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We use Reported Speech to repeat what somebody has said, read or heard.
Grammatically speaking, Reported Speech is formed as follows:
If the reporting verb is in the present tense (he says, she tells, they inform), we do not change the tenses when
reporting it; for example:
PRESENT PRESENT
When the reporting verb is in the past tense, as it often is, (he said, she told, they informed), we change the
verb in the original sentence to the past; for example:
PAST PAST
The following table shows the way tenses change from the actual words into the corresponding reported forms:
EXERCISE 1. Match the phrase in column A with the reported speech in column B.
A B
1. You can’t leave yet. It’s only 11 o’clock. a) They said they had to go.
2. Well, I’ll do whatever I can for you. b) He said he would help if he could.
3. If I were you I would get in touch with the c) She promised she would visit us.
manager. d) He suggested that we should talk to the
4. I bumped into your brother in London yesterday. manager.
5. It’s no good just telephoning. Put something in e) They insisted we should stay a bit longer.
writing. f) They complained that they were too busy.
6. I’ll certainly come and see you. g) She mentioned that she had met you.
7. We have far too much work at the moment. h) I explained that they should send a letter.
8. I’m afraid it’s time for us to leave.
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Supplementary Material
EXERCISE 2. Turn the following remarks into reported speech.
Example: «I was queuing up for 2 hours»
The man complained that he had been queuing up for 2 hours.
2. «It’s terrible»
The second lady commented ______________________________________________________
EXERCISE 3. Read the following reported text carefully. Then, write the actual dialogue between Mr. Daniels
and Mr. Thompson about Peter.
Peter had an interview for a job with a travel agency. The man who interviewed him was called Mr.
Daniels. After the interview, he discussed Peter with his boss, Mr. Thompson. He asked Mr. Daniels about
Peter and Mr. Daniels said he was a very pleasant young man. Mr. Daniels said he was inexperienced, but had
done quite well at school and spoke some French and Spanish.
Mr. Thompson asked if Mr. Daniels thought Peter could learn the job reasonably quickly and Mr. Daniels
replied that he seemed very keen and intelligent.
Mr. Thompson asked if Mr. Daniels had mentioned a specific salary, and Mr. Daniels said that he had
explained that the starting salary would be quite small, but that it would increase considerably after six months,
Mr. Thompson told Mr. Daniels to contact Peter and offer him the job at a starting salary of (US) $ 200,00
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Supplementary Material
KEY CHECK
EXERCISE 1.
1. e
2. b
3. d
4. g
5. h
6. c
7. f
8. a
EXERCISE 2.
3. ... she saw an inspector, she would give him a piece of her mind.
EXERCISE 3.
Mr. Daniels : No, but he did quite well at school and speaks some French and Spanish.
Mr. Thompson : Do you think he can learn the job reasonably quickly?
Mr Daniels : Well...., I explained that the starting salary will be quite small, but that it will increase
considerably after six months if he proves to be the right man for the job.
Mr. Thompson : Good! Contact Peter please and offer him the job at a starting salary of (US)$200.00
a week.