Reported Speech

Reported Speech​

​Apostila - p. 27

Colégio meta​

Teacher Marcelo Pinheiro

Reported Speech

When we report something, we do not usually use the exact words we have heard or read. We use reported speech.

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In reported speech, say (said) and tell (told), known as reporting verbs, are commonly used.

​We usually shift verb tenses back in reported speech.

​Also, pronouns, adverbs, and determiners may change in reported speech.

​Questions can also be reported. When reporting questions, the reporting verb used is ask (asked).

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Backshifting is also applied. In yes/no questions, use if or whether.

Question 2

​

Look at the sentences in the table below and decide if the following statements are true (T) or false (F).

Apostila - p. 28

Multiple Choice

a) say and tell are used as reporting verbs.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

b) Say and tell have different patterns. While say is generally used without a personal object (she said that), tell usually takes one (She told me).

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

c) We usually shift verb tenses back in reported speech (for example, simple present goes back to simple past).

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

d) Pronouns and adverbs do not change from direct to reported speech.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

e) That can never be omitted.

• true

• false

Answers - Question 2

a) T

b) T

c) T

d) F

e) F

Question 3

​

Complete the following sentences using reported speech. Use backshifting if the reporting verb is in the simple past.

Apostila - p. 29

Multiple Choice

a) John, we're meeting this afternoon to discuss the paper for history class.

(present continuous)

• He told John (that) they were meeting that afternoon to discuss the paper for history class.

• He told that they we are meeting this afternoon to discuss the paper for history class.

Multiple Choice

b) I haven't chosen a major yet.

(present perfect)

• Pamela says (that) she hadn't chosen a major yet.

• Pamela says me that she don't choose a major.

Multiple Choice

c) Eliott is a student from France.

(simple present)

• Carmen said Elliott is been a student from France.

• Carmen said that Elliott was a student from France.

Multiple Choice

d) The professor explained the assignment in class last week.

(simple past)

• Amanda told that the professor explain the assignment in class.

• Amanda told me that the professor had explained the assignment in class.

Multiple Choice

e) Cody works in the cafeteria.

(simple present)

• Ruth said (that) Cody has worked in the cafeteria.

• Ruth said (that) Cody worked in the cafeteria.

Answers - Question 3

a) He told John that they were meeting that afternoon to discuss the paper for history class.​

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b) Pamela says that she hasn't chosen a major yet.

​

c) Carmen said that Elliott was a student from France.

​

Answers - Question 3

​d) Amanda told me that the professor had explained the assignment in class.

​

e) Ruth said that Cody worked in the cafeteria.

Question 4

​

Which alternative shows the following quote correctly rewritten in reported speech?

Apostila - p. 30

Multiple Choice

In reported speech we have...

(simple present)

• a) Mandela said that education would be the most powerful weapon which you could use change the world.

• b) Mandela said that education was the most powerful weapon which we could use to change the world.

• c) Mandela said that education had been the most powerful weapon which we could use to change the world.

• e) Mandela told that education was the most powerful weapon which we could use to change the world.

Question 5

​

Use the prompts to write reported sentences.

Apostila - p. 30

Answers - Question 5

a) My teacher asked me what I wanted to do for a living.​

​

b) He advised her to consider her interests when picking a career.

​

c) She warned him not to try to be funny in his résumé.

​

d) Carlos asked the office worker how many letters of reference he needed.

Answers - Question 5

e) She asked the professor when the paper was due.​

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f) He warned us not to plagiarize.

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g) The professor told us to read chapter 22 for the following class.

​

Question 6

​

Fill in the blanks with said, told, or asked.

Apostila - p. 31

Multiple Choice

a) She ____________ him if he could help her write a résumé.

• said

• told

• asked

Multiple Choice

b) Bria __________ her mother that she was going to be late for dinner.

• said

• told

• asked

Multiple Choice

c) I __________ that I wanted to change jobs.

• said

• told

• asked

Multiple Choice

d) She ________ she didn't want to go to college, and now she wants to be a professor. Figure that one out.

• said

• told

• asked

Multiple Choice

e) The professor __________ me what my major was.

• said

• told

• asked

Multiple Choice

f) The interviewer ________ me that they would be in touch.

• said

• told

• asked

Answers - Question 6

a) asked

​

b) told

​

​c) said

​

d) said​

​​

​e) asked

​

f) told​

Question 7

​

Check the option that correctly reports the kid's statement to his grandfather.

Apostila - p. 31

Multiple Choice

Check the option that correctly reports the kid's statement to his grandfather.

• a) He told he spilt some milk on his laptop.

• b) He said that he had spilt some milk on your grandpa's laptop

• c) He said that he had spilt some milk on his grandpa's laptop.

• d) He told his grandpa he spills some milk on his laptop.