STATEMENTS

In direct statements we report what somebody has said by putting their exact words
in quotation marks.
In reported statements we explain what has been said by using reporting verbs like
say and tell followed by a that-clause.

FORM

Subject + reporting verb + that-clause

The conjunction that can be left out.

Some changes in reported speech

Modal verbs

Pronouns and
possessive adjectives

Time and place

expressions

Will would

I he/she

Now then

Can could

Me him/her

Today that day

May might

My his/her

This that

We they

Here there

Us them
Our their

Verb tenses used in direct speech change one tense back in the
past when the reporting verbs is in the past. Present becomes
past and past becomes Past perfect.
When the reporting verb is in the present the verb tense is
used in direct speech does not change in reported speech.

Uses

We use tell in reported statements when we want to mention the person we are talking
to. Otherwise we use say.
Other verbs used to report what people say are reply, explain, promise, claim, insist,
announce, declare, etc.

 Finish the sentences using reported speech.

a) Mary: Mandy is at home.
Mary said that _________________________________
b) Max: Frank often reads a book.
Max told me that _______________________________
c) Susan: Im watching TV.
Susan said to me that ____________________________
d) Simon: David was ill
Simon said that ________________________________
e) Peggy: The girls helped in the house.
Peggy told me that _____________________________
f) Richard: Im going to ride a skateboard.
Richard said to me that __________________________
g) Charles: I didn't have time to do my homework.
Charles remarked that __________________________
h) Stephen and Claire: We have to clean the windows.
They told e that _______________________________
i) Jean: the boss must sign the letter.
Jean said that _________________________________

 Rewrite the sentences in reported speech:

a) Emily: Our teacher will go to London tomorrow.

__________________________________________

b) Helen: I was writing a letter yesterday.

__________________________________________

c) Robert: My father flew to Dallas last year.

__________________________________________

d) Lisa: Tim went to the stadium an hour ago.

__________________________________________

e) Michael: Im going to read a book today.

__________________________________________

f) Jason and Victoria: We will do our best in exams tomorrow.

__________________________________________

g) Alice: I spent all my pocket money on Monday.

__________________________________________

STATEMENTS
In direct statements we report what somebody has said by putting their exact
words in quotation marks.
In reported statements we explain what has been said by using reporting verbs like
say and tell followed by a that-clause.

FORM

Subject + reporting verb + that-clause

The conjunction that can be left out.

Some changes in reported speech

Modal verbs

Pronouns and
possessive adjectives

Time and place

expressions

Will would

I he/she

Now then

Can could

Me him/her

Today that day

May might

My his/her

This that

We they

Here there

Us them
Our their

Verb tenses used in direct speech change one tense back in the
past when the reporting verbs is in the past. Present becomes
past and past becomes Past perfect.

When the reporting verb is in the present the verb tense is

used in direct speech does not change in reported speech.

Uses

We use tell in reported statements when we want to mention the person we are talking
to. Otherwise we use say.
Other verbs used to report what people say are reply, explain, promise, claim, insist,
announce, declare, etc.

 Finish the sentences using reported speech.

j) Mary: Mandy is at home.
Mary said that _________________________________
k) Max: Frank often reads a book.
Max told me that _______________________________
l) Susan: Im watching TV.
Susan said to me that ____________________________
m) Simon: David was ill
Simon said that ________________________________
n) Peggy: The girls helped in the house.
Peggy told me that _____________________________
o) Richard: Im going to ride a skateboard.
Richard said to me that __________________________
p) Charles: I didn't have time to do my homework.
Charles remarked that __________________________
q) Stephen and Claire: We have to clean the windows.
They told e that _______________________________
r) Jean: the boss must sign the letter.
Jean said that _________________________________

 Rewrite the sentences in reported speech:

a) Emily: Our teacher will go to London tomorrow.

__________________________________________

b) Helen: I was writing a letter yesterday.

__________________________________________

c) Robert: My father flew to Dallas last year.

__________________________________________

d) Lisa: Tim went to the stadium an hour ago.

__________________________________________

e) Michael: Im going to read a book today.

__________________________________________

f) Jason and Victoria: We will do our best in exams tomorrow.

__________________________________________

g) Alice: I spent all my pocket money on Monday.

__________________________________________