Reported speech(Lesson 3)

This is when we report something that has been said or written. If the report is after the time the thing was said or written, the verb form generally changes as follows:

Direct speech Reported speech

1.Present Simple/continuous Past Simple/Continuous

‘I am working in my father’s office,’ she said.

She said she was working in her father’s office.

2.Past Simple/Continuous Past Simple/Continuous or Past

Perfect Simple/Continuous

‘Classes started last week,’ the director explained.

The director explained that classes started/had started the week before.

3.Present Perfect Simple/Continuous Past Perfect Simple/Continuous

‘I have lived in the country all my life, ’the old man told me.

The old man told me (that) he had lived in the country all his life.

4.will /would

‘I’ll cook supper,’ she said.

She said she would cook supper.

5.must(obligation) had to

‘You must change the verb form, ’the teacher explained.

The teacher explained that we had to change the verb form.

6.can - could

‘I can count up to one hundred, ’said Jenny.

Jenny said she could count up to one hundred.

The verb form does not need to change when:

-the thing being reported is true

‘Caterpillars turn into butterflies,’ the teacher explained.

The teacher told us that caterpillars turn into butterflies.

-the thing reported contains the modals’ would, could, might, ought to’ and should as well as must for logical deduction.

‘You ought to tell him what you think of him,’ she said.

She said I ought to tell him what I think of him.

-the thing being reported contains the Past Perfect

‘He had been missing for several months,’ she said.

She said he had been missing for several months.

Other changes that occur in reported speech are:

Direct speech Reported speech

Tomorrow the next day, the day after, the following day

Yesterday the day before ,the previous day Last week the week before

Here - there

This/that

This morning that morning

Today that day

Next Friday the following Friday

Ago before

Reported statements

Form: verb + (that) clause

‘I took the money, ’she admitted.

She admitted (that) she had taken the money.

Reported questions

1.Reported Yes/No question

Form: when there is no question word in the direct speech question, we use if/whether. Word order is the same as in the statement. The verb tense and other changes are the same as other types of reported speech.

‘Are you going to Pete’s party?’ she asked.

She asked if/whether we were going to Pete’s party.

2. Reported wh -questions

Form: when wh-question words are used, the wh-word is followed statement word order, that is the subject followed by the verb. All the tense and other changes are the same as for other types of reported speech.

‘What’s your favorite color?’ she asked him.

She asked him what his favorite color was.

‘Where do Andy and Lucy live?’ he asked her.

He asked her where Andy and Lucy lived.

Reported orders

Form: verb + (that) clause or verb + object + infinitive with to

‘Take up sport,’ the doctor said.

The doctor recommended (that) I take up sport.

‘Go to the shops and get me some tea , will you?’ she said.

She told me to go to the shops and get her some tea.

Reported suggestions

Form: suggest + ing

Suggest+ that+ should +infinitive without to

Suggest +Past Simple

‘Let’s have a surprise party for Eddie,’ she said.

She suggested having a surprise party for Eddie.

She suggested that we should have a surprise party for Eddie.

She suggested we had a party for Eddie.

Note: we cannot say: She suggested to have a party for Eddie.

Reporting verbs

1.Verb + object +infinitive

She asked me to come.

Other verbs with the same pattern are: advise, beg, encourage, invite, order, persuade, remind, warn

2. Verb+ object + (that) clause

He told us (that) he worked for a big international company.

Other verbs with the same patterns are: remind, warn

3.Verb +(that) clause

She says (that) she doesn’t want to speak to you.

Other verbs with the same pattern are: say, claim, admit, explain, promise

4.Verb+gerund

He admitted lying to the teacher.

Other verbs with the same patterns are: admit, deny, recommend, suggest

Note: verbs in groups 2, 3 and 4 can also be used with that + clause

He admitted that he had lied.

5.Verb + preposition + gerund

She apologized for being so rude.

She discouraged me from taking up smoking.

Other verbs with the same patterns are: accuse (of), apologize (for), blame (for), congratulate (on), discourage (from), insist (on)

6. Verb + infinitive

We agreed to meet again in September.

Other verbs with the same pattern are: agree, decide, offer, promise, refuse, threaten