Reported Speech

Jude told me he was sorry for what he said and he offered to drive you to the airport!

Laura Galindo. Adapted from New English File Upper-Intermediate. Oxford.

Reported Speech
To report what other people have said, you can use say or a specific verb. Jude said he would drive me to the airport. Jude offered to drive me to the airport.

Reported Speech
When we report somebodys words there is normally some changes to do in the sentences. We normally have to change verb tenses, adverbs of time and place and demonstrative pronouns. I will drive you to the airport tomorrow. Jude said he would drive me to the airport the following day.

VERB TENSES CHANGES IN REPORTED SPEECH Present Simple Present Continuous Present Perfect Past Simple Past Continuous Past Perfect Simple Future Simple Conditional Past Simple Past Continuous Past Perfect
Past Perfect/ Past Simple Past Perfect Continuous

Past Perfect Simple Conditional Simple Conditional

Adverbs of time and place Now Last year/month Then The previous year/month The year/month before The previous day The day before The next/following day The following week/month The week/month after

Yesterday Tomorrow Next week/month

Demonstrative Pronouns This These Here That Those There

Reported Speech
A large number of reporting verbs are followed by a that clause: Say, claim, estimate, predict, remark, stress, tell
The presenter remarked (that) the incident had happened more than once recently

Tenses changes in the that clause dont need to be made if the statement is still relevant:
Ellen stressed (that) prevention is/was better than cure.

Reported Speech
Use an object + infinitive after these verbs:

advise, ask, convince, encourage, invite, persuade, recommend, remind, tell, warn.
He invited Ellen to demonstrate some recipes.

In negative sentences use the negative infinitive not to be. He reminded me not to be late.

Reported Speech
Use an infinitive without an object after these verbs: Agree, claim, offer, promise, refuse, threaten.
She agreed to do some vocal exercises.

In negative sentences use the negative infinitive not to be. He reminded me not to be late.

Reported Speech
Use a gerund after these verbs: Accuse sb of, admit, advise, apologise for, blame sb for, deny, insist on, recommend, regret, suggest.
She suggested asking questions to give the students a rest.

In negative sentences use the negative gerund not being. She regretted not going to the party.

Reporting Verbs
VERB + object + to inni0ve
advise ask convince encourage invite persuade recommend remind tell warn

VERB + to inni0ve
agree claim offer promise refuse threaten

VERB + gerund
accuse sb of admit advise apologise for blame sb for deny insist on recommend regret suggest