Reported Speech

Reported Speech

English class by Mam Eka

Reported Speech

Definition

Reported speech is speech that tells us what someone said without directly quoting them.

In other words, we use reported speech to summarize and communicate what someone previously said

Reported Speech

Example

Direct speech “I listen to music every day.”

Reported speech "You said (that) you listened to music every day."

Reported Speech

Example

Direct speech “I like a bouquet of flowers.”

Reported speech "She said (that) she liked a bouquet of flowers."

Reported Speech

3 Main elements to converting direct speech to reported speech.

• Add a reporting verb

• Backshift our tenses by one

• Change the pronouns!

Reported Speech

Add a reporting verb

• Say -> Said

  Robert said to his teacher (that) he finished the homework

  assignment.

• Tell -> Told

  I told you (that) she loved me more.

Reported Speech

Backshift our tenses by one

• Present simple to Past simple

  Direct speech: I want to buy a car.

  Reported speech: John said (that) he wanted to buy a car.

Reported Speech

Backshift our tenses by one

• Present Continuous to Past Continuous

  Direct speech: I am doing my laundry.

  Reported speech: Jeff told her that he was doing his

  homework.

Reported Speech

Backshift our tenses by one

• Present Perfect to Past Perfect

  Direct speech: They have finished their homework.

  Reported speech: My mom said that they had finished their

  homework.

Reported Speech

Backshift our tenses by one

• Past Simple to Past Perfect

  Direct speech: I washed the dishes.

  Reported speech: You told her (that) you had washed the

  dishes.

Reported Speech

Backshift our tenses by one

• Future simple

  Direct speech: I will call you later.

  Reported speech: She said (that) she would call you later.

Reported Speech

Backshift our tenses by one

• Can to Could

  Direct speech: He can eat a lot

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

Reported Speech

Backshift our tenses by one

• May to Might

  Direct speech: This watch may be too expensive.

  Reported speech: My dad said (that) this watch might be

  too expensive.

Reported Speech

Direct Speech to Reported Speech

• Can -----> Could

  May -----> Might (possibility)

  May -----> Could (permission)

  Will -----> Would

Reported Speech

Direct Speech to Reported Speech

Shall -----> Should

Must -----> Had to (necessity/obligation)

Must -----> (no change)

Might -----> (no change)

Could -----> Would

Reported Speech

Direct Speech to Reported Speech

Would -----> Would

Should -----> Would

Reported Speech

Exercise!

1. Direct speech: She always wears a coat.

   Reported speech:

2. Direct speech: I’m looking for my car.

   Reported speech:

3. Direct speech: We were living in Brazil.

   Reported speech:

Reported Speech

Exercise!

4. Direct speech: He had been teaching abroad for 5 years in

   my school.

   Reported speech:

5. Direct speech: I will finish my homework tomorrow.

   Reported speech:

Reported Speech

Exercise!

5. Direct speech: My uncle can speak Spanish.

   Reported speech:

6. Direct speech: I may to go the movies.

   Reported speech:

Reported Speech

Exercise!

7. Direct speech: We may talk after class.

   Reported speech: