DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH

When we report the exact words someone says or writes. When we report something that has been said or written.
Kerry told Julia, “James is so nice…” “Kerry told me that you were so nice…” Julia said to James.

Kerry told me
James is so that you were so
nice... nice...

When we report a statement or a question we use

reporting verbs. Such as: said, told, asked, promised…

VERB CHANGES
DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH
PRESENT SIMPLE PAST SIMPLE
“I work very long hours”, Helen said Helen said (that) she worked very long hours
PRESENT CONTINUOUS PAST CONTINUOUS
“We are writing a postcard”, Tom said Tom said (that) they were writing a postcard
PAST SIMPLE PAST PERFECT SIMPLE
“Carol worked as a secretary”, Jim said to me Jim said to me (that) Carol had worked as a secretary
PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE PAST PERFECT SIMPLE
“Frank has been to USA twice”, Bob said Bob said (that) Frank had been to USA twice
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
“We have been cooking all morning”, Chris said Chis said (that) they had been cooking all morning
FUTURE “WILL” CONDITIONAL “WOULD”
Tom said, “I won’t win the match” Tom said (that) he wouldn’t win the match
FUTURE “BE GOING TO” FUTURE “WAS/WERE GOING TO”
“They are going to travel next week” He said He said (that) they were going to travel the following week
CAN COULD
“We can’t speak German” Flora said Flora said (that) they couldn’t speak German
MUST HAD TO
“You must take off your shoes”, The girl said to me The girl said to me (that) I had to take off my shoes
MAY MIGHT
“I may arrive late”, The boss said The boss said (that) he might arrive late

Verbs in the PAST CONTINUOUS, PAST PERFECT, USED TO, WOULD, SHOULD, COULD and MIGHT do not change
Ex. “He had been missing for several months”, she said  She said he had been missing for several months.
“We were playing cards when he arrived”, I said  I said we were playing cards when he arrived.
“You should tell him the truth”, He said  He said I should tell him the truth

OTHER CHANGES
DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH
now then, at that moment
today / tonight that (day / night)
tomorrow the next day / the following day
yesterday the day before / the previous day
this (morning) that (morning)
last (week) the (week) before / the previous (week)
next (month) the following (month)
ago before
here there
this / that the
REPORTED STATEMENTS

REPORTING VERB + (THAT) + CLAUSE

Ex. “I took the money” she said  She said that she had taken the money.

REPORTED “YES/NO” QUESTIONS

When there is no question word in the direct speech, we use “IF / WHETHER”
The word order is the same as in the statements. REPORTING VERB + IF / WHETHER + SUBJECT + VERB
The verb tense and other changes are the same as for other types of reported speech
Ex. “Are you going to Peter’s party?” she asked me  She asked me IF I was going to Peter’s party.

REPORTED “WH-” QUESTIONS

Where Question Word is used in the direct speech, the Question Word is also used in reported speech.
The word order is the same as in the statements. REPORTING VERB + QUESTION WORD + SUBJECT + VERB
The verb tense and other changes are the same as for other types of reported speech
Ex. “What’s your favourite colour?” she asked him  She asked me WHAT his favourite colour was.

REPORTED ORDERS

REPORTING VERB + OBJECT + TO INFINITIVE.

Ex. “Go to the shops and get some tea”, she told me  She told me to go to the shops and get some tea.
Negative imperatives or orders are made with “NOT” before the infinitive
Ex. “Don’t smoke in this room” she told him  She told him NOT to smoke in that room.

REPORTED SUGGESTIONS

There are 3 differents ways to express a suggestion.

SUGGEST + V-ing
SUGGEST + THAT + SUBJECT + SHOULD + INFINITIVE (without TO)
SUGGEST + SUBJECT + PAST SIMPLE
Ex. “Let’s have a surprise party for Ellie”, she suggested
She suggested having a surprise party for Ellie
She suggested that we should have a surprise party for Ellie
She suggested we had a surprise party for Ellie

REPORTING VERBS
VERB + OBJECT + INFINITIVE (advise, ask, beg, encourage, order, persuade, remind, warn)
“Why don’t you take up a new sport?”  She encouraged me to take up a new sport.
VERB + THAT + CLAUSE (claim, admit, say, explain, promise)
“I won’t do it again”  She promised me that she wouldn’t do it again.
VERB + OBJECT + (THAT) + CLAUSE (tell, remind, warn)
“Remember that you work for a big company”  He reminded us that we were working for a big company.
VERB + GERUND (admit, deny, suggest, recommend)
“I lied to the teacher”  She admitted lying to the teacher
VERB + PREPOSITION + GERUND (accuse of, apologize for, blame for, congratulate on, insist on)
“I’m sorry to be so rude”  He apologized for being so rude
VERB + INFINITIVE (agree, decide, offer, promise, refuse, threaten)
“Let’s meet again in September”  We agreed to meet again in September
 Put the following sentences into Reported Speech. Good luck!

1. “Is it raining?” I asked.

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2. “Did you see James yesterday?” Caroline asked.
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3. “What were you doing when the accident happened?” The police asked.
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4. “I don’t know the answer” He said.
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5. “What time must we be there?” My friend asked me.
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6. “I can’t do it unless you help me” Mary said.
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7. “Don’t begin the lecture” The director told me.
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8. “Have you finished your work?” The boss asked
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9. “How much did you pay for your refrigerator?” My neighbour asked
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10. “I met him in Paris last month” My aunt said.
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11. “She has finished the book” The teacher said.
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12. “The shop had already closed when we arrived” My mum said.
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13. “I’ll be here tomorrow” Tom said.
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14. “How often do you go to the theatre?” Jane asked Martha.
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15. “Take the dog out for a walk” My father ordered.
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16. “We must go and see him” They said.
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17. “Can you help me to find my cat?” The girl asked
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18. “This isn’t what I ordered” She said.
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19. “Where are you going?” She asked me.
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20. “What does the student want?” The headmaster asked.
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21. “How long has Julia been in England?” They wanted to know.
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22. “When will you be here again?” The boys asked us.
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23. “Will John be here?” He asked.
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24. “Why didn’t you do your homework?” The teacher wanted to know.
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25. “Why aren’t you going to the concert?” Paul asked
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