DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH

1.PRESENT SIMPLE PAST SIMPLE

Eg: I never eat meat. He explained (that) he never ate meat.
2.PRESENT CONTINUOUS PAST CONTINUOUS
Eg: I am waiting for Ann. He said (that) he was waiting for Ann.
3.PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE PAST PERFECT SIMPLE
Eg: I have found a flat. She said (that) she had found a flat.
4.PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Eg: I have been waiting for ages. She said (that) she had been waiting for
5.SIMPLE PAST ages.
Eg: I forgot about it. PAST PERFECT SIMPLE
6.PAST CONTINUOUS He said (that) he had forgotten about it.
Eg: I was just leaving. PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
7.PAST PERFECT SIMPLE He said (that) he had been just leaving.
Eg: I had been there already. PAST PERFECT SIMPLE
8.FUTURE She said (that) she had been there already.
Eg: i) I shall be there. FUTURE IN THE PAST
ii) They will be swimming tomorrow.
i) He promised (that) he should be
iii) We will have finished the book by there.
then. ii) They said (that) they would be
iv) It is going to rain today. swimming the next day.
iii) She said (that) they would have
finished the book by then.
iv) He said (that) it was going to rain
that day.
VORBIREA DIRECTA SI INDIRECTA

Vorbirea directa: John said: „She is not at home"

Vorbirea indirecta: John said she was not at home.
Pentru a trece o propozitie de la vorbirea directa la vorbirea indirecta, trebuie respectate o serie
de reguli.
1. Atunci când verbul din propozitia principala este la trecut, ceea ce se intâmpla în
majoritatea cazurilor, în propozitia secundara se schimba timpurile dupa cum urmeaza:
Present - past Present perfect - past perfect Past - past perfect Future future-in
the past (restul sunt prezentate in tabelul de sus)
Ex. – He said „I am ill". He said he was ill.
o He said „I have been working hard. He said he had been working hard.
o He said „I was ill". He said he had been ill.
o He said „I will do the exercise". He said he would do the exercise.
1. Se schimba pronumele, în functie de sens.
Ex. He said: „She gave me a book".
He said she had given him a book.
2. Se schimba o serie de cuvinte în functie de sens.
Ex. today - that day
Yesterday, the day before - the previous day
the day before yesterday - two days before

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 tomorrow the next day - the following day
the day after tomorrow - in two days‟ time
next week the next - the following week
two years ago - two years before
now - then this - that these - those here - there
Ex. He said: „I‟l

the next day.

3. Frazele conditionale sunt trecute la vorbirea indirecta în modul urmator:
o tipul 1 devine tipul 2:
"If it rains, I will stay at home."
He said if it rained he would stay at home.
o tipurile 2 si 3 nu se schimba:
"If it rained, I would stay at home."
He said if itrained he would stay at home.
"If it had rained, I would have stayed at home."
He said if it had rained he would have stayed at home.
1. Verbele modale would, should, ought to, could, might ramân neschimbate la vorbirea
indirecta.
Ex. He said: „I might be late"
He said he might be late.
Modalitati de introducere a propozitiilor secundare în vorbirea indirecta
1. Afirmatii: cu that (care se poate omite)

2. Comenzi: cu infinitivul (afirmativ sau negativ)

3. Intrebari: Exista doua tipuri de intrebari: generale si speciale. Intrebarile generale sunt cele
care incep cu un verb, iar raspunsul poate fi da sau nu.
Ex. Where have you been? I‟ve been away, on holiday.
Intrebarile generale se introduc cu if sau whether (daca).
Ex. He asked me if I liked music.
Intrebarile speciale se introduc cu cuvântul interogativ respectiv. Ex. He asked me where I had
been.
În cazul intrebarilor speciale trecute la vorbirea indirecta, trebuie acordata atentie ordinei
cuvintelor din propozitia secundara. Intrucât aceasta propozitie incepe cu un cuvânt interogativ,
exista tentatia de a folosi ordinea cuvintelor din propozitiile interogative, ceea ce este o greseala.
Ex. He asked me: „What is the time?"
Corect: He asked me what the time was.
Incorect: He asked me what was the time.
VORBIREA DIRECTĂ ŞI INDIRECTĂ
Vorbirea directă este redarea întocmai a spuselor cuiva, enunţul devenind o
propoziţie completivă directă sau, în cazul unei fraze, o propoziţie completivă directă însoţită
de subordonatele sale. În limba engleză, după verbul explicativ (to ask, to say etc.) se
foloseşte, de obicei, virgula şi nu două puncte, iar vorbirea directă este pusă între ghilimele
(duble sau simple):

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 He asked me, "Do you remember L.?"
Vorbirea indirectă reproduce conţinutul a ceea ce spune cineva într-o împrejurare
dată. Ca şi vorbirea directă, ea este redată prin propoziţii completive directe, atât că
timpurile verbale din cadrul acestora se modifică potrivit regulilor de corespondenţa
timpurilor:
He asked me/whether I remembered L.
Alte modificări sunt determinate, în general, de tipurile modale ale propoziţiilor
respective:
1) Propoziţiile enunţiative
Verbul to say din principală se păstrează atunci când nu este însoţit de un
complement indirect; altfel, se înlocuieşte prin to tell.
Pronumele, determinanţii şi adverbele se înlocuiesc în funcţie de înţeles, ca în limba
română, de exemplu: I poate deveni he sau she; this -- that; today -- that day; yesterday -- the
day before; ago -- before; here -- there etc. Astfel: "I think I heard you speaking on the radio
last month," she said to me. devine: She told me (that) she thought (that) she heard me speaking on
the radio a month before.
2) Propoziţiile interogative
Ordinea cuvintelor dintr-o propoziţie interogativă indirectă este aceea a cuvintelor
dintr-o propoziţie enunţiativă. Propoziţia interogativă indirectă este introdusă prin if sau
whether, iar atunci când întrebarea este alternativă, prin whether. Pronumele, adjectivele şi
adverbele determinative se înlocuiesc, ca şi în limba română, după înţeles. Astfel: He asked
me, "Have you seen the new theatre?" devine He asked me if/whether I had seen the new theatre.
Sau: John said, "Will you come and dine with us to-night?" devine: John asked (us) if/whether we
would come and dine with them that night.
3) Propoziţiile imperative
Propoziţiile imperative se redau în vorbirea indirectă cu ajutorul unor verbe care exprimă
ordinul, rugămintea, cererea etc. (to ask, to order, to tell, to beg etc.) urmate de infinitive.
Pronumele, adjectivele şi adverbele determinative se înlocuiesc, ca şi în limba română, după
înţeles. Astfel: "Drive quicker!" he said to me. Devine: He asked me to drive quicker.
4) Propoziţiile exclamative
Propoziţiile exclamative sunt redate în vorbirea indirectă printr-o serie de modificări
cerute de sens, caracterul exclamaţiei fiind redat mai ales de verbe şi adverbe (de mod),
astfel: He said, "That isn't true!" devine: He exclaimed/cried indignantly that it wasn't true.
Remarci finale. La transformarea vorbirii directe în vorbire indirectă trebuie să ţinem întotdeauna
seama de caracterul modalităţii enunţului, indiferent de tipul structural-modal al propoziţiei
(enunţiativă, interogativă etc.). Pentru ilustrare, vom considera propoziţia interogativă:
May I give you a helping hand? care implică însă ideea de ofertă şi va fi transformată în
consecinţă: He etc. offered to give her etc. a helping hand.

Reported Speech

I. PRESENTATION
 Reported Speech (also referred to as „indirect speech') refers to a sentence reporting what
someone has said. It is almost always used in spoken English.
 The central element is the reporting verb:

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verb + object + verb + verb + (that) verb + gerund verb + object + verb +
infinitive infinitive preposition + preposition
gerund + gerund
advise agree Admit, agree, deny accuse apologize
encourage decide decide, deny, recommend blame insist
invite offer explain, insist, suggest congratulate
remind promise promise,
warn refuse recommend,
threaten suggest
Examples: Jack Examples: Examples: Tom Examples: He Examples: Examples:
encouraged me She offered admitted (that) denied having They accused He
to look for a to give him he had tried to anything to do the boys of apologized
new job. a lift to leave early. with her. cheating on the for being
They invited work. She agreed Ken exam. late.
all their friends My brother (that) we suggested She blamed She insisted
to attend the refused to needed to studying early her husband on doing the
presentation. take no for reconsider our in the for missing the washing up.
an answer. plans. morning. train.
A. The reporting verb is in the present: He/ She says that ….
He/ She is saying that ….
He? She has said that ….
CHANGES:
 the 1st person becomes the 3rd person (in the case of predicates and the pronouns)
(a) statements:
“I work hard every day and I am very tired.”, he says.
He says (that) he works hard every day and he is very tired.
“I saw the film yesterday.”, she says.
She says she saw the film yesterday.
(b) questions
- “yes/no” questions:
“Did Tom help them with the report?”, he asks.
He asks if / whether Tom helped them with the report.
- “wh-“ questions:
- “wh-“ = subject: “Who called you yesterday?”, he asks.
He asks who called you yesterday.
- “wh-“ = object: “Where have you been?”, she asks.
She asks where you have been.
(c) imperatives turn into infinitives:
“Don’t hand in any paper without checking it first!:, mom says.
Mom tells us not to hand in any paper without checking it first.
B. The reporting verb is in the past:
CHANGES:
 the tenses undergo the process of BACKSHIFT, because we move from the axis of the
present to the axis of the past, making the following changes:
Axis of the present: reference time = present tense

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 Past Present Present Future (will)
Tense Perfect Tense
________________________________________________________________ (now)

__________ ___________________________________________________ (then)

Past Past Past Future in the Past
Perfect Perfect Tense (would)

Axis of the past: reference time = past tense

 adverbials and adjectives change as follows:

Direct Reported Speech Examples:

Speech
this / these that / those 1. “I work hard every day and I am very tired.”,
here there he said.
today that day He said he worked hard every day and he
tomorrow the next / the following day was tired.
next the next / the following 2. “Where have you been?”, she asked.
yesterday the day before / the previous She asked where you had been.
day 3. “I saw the film yesterday.”, she said.
last week the week before / the previous She said she had seen the film the day
week before.
2 years ago 2 years before 4. “Who called you yesterday?”, he asked.
now then He asked who had called you the previous
day.
5. “Will Tom help them with the report?”, he
asked.
He asked if Tom would help them with the
report.

II. PRACTICE
1. Report the following:
1) “I‟m so happy to see you here today.”, she said.
2) “I don‟t know you.”, he said.
3) “We have been playing football all afternoon”, the boys said.
4) “They will come back next week.”, mom told us.
5) “There is an important meeting tonight.”, he reminded us.
6) “We are sorry because we didn‟t come last night.”, they said
7) “Have you ever travelled by plane?”, she asks.
8) “How old are you?”, the boy wanted to know.
9) “What were you doing at 9 last night?”, the detective has asked.
10) “Why did you leave your money in the room?”, he asks.
11) “ How long have they been here?”, the teacher asked.

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 12) “Where are they now?”, she wanted to know.
13) “You will soon know the results to the test.”, said the teacher.
14) “I received a letter from Caroline on Wednesday”, he informed us.
15) I‟ll go swimming again as soon as I recover”, Michael assured us.
16) “I didn‟t expect to see you here today”, she said.
17) “I‟ll write to my mother tomorrow morning”, promised Richard.
18) “I‟ll have finished cooking by the time you get home”, Mrs. Mason told her husband.
19) “I always stay at home when it rains”, the old man said.
20) “If I were taller, she would marry me”, he said.
II. Fill each of the blank spaces with one of these verbs, in an appropriate form: ask,
speak, talk, say, tell, order.
1. I don‟t know the hotel personally, but it is …… to be quite a good one.
2. Sit down and …… me exactly what happened.
3. Let‟s …… the new neighbours to dinner next week.
4. We‟d better …… the whole thing over again before we make a decision.
5. The minister is going to …… in Parliament tomorrow about unemployment.
6. The doctor took his temperature and then …… him straight to bed.
7. Some people …… that the imported cola is better than the local product but I can‟t ……
the difference.
8. Daddy, Nigel has …… me to marry him!
9. And what have you got to …… for yourself, young man?
10. I have been …… them that they are making a great mistake.
11. Yes, I think I …… German well enough to make myself understood at least.
12. Waiter, we‟re ready to …… now.
13. We were …… to her last night and she didn‟t once …… a word about her illness.
14. Go and …… that man what he is doing here. He wasn‟t invited.
15. The miners here are …… about going on a strike again.
1. Treceti urmatoarele afirmatii de la vorbirea directa la vorbirea indirecta (verbul
introductiv este la trecut):
Model: He said „I will leave for London tomorrow".
He said (that) he would leave for London the next day.
1. The weather was fine yesterday.
2. I saw this film a week ago.
3. I will go shopping right now.
4. Last year I spent my holiday at the seaside.
5. I think it‟s going to rain tomorrow.
6. I don‟t remember where I have bought this dictionary.
7. John left for Sinaia two days ago.
8. I am going to have a nap this afternoon.
9. If I have enough money, I will buy a car next year.
10. If I had been at home, I would have answered the phone.
2. Treceti urmatoarele comenzi la vorbirea indirecta (verbul introductiv este la trecut)
Model: He said: „Come in!"
He told (asked, ordered) me to come în.
1. Don‟t drive so fast!
2. Open the door, please!

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 3. Read the text, please!
4. Write me a letter when you get to England!
5. Don‟t cross the street on a red light!
6. Be careful with my books!
7. Don‟t smoke so much!
8. Take this pill!
9. Don‟t interrupt me when I am speaking!
10. Ring me up when you arrive home!
3. Treceti urmatoarele intrebari generale la vorbirea indirecta (verbul introductiv
este la trecut): Model: „Will you be at home tomorrow?"
He asked me if I would be at home the next day.
1. Will you help me, please?
2. Can you come to tea this afternoon?
3. Has the train left?
4. Do you know what this word means?
5. Was your mother at home?
6. Did you buy this book yesterday?
7. Were you at the library yesterday?
8. Do you live în London for a long time?
9. Would you like a cake?
10. Could you lend me a book, please?
4. Treceti urmatoarele intrebari speciale la vorbirea indirecta (verbul introductiv este
la trecut): Model: He said: „When did you come back?"
He asked me when I had come back.
1. How long have you been learning English?
2. What are you going to do tomorrow?
3. How long does it take you to reach your office?
4. When will you be back?
5. Where will you spend your weekend?
6. Who is this man?
7. Why is it so dark în this room?
8. When did the rain stop?
9. Which of these cakes do you prefer?
10. How did you travel?
*Rephrase the following sentences so as the meaning stays the same:

1."What's your name and where do you come from?" he inquired.

He asked her…………

2."I don't want you to leave" , he told her.

He told her………….

3."Where is the lawyer, I must talk to him".

He insisted………………..

4.George asked her: "Will you come to the cinema with us?"

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George wanted to know………….

5."George and Ann must study harder," the teacher said.

The teacher insisted……..

6."What has happened this morning?"

They inquired…………….

7."Who wants to know that?" he asked.

He asked…………………..

8."What are you going to do?" they asked him.

They asked him…………..

9."Were have you been?" she asked her boy.

She asked ……………..

10."What are you doing here?"

She asked him………………

11."What do you intend to do ?" he asked us.

He asked us…………..

12."When did they call you?" , Tom's sister asked him.

Tom's sister inquired…………..

13."It's five years since we have known each other", they said.
They said…………….

14. "What will he say next?"

She wondered……………….

15."How well can you speak English?"

She wanted to know…………

16."I wouldn't cook the fish for too long , Bill , if I were you," said Jean.
Jean advised Bill…………………

17."Helen, would you like to come to lunch on Sunday?" said Mary.

Mary…………..

18."Me? No , I didn't take Sue's calculator," said Bob.

Bob denied…………….

19."Don't forget to buy some milk, Andy ," said Clare.

Clare reminded…….

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20."Look, I might not be able to come on Saturday," said David.
David told us………

21."Why don't you go and see "The Sound of Music" again, Brian?" I said.
I suggested………….

22."No , you really must stay the night , Sophia," Ann said.
Ann insisted……….

23."Make sure you don't take the A20 in the rush hour, Tim," said Jack.
Jack warned…….

24."You are not allowed to smoke in this room, Dick," said his mother.
Dick's mother………..

25."Don't forget to give me a ring tomorrow, Peter, " said Wendy.

Wendy reminded……….

26."Just make sure you avoid staying in the city centre, Mike," said Ruth.
Ruth warned Mike……….

27."I think you'd better not come to work for a few days, Cathy"
I advised………………

* Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word in capitals, and so that the meaning stays
the same:

1. Sue thought it would be a good idea for me to see a doctor. ADVISED

………………………………………………………………………………………..

2.The minister proposed regular meetings for the committee. MEET

…………………………………………………………………………………….

3.The travel agent recommended our staying near the airport. SHOULD
……………………………………………………………………………………..

4.Jack demanded action from the Police. SHOULD

…………………………………………………………

5.My bank manager invited me to visit him at home. COULD

………………………………………………………………………..

6.We received a warning to stay at home. SHOULD

…………………………………………………………..

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Convert the phrases below into reported speech.
"It's raining," she said.
1 ______________________________________________
He said to her, "I love you."
2 ______________________________________________
"I saw María in the supermarket yesterday," said Carlos.
3 ______________________________________________
"We've lived here for three years," he said.
4 ______________________________________________
"I'll bring a pasta salad," said Francesca.
5 ______________________________________________
"Mark's going to install solar panels," said Miranda.
6 ______________________________________________
"They found gold here," said the geology teacher.
7 ______________________________________________
"Jenny can't speak French," said Pierre.
8 ______________________________________________
"I first met my wife in Seville," he told us.
9 ______________________________________________
"I want your homework handed in by tomorrow," he said.
10 ______________________________________________
"My mother made these cakes," said Juan.
11 ______________________________________________
"I'm feeling tired now," said David.

1. Report the following:

21) “I‟m so happy to see you here today.”, she said.
22) “I don‟t know you.”, he said.
23) “We have been playing football all afternoon”, the boys said.
24) “They will come back next week.”, mom told us.
25) “There is an important meeting tonight.”, he reminded us.
26) “We are sorry because we didn‟t come last night.”, they said

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 27) “Have you ever travelled by plane?”, she asks.
28) “How old are you?”, the boy wanted to know.
29) “What were you doing at 9 last night?”, the detective has asked.
30) “Why did you leave your money in the room?”, he asks.
31) “ How long have they been here?”, the teacher asked.
32) “Where are they now?”, she wanted to know.
33) “You will soon know the results to the test.”, said the teacher.
34) “I received a letter from Caroline on Wednesday”, he informed us.
35) I‟ll go swimming again as soon as I recover”, Michael assured us.
36) “I didn‟t expect to see you here today”, she said.
37) “I‟ll write to my mother tomorrow morning”, promised Richard.
38) “I‟ll have finished cooking by the time you get home”, Mrs. Mason told her husband.
39) “I always stay at home when it rains”, the old man said.
40) “If I were taller, she would marry me”, he said.
II. Fill each of the blank spaces with one of these verbs, in an appropriate form: ask,
speak, talk, say, tell, order.
16. I don‟t know the hotel personally, but it is …… to be quite a good one.
17. Sit down and …… me exactly what happened.
18. Let‟s …… the new neighbours to dinner next week.
19. We‟d better …… the whole thing over again before we make a decision.
20. The minister is going to …… in Parliament tomorrow about unemployment.
21. The doctor took his temperature and then …… him straight to bed.
22. Some people …… that the imported cola is better than the local product but I can‟t ……
the difference.
23. Daddy, Nigel has …… me to marry him!
24. And what have you got to …… for yourself, young man?
25. I have been …… them that they are making a great mistake.
26. Yes, I think I …… German well enough to make myself understood at least.
27. Waiter, we‟re ready to …… now.
28. We were …… to her last night and she didn‟t once …… a word about her illness.
29. Go and …… that man what he is doing here. He wasn‟t invited.
30. The miners here are …… about going on a strike again.
Reported Questions Re-Ordering Worksheet
Put these words into the correct order to make sentences with reported questions.
1. was / where / me / to / mother / . / asked / tell / him / Chris / his
2. many / worked / she / week / . / how / to / know / last / wanted / hours / I
3. my / I / position / me / enjoying / . / was / asked / if / boss / my / new
4. fast / she / . / type / I / could / and / if / asked / how
5. victim / the / the / suspect / knew / . / he / asked / police / if / the / officer
6. United / if / ever / she / been / . / asked / States / me / I / had / to / the
7. I / the / wanted / party / Gwen / . / to / come / find / out / if / tried / to / to
8. whether / had / train / he / come / . / or / I / enquired / by / bus
Reported Questions Re-Ordering Worksheet
Put these words into the correct order to make sentences with reported questions.
1. Chris asked me to tell him where his mother was.
2. She wanted to know how many hours I worked last week.

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 3. My boss asked me if I was enjoying my new position.
4. She asked if I could type and how fast.
5. The police officer asked the suspect if he knew the victim.
6. She asked me if I had ever been to the United States.
7. I tried to find out if Gwen wanted to come to the party.
8. He enquired whether I had come by train or bus.
Say / Tell Worksheet
Look at all these sentences using "say" and "tell". Write in the correct form of either "to say" or "to
tell" to complete each question.
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.
Say / Tell Worksheet
Look at all these sentences using "say" and "tell". Write in the correct form of either "to say" or "to
tell" to complete each question.
1. saying 2. told 3. tell 4. told 5. said 6. say 7. saying 8. tell

Someone says something to you that's the opposite of what they told you earlier. Match the
beginnings of these conversations with the correct endings.
1. I'm going to Japan on holiday. a. You said she'd had a boy.
2. He's a lawyer. b.You admitted you cheated in all your exams.
3. She's had a baby girl. c. You told me he was a teacher.
4. I haven't seen Bob for ages. d. You told me she was fluent in both.
5. I love these new boots. e. You said you hated them.
6. I only cheated in one exam. f. You said you were going on business.
7. She doesn‟t speak French or Italian.. g. You told me his office was in Rome.
8. He works in London. h. You told me you'd seen him last week.
Exercise 1: ANSWERS
Someone says something to you that the opposite of what they told you earlier. Match the
beginnings of these conversations with the correct endings.
1. I'm going to Japan on holiday. f. You said you were going on business.
2. He's a lawyer. c. You told me he was a teacher.
3. She's had a baby girl. a You said she'd had a boy.
4. I haven't seen Bob for ages. h. You told me you'd seen him last week.
5. I love these new boots. e. You said you hated them.
6. I only cheated in one exam. b. You admitted you cheated in all your exams.
7. She doesn‟t speak French or Italian. d. You told me she was fluent in both.
8. He works in London. g. You told me his office was in Rome.

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