REPORTED/INDIRECT SPEECH

Direct speech​

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Repeats the exact words that someone said​

​ •Peter said, "I’m at home."

​•The politician said, "I will create many new jobs."

•Alison said, "I went out on Saturday."

•Omar said, "I’ve never been to China." 

•Daniel said, "I can’t speak French."

•Pavel said, "I want to go to the concert."

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Reported /indirect speech

​•Reports what somebody said without repeating the exact words:

​•Peter said that he was at home

•The politician said that he would create many new jobs.

•Alison said that she went out on Saturday. / Alison said that she had gone out on Saturday.

•Omar said that he had never been to China.

•Daniel said that he couldn’t speak French.

•Pavel said that he wanted to go to the concert.

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Reporting VERBS

​•To talk about what was said, you need to use reporting verbs.​

SAY - SAID

TELL - TOLD

ASK - ASKED​

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The teacher SAID not to use cellphones in class.

She TOLD US to come on Saturday.

A classmate ASKED not to have homework.

SAID, TOLD, ASKED​

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•Use “SAID” when focusing on the words that you are reporting.

He said to wait.  (The focus is on the action TO WAIT)

​•Use “told” when it is important to state who received the message.

 He told HIM to wait. (The focus is also on the receiver: him)

•THE VERB TOLD NEEDS AN OBJECT (WHOM) – Use an object pronoun (ME, YOU, HIM, HER, IT, US, THEM) or a noun.

He told MARCUS to wait.

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•Use “ask” when you REQUEST someone to do something.

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I asked him (MARCUS) to buy the tickets.

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Said and tell mean the same thing. However, people tend to use the verb “TOLD” when something was not asked politely, or it was mandatory.

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​Use a reporting verb (said, asked, told).

•For positive requests use the verb in infinitive.

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My friend TOLD me TO WAIT at the door.

​•For negative requests use NOT + verb in infinitive.

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The teacher SAID NOT TO USE cellphones in class.

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Drink at least six glasses of water a day.​

​My doctor said to drink six glasses of water a day.

​•My mother told me NOT TO DO that again.

​He ASKED her to open de door.