Reported Speech - statements

​Reported Speech

1. ​add a reporting verb

2. backshift the tenses by one

3. change the pronouns

​ Direct speech Indirect speech |

Reported speech

​Reported speech

• to ​say said

• to tell told

​Remember to always include the reporting verbs when dealing with reported speech!

​She said that she loved the movie.

or

She said she loved the movie.

​They said they ate breakfast.

or

They said that they ate breakfast.

​say + to someone

​Robert said to his teacher that he finished the assignment.

​Allison said to her teacher (that) she was feeling ill.

​tell + who we are reporting to

​She told me that she loved the movie.

They told us that they had eaten breakfast.

​Backshift in tenses

​English has 12 basic tenses

​Past

Present

Future

​With reported speech we do not change the tense if the information is current and ongoing.

​I love my son.

Ann said that she loves her son.

​Time and Place words

• ​'now' changes to 'then'/ 'immediately'

• 'today' changes to 'that day'

• 'yesterday' changes to 'the day before' /'the previous day'

• 'last week' changes to 'the week before' / 'the previous week'

• 'tomorrow' changes to 'the next day' / 'the following day'

• 'next week' changes to 'the week after' / 'the following week'

• 'here' changes to 'there'

• 'this week' changes to 'that week'

• 'these' changes to 'those'

• 'ago' changes to 'before'

Present simple

Past simple

Fill in the Blanks

Lucy: I want to buy a car.

Lucy said (that)...

Present continuous

Past continuous

Fill in the Blanks

Lucy: I am doing my homework.

Lucy said (that)

Present perfect

Past perfect

Fill in the Blanks

George: I have finished my homework.

George said (that) ...

Past simple

Past perfect

Fill in the Blanks

William: I washed the dishes.

William said (that)

Future simple (will)

Conditional (would)

Fill in the Blanks

Gary: I will call you later.

Gary said (that) ...

Modal verb "can" "could"

Fill in the Blanks

He can eat a lot.

They told me (that) he could eat a lot.

Modal verb "may" (possibility)

"might"

Fill in the Blanks

This watch may be too expensive.

My dad said (that) this ...

Multiple Choice

'My dad ran a marathon at the age of 75.'

She told me that her dad ___ a marathon at the age of 75.

• was running

• had run

• has run

Multiple Choice

'I wasn't paying attention at the time.'

He said that he ___ attention at the time.

• didn't pay

• hadn't been paying

• hasn't been paying

Multiple Choice

'I live in the centre.'

She told me that she ___ in the centre, but I think she's moved.

• has lived

• had lived

• lived

Multiple Choice

'We're meeting Toni at 8 o'clock.'

She said that they ___ Toni at 8 o'clock.

• were meeting

• are meeting

• had been meeting

Multiple Choice

'She had worked for that school for 40 years when she retired.'

He told me that she ___ for that school for 40 years when she retired.

• works

• was working

• had worked

Multiple Choice

'I've written three pages of the report.'

He said that he ___ three pages of the report.

• wrote

• was writing

• had written

Multiple Choice

'We're having a great time here on holiday!'

My parents said they're having a great time ___ on holiday.

• there

• here

• then

Multiple Choice

'My best friend at school became a nurse first, then a paramedic.'

He told me that his best friend at school ___ a nurse first, then a paramedic.

• was becoming

• had become

• has become

Multiple Choice

'Coralia's arriving today.'

She told me that Coralia was arriving ___, but I found out the next day that her visit was cancelled.

• today

• that day

• ago

Multiple Choice

'I had lived in four countries by the age of ten.'

She said that she ___ in four countries by the age of ten.

• lived

• was living

• had lived

Multiple Choice

'I commute 45 minutes to work.'

She told me that she ___ 45 minutes to work, but I bet it takes longer now with the roadworks.

• has commuted

• commuted

• had commuted

Multiple Choice

'We were hoping to have our wedding in June.'

She told me that they ___ to have their wedding in June. In the end, though, they got married in September.

• had been hoping

• are hoping

• have been hoping

Multiple Choice

'Oh, hi, Ethan! I'm just leaving, unfortunately.'

When I got there I saw him, but he said he ___.

• is just leaving

• was just leaving

• had just left

Multiple Choice

'We've seen four elephants already and it's only our first day.'

He said that they ___ four elephants on their first day.

• were seeing

• have seen

• had seen

Multiple Choice

'I love this restaurant!'

Chloe said she loved ___ restaurant!

• that

• this

• there

Multiple Choice

'I told Dom to email you three days ago.'

She said that she had told Dom to email me three days ___.

• then

• ago

• before