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Reported
Speech
We use reported speech when we are saying what other people say, think or believe.
Yesterday you said you didn't like it but now you do!
When we are reporting things in the present, future or present perfect we don't change the tense.
When we tell people what someone has said in the past, we generally make the tense 'more in the
past'.
He's working in Siberia now. = She told me he was working in Siberia now.
Polly has bought a new car. = She said Polly had bought a new car.
Jo can't come for the weekend. = She said Jo couldn't come for the weekend.
Paul called and left a message. = He told me Paul had called and had left me a message.
However, when we are reporting something that was said in the past but is still true, it is not
obligatory to make the tense 'more in the past'. The choice is up to the speaker. For example:
"The train doesn't stop here."
Rua Joaquim Nicolau de Almeida, 86, 4430-116 Vila Nova de Gaia
Emails: davinci.vngaia@gmail.com ou vngaia@davinci.com.pt
Telefones: 91 326 13 37, 91 326 13 57 e 22 099 11 53
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When we are reporting what was said, we sometimes have to change other words in the sentence.
We have to change the pronoun if we are reporting what someone else said. Compare these two
sentences. In each case the person actually said "I don't want to go."
We have to change words referring to 'here and now' if we are reporting what was said in a
different
place
or
time.
Compare these two sentences. In each case the person actually said "I'll be there at ten
tomorrow."
(If it is later the same day) He said he would be there at ten tomorrow.
(If we are in the place he is coming to) He said he would be here at ten tomorrow.
Tense changes
"I'm going swimming" She said she was going swimming.
"I haven't seen the film" She said she hadn't seen the film.
"I have been working all morning" She said she had been working all morning.
"I was working all week" She said she had been working all week.
"He went on holiday to Greece" She said he had gone on holiday to Greece.
Rua Joaquim Nicolau de Almeida, 86, 4430-116 Vila Nova de Gaia
Emails: davinci.vngaia@gmail.com ou vngaia@davinci.com.pt
Telefones: 91 326 13 37, 91 326 13 57 e 22 099 11 53
Actividade Educativa http://www.davinci.com.pt/vngaia/
Actividade Formativa http://www.valorpormedida.com/
Sentences that are already in the "had done" form remain the same:
"I hadn't seen him before" She said she hadn't seen him before.
Reporting modal verbs
Modal verbs also go back one tense.
Will becomes would.
For example: "I will see him later" She said she would see him later.
Can becomes could.
For example: "I can swim" She said she could swim.
May becomes might.
For example: "It may become colder over night" He said it might become colder over night.
Direct speech using would, could, might and should all stay the same in reported speech.
"You should speak more" He said I should speak more.
Reporting questions
When you report questions, the word order changes to look like a normal statement.
For example: "Can you help me?" She asked me if I could help her.
"What's the time?" He asked her what the time was.
Other changes
Time expressions also change in reported speech.
today that day
tomorrow the day after / the next day
yesterday the day before / the previous day
now then
next week the week after
Rua Joaquim Nicolau de Almeida, 86, 4430-116 Vila Nova de Gaia
Emails: davinci.vngaia@gmail.com ou vngaia@davinci.com.pt
Telefones: 91 326 13 37, 91 326 13 57 e 22 099 11 53
Actividade Educativa http://www.davinci.com.pt/vngaia/
Actividade Formativa http://www.valorpormedida.com/
Exercises
Finish the sentences using Reported speech. Always change the tense, although it is sometimes not
necessary.
1) Andrew: "Clean the blue bike!"
Andrew told me
Tom told me
Finish the sentences using Reported speech. Always change the tense, although it is sometimes not
necessary.
1) Karen: "Don't play football in the garden!"
Karen told me
.
2) Teacher: "Don't forget your homework!"
The teacher reminded me
3) Mike: "Don't shout at Peter!"
Mike told me
Yvonne told me
5) Denise: "Don't open the door!"
Denise told me