11digi Mod 3 Reported Speech

​Reported speech

By Eda Gray

Open Ended

Write a reported speech sentence. (Use said, said to me, told)

​Rule #1

Reported Speech… | Free Interactive Worksheets | 1407234

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In a nutshell

say + no personal object
Tim said (that) she was afraid of thunderstorms.
say + to + personal object
Tim said to me (that) ................
tell + personal object
Sarah told me (that) .......................
say + to-infinitive
Οur teacher said to recycle our empty bottles.
tell sb, speak/talk about
She told us/spoke/talked about helping endangered species.

​He agreed to go to the beach clean-up.

He advised me to ask an expert.

​He accused me of cutting/having cut down the trees.

​He agreed that the plan would help the environment.

​Backshift!

​WB 131 ex 7

Rule #2
Backshifting-
yes or no?

Up-to-date reporting?
Out-of-date reporting?

Not current, is not happening now, report sth that was said a long time ago.

VERBS BACKSHIFT!

​out-of-date

Current, still true or short time after they were said

"I will be late this morning!"
My friend said she will be late for class this morning.

​up-to-date

What is the difference?

• She said (that) she liked hot weather.

• He said (that) it was raining.

• She said (that) they had evacuated the city.

• They said (that) they had seen the landslide.

• She said (that) she had been driving the rescue vehicle.

• He said (that) he would donate some money.

​Write/say these in direct speech ("...")

• “I like hot weather.”

• “It's raining.”

• “They have evacuated the city.”

• “We saw the landslide.”

• “I was driving the rescue vehicle.”

• “I will donate some money.”

​Check answers

WB 129 ex 1-3

now	→
today	→
yesterday	→
tomorrow	→
this week	→
last week	→
next week	→
ago	→
here	→

​Rule #3

Time expressions:

​Yet - ?

now	→	then, immediately
today	→	that day
yesterday	→	the day before, the previous day
tomorrow	→	the next/following day
this week	→	that week
last week	→	the week before, the previous week
next week	→	the week after, the following week
ago	→	before
here	→	there

​Time expressions:

​Yet - at that time

But, watch this!

A snake is a mammal. → He said that a snake was a mammal. (We know it is not.)



The professor said, "The sun is a star." → The professor said (that) the sun is/was a star. (general truths and laws of nature either remain the same or change)

...and this

• No backshifting in reported speech:
a) when the introductory verb is in the present, future or present perfect.
Debbie has (often) said, "I love animals." → Debbie has (often) said that she loves animals.
My mom always says, "With age comes wisdom." - My mom always says that with age comes wisdom.

b) in type 2 and 3 conditionals.
"If I were you, I would walk to school," she said to me. → She told me (that) if she were me, she would walk to school.

​WB 129 ex 4

...what was this?

• No backshifting in reported speech:

a) when the introductory verb is in the p......., f........ or pr...............t p............
Debbie has (often) said, "I love animals." → Debbie ..............................
My mom always says, "With age comes wisdom." - My mom ...................


b) in type 2 and 3 conditionals.
"If I were you, I would walk to school," she said to me. → She told me (that) ...............

​WB 129 ex 4

Reported questions

"Do you do any conservation work?" he asked her.

He asked her if/whether she did any conservation work.

​Dir.Q: who, where, how, when, what

use: if or whether.

Dir.Q: be, do, have; can, may, etc.

Question rules!!

“When did the earthquake occur?” he asked.

He asked when the earthquake had occurred.

​WB 131 ex.5

​Your text here

​Usually: ask, inquire, wonder, want to know

​Indirect questions
politeness strategy to ask for advice or information

Direct - informal, less distance Indirect - more formal, more distance

​What was it like to see the mudslide? vs Could you tell me ...?
Did the mayor have an evacuation plan? vs Do you know ...?
What was your first thought when you crashed? vs I wonder ......
What did you see when you opened your eyes? vs Can you tell me ...
What would you tell the locals? vs I'd like to know....

​WB 131 ex 6

​He wondered where Laura was. (jaatava lause jk)

Will, can, may, shall, must, had better, needn't, should.
AKA Modal verbs