECH
Reported commands, requests and suggestions
“Tell the truth!” she said to him.
She told him to tell the truth.
“Help me with the homework, please”, the little boy
said to his mother.
The little boy asked his mother to help him with the
homework.
“Let’s go outside”, I said to them.
I suggested going outside / that we should go
outside.
12
REPORTED SPEECH
Say, tell and ask are not the only
verbs you can use in reported
speech.
In fact, if you want to sound
natural you should choose from a
wide range of verbs known as
Introductory Verbs.
13
REPORTED SPEECH
INTRODUCTORY VERBS
agree - zustimmen
decide – sich entscheiden
offer - anbieten
promise - versprechen
refuse – sich weigern
threaten - drohen
14
REPORTED SPEECH
advise - empfehlen
convince - überzeugen
command - befehlen
invite - einladen
order - bestellen
persuade - überreden
15
REPORTED SPEECH
remind – jemanden erinnern
warn - warnen
admit to - zulassen
accuse somebody of - anklagen
apologise for – sich entschuldigen
blame somebody on something –
jemanden für etwas
verantwortlich machen
16
REPORTED SPEECH
deny – bestreiten, leugnen
insist on – bestehen auf
recommend - empfehlen
suggest - vorschlagen
complain – sich beschweren
explain - erklären
exclaim - ausrufen
17
REPORTED SPEECH
Now it’s your turn!
Try the exercises on your work
sheet!
18
REPORTED SPEECH
The Results:
1.John said (that) Mandy was at home.
2. Max told me (that) he often read a book.
3. Susan announced (that) she was watching TV.
4. Simon noticed (that) David had been ill.
5. Stephen and Claire told me (that) they had cleaned the
windows.
19
REPORTED SPEECH
6. Charles remarked (that) he had time to do his
homework.
7. Mr Jones told me (that) his mother would become
80 years old.
8. Jean said (that) the boss had to sign the letter.
9. Henry asked Ian to pass him the sugar.
10. Grace and John asked us if we could pass them the
butter. 20
REPORTED SPEECH
11. Mrs Bakker told her students to take out
their books and open them on page 45.
12. Sabine asked me if there was anything
wrong with me.
Thank you!
Made for:
Maria Montessori Comprehensive School, Meerbusch
21
