Reported speech 2

Reported speech 2

 Remember that in reported speech

we usually change the tense of the
direct statement. The present simple
tense changes to the past simple,
the past simple changes to the past
perfect and so on.

Can and will

Direct speech:I cant remember his
name.Reported speech:She said she
couldnt remember his name.
Can and cant in direct speech change to
could and couldnt in reported speech.
Direct speech:Ill be there for 3
weeks.Reported speech:He told me hed
be there for 3 weeks.
Will and wont in direct speech change to
would and wouldnt in reported speech.

Other modal verbs

Direct speech:You could be
right.Reported speech:I said that
he could be right.
Direct speech:You must call
me.Reported speech:She said that
I must call her.
Other modal verbs dont change in
reported speech.

Reporting orders, requests and

advice
Direct speech:Sit down and shut
up!Reported speech:The teacher told me to
sit down and shut up.
Direct speech:Can you hold this for me
please?Reported speech:He asked me to hold
it.
Direct speech:You should do more
exercise.Reported speech:He advised me to
do more exercise.
Orders, request and advice can be reported
using an infinitive.

Reporting verbs
There are a number of verbs that we use to report
statements. These can make your speech and writing more
interesting than simply reporting every word of the direct
speech.
Direct speech:It wasnt me who broke the window. > He
denied breaking the window.
Direct speech:Ill help you if you want > She offered to
help.
There are a number of verbs that can be used to report. They
include:promise,claim,suggest,advise,refuse,argue,
confirmand others.

 English teacher: Vilson Shehu

- See more at:

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/grammar-referen
ce/reported-speech-2#sthash.BuQ9wzly.dpuf