Reported Speech

When we report what someone has said, we make certain changes:

"I smoke five cigarettes a day," said Mike.
Mike said he smoked five cigarettes a day.
The main change in reported speech sentences is that the tenses change. Here is a
summary of the tense changes that take place:

Tense Changes in Reported Speech

Examples:
"I am going to France when I finish university."
He said he was going to France when he finished university.

"I will tell you where I have been on holiday."

She said she would tell me where she had been on holiday.

"I was reading this book all day yesterday."

He said he had been reading that book all the previous day.

You can see in the last sentence how "this" becomes "that" and
how "yesterday" becomes "the previous day" (or "day before"). Here are some
other changes that take place:

Other Changes in Reported Speech

 Direct S

Toda
Tomor
Yester
Ago
Nex
Las
Thi
Her
Now

Examples:

"I didn't go last week, I went 3 weeks ago."

He said he hadn't gone the week before, he had gone 3 weeks before.

"I don't want that report today, I want it here and now!!"
The boss said he didn't want the report that day, he wanted it there and then.

It is not necessary to change the tenses if what you are reporting is still true:

"Milan is bigger than Turin."

He said that Milan is bigger than Turin.

We stay with the present simple because Milan is still bigger than Turin.

Be careful when you use say and tell as they are used differently:

Say something (to someone).

Tell someone something.

He told me he was getting married.

He said (to me) (that) he was getting married.
1. I told "goodbye" to John but he just ignored me completely.
True

False

2. Mike told me to come and see you immediately.

True

False

3. Say "goodnight" to your uncle and then we can go.

True

False

4. Helen told me about your broken leg. How did that happen?
True

False

5. I told that I didn't want to go the same restaurant again.

True

False

6. What did she tell her mother?

True

False
7. What did she say to her mother?
True

False

8. What did she say her mother?

True

False

9. John said a terrible joke at the party and no-one laughed - except him of course!
True

False

10. Kathy told her turn the television on so she could watch her favourite soap opera.
True

False
1. I just think John is an idiot. that, he earns a lot more than me!

2. I would have Jessica about the meeting if I'd seen her, but I didn't!

3. Can you listen to what I'm trying to you. This is important.

4. Oh, Barry, you've me that joke at least ten times.

5. Did you hear what my boss about his boss?

6. My mother always told me to my prayers before bedtime.

7. He got me very worried without actually what the problem was.

8. Miriam to come and see me immediately. This report is all wrong.

Choose the correct reporting verb from this list and finish the reported speech for
each example.

Told Suggested
Said Asked
Advised Offered
Warned Ordered

1. "I'd go and see a doctor if I were you," Julie said to me.

Julie me to go and see a doctor.

2. "Can you come and help me with this box?"

John me to help him with the box.

3. "This is an exam Mr. Jenkins!! Shut up now!!!"

The headmaster Mr. Jenkins to shut up.
4. "That road is very dangerous so just be very careful!"
His mother him that the road was very dangerous and to be

careful.

5. "Liverpool won the match last night."

The journalist that Liverpool had won the match the previous night.

6. "Why don't we go and see that new film at the cinema."

Bill going to see the new film at the cinema.

7. "I can come and look after the children tomorrow night."
Jane to come and look after the children the following day.

8. "The lesson starts at six o'clock in the evening."

The teacher us that the lesson started at six in the evening.
Re-order these words to make sentences that use reported speech. The first word in
each sentence is "Susan".

1. computer / told / broke / it / Susan / her / me / who / . / was /

the

2. can't / that / tonight / . / Susan / to / me / said / she /

come

3. me / to / . / she / me / money / back / the / Susan / promised / pay /

owes

4. for / said / new / computer / Susan / Tony / . / the / paid / that /

had

5. . / she / anything / wouldn't / mother / that / agreed / her / Susan /

tell

6. admitted / what / her / . / hadn't / she / that / Susan / asked / I'd /

understood

7. coming / . / the / Phil / warned / Susan / to / house / keep / to /

not

8. her / Susan / that / . / manager / was / she / said / pregnant / to /

bank
Write these direct quotations as reported speech.

1. Julie said, "My birthday is on Friday." Julie said .

2. John said, "I saw that movie once before." John said he .

3. My friend said, "I'll come with you." My friend said she me.

4. The veterinarian said, "I'll give the cat an injection." The veterinarian said
he .

5. Sally asked, "Can I help you plan the party?" Sally asked if us

plan the party.

6. Rachel said, "I'm baking a cake for the party." Rachel told me .

7. The doctor said, "You need to have an operation." The doctor told
me .

8. She said, "I've been cleaning the house all morning." She said she

9. She asked, "Do you want some lemonade?" She asked if we .

10. Tom asked, "Have you ever been on a sailboat before?" Tom asked if
we .