Reported Speech

Reported speech

Reported speech is the exact meaning of what someone said, but not exact words.

​Compare:

​She said," We need to plan our spendings".

She said (that) they needed to plan their spendings.

​Changes:

​She said," We need to plan our spendings".

She said (that) they needed to plan their spendings.

1. do not use quotation marks

2. can either use the word THAT after the introductory verbs (said, told) or omit it

3. change pronouns, possessive adjectives\pronouns according to the meaning

4. change verb tenses and time expressions*

Changing some words and time expressions

now-then, at that time, immediately

​today, tonight- that day\night

yesterday- the day before, the previous day

tomorrow- the next day, the following day

this-that

last week- the week before, the previous week

next week- the week after, the following week

ago- before here-there come -go

​Changing verb tenses

​Present Simple- Past Simple

Present Continuous-Past Continuous

Present perfect- Past Perfect

Past Simple- Past Simple\Past Perfect

Past Continuous- Past Continuous\Past Perfect Continuous

will- would

Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous remain unhanged

can-could\would be able to may-might must-must\had to shall-should (advice) shall- offer (for offers)

​Introductory Verbs

SAY and TELL

SAY 1) with or without a personal subject (say to smb, say that)

2) Expressions: say good morning\afternoon, something\nothing, a prayer, so, a few words, etc

TELL 1) with personal pronouns (tell smb)

2) Expressions: tell the truth, a lie. a secret, a story, a joke, the time, the difference, sb one's name, sb the way, one from another, one's fortune, sb so, etc

​Other Introductory Verbs

AGREE (TO v), DEMAND, OFFER, REFUSE....

APOLOGISE FOR (+ING),ACCUSE SB OF...

EXPLAIN (THAT), INFORM, EXCLAIM.....

Reported Requests\Commands

To Infinitive (positive): "Can you help me?" He asked me TO HELP him.

NOT TO Infinitive (negative): "Don't shout." He asked NOT TO SHOUT.

Reported Questions

General Questions (Yes\No) - IF\WHETHER+direct word order

"Do you like this film?"- She asked if\whether I liked that film.

Special Questions: WHERE, WHEN, WHY...+ direct word order

"Where do you live?" She asked me where I lived.

​Practise

Multiple Choice

I can't _____ the difference between this chocolate an the one containing sugar.

• tell

• say

Multiple Choice

"I have already seen this film"

• He said that he have already seen this film.

• He said that he had already seen this film.

• He said that he had already seen that film.

• He said that he has already seen that film.

Multiple Choice

"My son is going to work abroad."

• She said my son is going to work abroad.

• She said her son was going to work abroad.

• She said my son was going to work abroad.

• She said her son had been going to work abroad.

Multiple Choice

"Who is going to meet you?"

• She asked who was going to meet me.

• She asked who was going to meet you.

• She asked who is going to meet me.

• She asked who is going to meet you.

Multiple Choice

"Please, don't tell anyone about it."

• He asked don't tell anyone about it.

• He asked not tell anyone about it.

• He asked not do tell anyone about it.

• He asked not to tell anyone about it.

Multiple Choice

"Sorry, I'm late."

• He apologised for late.

• He apologised for being late.

• He apologised for to be late.

• He apologised for lating.

Multiple Choice

"You mustn't stay here"

• He forbade me to stay there.

• He commanded me to stay there.

• He insisted me to stay there.

• He warned me to stay there.