Reported Speech

Reported Speech is one of the most common forms in grammar. There are
strict rules for the sequence of tenses. In general, in moving from direct speech to
reported speech, the tense is changed one step backwards (to the past). Notable
exceptions are the simple future (which becomes conditional in reported speech)
and imperatives (which become infinitives in reported speech). The relative
pronoun that used after the reporting verb is optional, but commonly used. (E.g.,
Margo said that she would call me after breakfast tomorrow.)

SEQUENCE OF TENSES
PRESENT
SIMPLE PRESENT SIMPLE PAST
They are doctors
He doesnt work at a hospital
She runs every day

S/he said that they were doctors

S/he said that he didnt work at a hospital
S/he said that she ran every day

PRESENT CONTINUOUS PAST CONTINUOUS

They are drinking coffee
He isnt doing homework

S/he said that they were drinking coffee

S/he said that he wasnt doing homework

PAST
SIMPLE PAST PAST PERFECT
We were at the park
She didnt do his homework
He worked in a hospital

S/he said that they had been at the park

S/he said that she hadnt done his homework
S/he said that he had worked in a hospital

PAST CONTINUOUS PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

They were listening to music
He wasnt studying

S/he said that they had been listening to music

S/he said that he hadnt been studying

PRESENT PERFECT PAST PERFECT

She has been to Paris
They havent eaten shark

S/he said that she had been to Paris

S/he said that they hadnt eaten shark

FUTURE
WILL WOULD
They wont go to the movies
Hell study English

S/he said that they wouldnt go to the movies

S/he said that hed study English

AM/IS/ARE GOING TO WAS/WERE GOING TO

They are going to flunk
She isnt going to read a book

S/he said that they were going to flunk

S/he said that she wasnt going to read a book

MODAL AUXILIARIES
SHOULD - SHOULD
They should go early
She shouldnt smoke

S/he said that they should go early

S/he said that she shouldnt smoke

MUST (DEDUCTION) - MUST

They must be at home

S/he said that they must be at home

MUST (OBLIGATION/NECESSITY) HAD TO

He must go

S/he said that he had to go

HAVE TO HAD TO
She has to work
They dont have to go

S/he said that she had to work

S/he said that they didnt have to go

CAN COULD
He can play the guitar
They cant watch the movie

S/he said that he could play the guitar

S/he said that they couldnt watch the movie

USED TO USED TO
She used to work a lot
They didnt use to study

S/he said that she used to work a lot

S/he said that they didnt use to study

Finish the sentences using Reported speech. Always change the tense,
although it is sometimes not necessary.
Example:
1) Peter: "I cleaned the black shoes."
Peter told me that ____________________________
Answer: Peter told me that he had cleaned the black shoes.

2) Max: "Frank often reads a book."

Max told me

3) Susan: "I'm watching TV."

Susan said that

4) Simon: "David was ill."

Simon said that

5) Peggy: "The girls helped in the house."

Peggy told me that

6) Richard: "I am going to ride a skateboard."

Richard said

7) Stephen and Claire: "We have cleaned the windows."

Stephen and Claire told me that

8) Charles: "I didn't have time to do my homework."

Charles said

9) Mrs Jones: "My mother will be 50 years old."

Mrs Jones told me that

10) Jean: "The boss must sign the letter."

Jean said that

ANSWER KEY:
2) Frank often read a book,3) She was watching TV,4) David had been ill,5) The girls had helped in the house
6) He was going to ride a skateboard,7) They had cleaned the windows,8) He hadnt had time to do his homework
9) Her mother would be 50 years old,10) The boss must sign the letter