Direct Speech Reported Speech

Verb Changes
 Present Simple  Past Simple
 Present Continuous  Past Continuous
 Past Simple  Past Perfect
 Present Perfect  Past Perfect
 Future (will / shall)  Conditional (would)

Note: past continuous and past perfect don’t change in reported speech!
Modal Verbs
 Can  Could
 Will  Would
 May  Might
 Must / have to  Had to

Note: Could, might, ought to, should and would don’t change in reported
speech!
Expressions of Place and Time
 This / these  That / those
 Here  There
 Now  Then
 Today / tonight  That day / “that night
 Yesterday  the day before / the previous
 Tomorrow day
 Ago  the next day / the following
day
 before
Note: The verb tenses and expressions can remain the same if a sentences
expresses something which is still true or hasn’t happened yet.
1.“The Earth moves round the Sun.”
The teacher explained ( that) the Earth moves round the Sun. (general
truth)
2. “Bob is leaving tomorrow.”
She said (that) Bob is leaving tomorrow. (He hasn’t left yet! )
1- Reporting Statements
We use a reporting verb (say, tell, add, inform, exclaim…) followed by
a “that” clause. In spoken English “that” can be omitted.
Personal pronouns and possessive adjectives change according to the
context:
* “I’ll lend you my car.”
He told me (that) he would lend me his car.

Report the following statements beginning as shown below:

a) “When I finish the book, I’m going to watch television.”

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 Carol said ….

b) “I got up late and I missed the bus.”

Richard told me ….

c) “We want to buy these books but we haven’t brought enough money!”

They exclaimed ….

d) “I’m doing some homework but I won’t be long.”

Mike said …

e) “Our friends went to the party yesterday but they didn’t like it very much.

Our friends told us ….

f) “We can’t go out with you tonight.”

They informed us …..

g) “I was flying to the U.S. while you were sleeping.”

She told ….

h) “I am giving a party to all my friends this weekend.”

He confirmed ….

i) “I’m eighteen years old. I was previously employed in a large shop in this town
and I was considered to be very capable.

Peter informed …………………………………………………………………

………………………………….and added…………………………………..
2- Reporting questions
 no inversion of the subject
 no auxiliary DO / DOES / DID
 yes - no questions
 connector IF / WHETHER
“Do you like English?”  She asked me if I liked English.
 WH - questions (what, when, where, how, who…)
 connector: the interrogative pronoun
“What is your favourite subject?”  She wanted to know what my favourite
subject was.

Report the following questions:

a) “What are you doing now?”

Peter asked me ……

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b) “Did you see that documentary on tv last night?”

He wanted to know …

c) “Where have they gone?”

I asked him ….

d) “ Does she always arrive so late?”

They inquired ….

3- Reporting commands, requests, suggestions, advice,

promises …

 Imperative  to - infinitive
 Reporting verbs: order, tell, ask, warn, advise, promise,
suggest …
 The person addressed must be included after the
introductory verb

“Come with me!”  She asked me to come with her.

“ Don’t lie to me!”  He warned her not to lie to him.
But
“Let’s go out!”  They suggested going out.
“You lied to me!”  She accused me of lying / having lied
to her.
Report the following using “to-infinitive” or “ing-form”.

a) “Be careful when you are driving!”

His parents warned him …

b) “ Please, don’t make so much noise!”

The teacher asked the students …

c) “Shall I carry the shopping for you?”

Her husband offered …

d) “Let’s go out for a drink!”

They suggested …

e) “You should take more exercise.”

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 The doctor advised him …

f) “I’m sorry I spoke to you like that!”

She apologised for …

g) “You didn’t tell the truth!”

I accused him of …

Mixed Types - report the following:

a) “I’ve finished reading this book.”

b) “The Sahara is the largest desert in the world.”

c) “ Where have you been?”

d) “Don’t play with matches!”

e) “You must be back at ten otherwise you’ll be grounded!”

f) “Do you like my new sweater?”

g) “He spent all his money on video games.”

h) “I may arrive late so, please, wait for me.”

i) “It’s cold in here. Close the window .