REPORTED SPEECH (1) STATEMENTS
When we report what other people said to us, we usually change direct speech into indirect/reported
speech. When we do this, a number of changes occur especially when the reporting verb refers to the past.
Tense Direct Speech Tense Reported Speech
Present simple I like ice cream Past simple She said (that) she liked ice cream.
Present continuous I am living in London Past continuous She said she was living in London.
Past perfect He said he had bought a car OR he
Past simple I bought a car
said he bought a car.
I was walking along the Past perfect She said she had been walking along the
Past continuous
street. continuous street.
Present perfect I haven’t seen Julie Past perfect She said she hadn’t seen Julie.
I had taken English Past perfect She said she had taken English lessons
Past perfect*
lessons before. before.
Will I’ll see you later. Would She said she would see me later.
Would* I would help, but.. Would She said she would help but...
I can speak perfect Could She said she could speak perfect English.
Can
English.
I could swim when I was Could She said she could swim when she was
Could*
four. four.
Shall I shall come later. Would She said she would come later.
Should* I should call my mother. Should She said she should call her mother
Might* I might be late Might She said she might be late
I must study at the Had to She said she had to study at the weekend
must
weekend
Practice
A. Rewrite the sentences in reported speech.
1. “We will attend the training session.”| The workers said ……….
2. “You did well in the competition,” the coach said. | The coach told the swimmers
3. “We have known each other for a long time,” the suspects said. | The suspects told the police
officer ……….
4. “We aren’t going anywhere this weekend.” | They said ……….
5. “I’ll come in the evening,” Susan said. | Susan told me ……….
B. Rewrite the sentences in direct speech as suggested.
1. “I .......,” Kevin said. (Kevin explained that he had to leave early to see the doctor.)
2. “It .......,” Karen told us. (Karen said that it had been raining that morning.)
3. “I .......,” Soumia said. (Soumia told her friend that she would join the university in September.)
4. “I .......,” Rebecca said. (Rebecca said that she had already read that novel.)
5. “I .......,” Nadia said. (Nadia told her neighbour that she wouldn’t move to another town.)
Self-test
C. Rewrite the sentences as suggested.
1. “I’m not satisfied with your work,” the boss told Janet. | The boss told Janet……
2. “I learned English at a language centre,” Jamal said to his teacher. | Jamal told his teacher……
3. “The test will be about the first two units,” the teacher told the students. | The teacher informed the
students……
4. “The film has attracted a lot of viewers,” the film director said. | The film director said……
5. “I won’t be able to attend the wedding party,” Kamal said. | Kamal said……
6. “Your grandmother is coming to visit us tomorrow,” said mum. | Mum told us……
7. “I need someone to look after my dog,” said Mandy. | Mandy said……
REPORTED SPEECH (1) STATEMENTS
When we report what other people said to us, we usually change direct speech into indirect/reported
speech. When we do this, a number of changes occur especially when the reporting verb refers to the past.
Tense Direct Speech Tense Reported Speech
Present simple I like ice cream Past simple She said (that) she liked ice cream.
Present continuous I am living in London Past continuous She said she was living in London.
Past perfect He said he had bought a car OR he
Past simple I bought a car
said he bought a car.
I was walking along the Past perfect She said she had been walking along the
Past continuous
street. continuous street.
Present perfect I haven’t seen Julie Past perfect She said she hadn’t seen Julie.
I had taken English Past perfect She said she had taken English lessons
Past perfect*
lessons before. before.
Will I’ll see you later. Would She said she would see me later.
Would* I would help, but.. Would She said she would help but...
I can speak perfect Could She said she could speak perfect English.
Can
English.
I could swim when I was Could She said she could swim when she was
Could*
four. four.
Shall I shall come later. Would She said she would come later.
Should* I should call my mother. Should She said she should call her mother
Might* I might be late Might She said she might be late
I must study at the Had to She said she had to study at the weekend
must
weekend
Practice
A. Rewrite the sentences in reported speech.
1. “We will attend the training session.”| The workers said ……….
2. “You did well in the competition,” the coach said. | The coach told the swimmers
3. “We have known each other for a long time,” the suspects said. | The suspects told the police
officer ……….
4. “We aren’t going anywhere this weekend.” | They said ……….
5. “I’ll come in the evening,” Susan said. | Susan told me ……….
B. Rewrite the sentences in direct speech as suggested.
1. “I .......,” Kevin said. (Kevin explained that he had to leave early to see the doctor.)
2. “It .......,” Karen told us. (Karen said that it had been raining that morning.)
3. “I .......,” Soumia said. (Soumia told her friend that she would join the university in September.)
4. “I .......,” Rebecca said. (Rebecca said that she had already read that novel.)
5. “I .......,” Nadia said. (Nadia told her neighbour that she wouldn’t move to another town.)
Self-test
C. Rewrite the sentences as suggested.
1. “I’m not satisfied with your work,” the boss told Janet. | The boss told Janet……
2. “I learned English at a language centre,” Jamal said to his teacher. | Jamal told his teacher……
3. “The test will be about the first two units,” the teacher told the students. | The teacher informed the
students……
4. “The film has attracted a lot of viewers,” the film director said. | The film director said……
5. “I won’t be able to attend the wedding party,” Kamal said. | Kamal said……
6. “Your grandmother is coming to visit us tomorrow,” said mum. | Mum told us……
7. “I need someone to look after my dog,” said Mandy. | Mandy said……
3- Place, demonstratives and time expressions
Place, demonstratives and time expressions change if the context of the reported
statement (i.e. the location and/or the period of time) is different from that of the direct
speech.
In the following table, you will find the different changes of place; demonstratives and
time expressions.
Direct
Reported Speech
Speech
Time Expressions
today that day
now then
yesterday the day before
… days ago … days before
last week the week before
next year the following year
tomorrow the next day / the following
day
Place
here there
Demonstratives
this that
these those
B. Reporting Questions
When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:
pronouns
place and time expressions
tenses (backshift)
Also note that you have to:
transform the question into an indirect question
use the question word (where, when, what, how) or if / whether
Types of questions Direct speech Reported speech
With question word (what, "Why" don’t you He asked me why I didn’t
why, where, how...) speak English?” speak English.
Without question word (yes “Do you speak He asked me whether / if I
or no questions) English?” spoke English.
C. Reporting requests / commands
When transforming requests and commands, check whether you have to change:
pronouns
place and time expressions
Direct speech Reported speech
“Nancy,do the exercise.“ He told Nancy to do the
exercise.
"Nancy, give me your pen, He asked Nancy to give him her
please." pen.
Tenses are not relevant for requests – simply use to / not to + verb (infinitive
without "to")
Example:
She said, “Sit down." - She asked me to sit down.
She said, "don't be lazy" - She asked me not to be lazy
For affirmative use to + infinitive (without to)
For negative requests, use not to + infinitive
(without to).
D. Other transformations
Expressions of advice with must, should and ought are usually reported
using advise / urge.
Example:
"You must read this book."
He advised / urged me to read that book.
The expression let’s is usually reported using suggest. In this case, there are two
possibilities for reported speech: gerund or statement with should.
Example:
"Let’s go to the cinema."
1. He suggested going to the cinema.
2. He suggested that we should go to the cinema.
Mandy said (that) she needed someone to look after her dog. 7.
Mum told us (that) our grandmother was coming to visit us the following day/the day after. 6.
Kamal said (that) he wouldn't be able to attend the wedding party. 5.
The film director said (that) the film had attracted a lot of viewers. 4.
The teacher informed the students (that) the test would be about the first two units. 3.
Jamal told his teacher (that) he had learned/learnt English at a language centre. 2.
The boss told Janet (that) he was not satisfied with her work. 1.
C.
I won't move to another town. 5.
I have already read this novel. 4.
I will join the university in September. 3.
It was raining this morning. 2.
I have to leave early to see the doctor. 1.
B.
told me (that) she would come in the evening, 5.
They said (that) weren't going anywhere that weekend. 4.
The suspects told the police officer (that) they had each other for a long time. 3.
The coach told the swimmers (that) they had done well in the competition. 2.
The workers said (that) they would attend training session. 1.
A.
Reported Speech (1): Statements
IMAM ALI HIGH SCHOOL/MR EL BAHI/AS-LESSONS/GRAMMAR - KEY
