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 Time and place

adjectives 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. Reported Speech – Questions
Other verbs used to report what people say are reply, explain, promise, claim, insist, announce,
declare, etc.
When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:
 pronouns

 present tense verbs (3rd person singular)

 place and time expressions
 tenses (backshift)
Also note that you have to:
 transform the question into an indirect question
 use the interrogative or if / whether

Type Example
with interrogative direct speech “Why don’t you speak English?”
reported speech He asked me why I didn’t speak English.
without interrogative direct speech “Do you speak English?”
reported speech He asked me whether / if I spoke English.

Reported Speech - Requests

When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:
 pronouns
 place and time expressions

Type Example

direct speech “Carol, speak English.“

reported speech He told Carol to speak English.

EX.1. REWRITE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES INTO THE REPORTED SPEECH:

SPEECH

1.
2.
Jon told Garfield
Jon told Garfield
______________________________
______________________________
 Jon said that
_______________________________

Garfield replied
_______________________________
3.

5.
4.
Jon told Garfield Jon told Garfield
______________________________ ______________________________

Garfield told Jon

______________________________
____________________________________________

Jon replied
___________________________________
6.
____________________________________________
Ex. 2. Finish the sentences using Reported speech. Always change the tense,
although it is sometimes not necessary. Use different reporting verbs.

Example: Peter: "I clean the black shoes."

Peter told me that ____________________________
Answer: Peter told me that he cleaned the black shoes.
1) Emily: "Our teacher will go to 3) Robert: "My father flew to Dallas
Leipzig tomorrow." last year."
Emily said that. Robert ……………
2) Helen: "I was writing a letter 4) Lisa: "Tim went to the stadium an
yesterday." hour ago."
Helen told me that. Lisa …………………..
5) Patricia: "My mother will celebrate
her birthday next weekend."
Patricia …………………….
6) Michael: "I am going to read a book
this week."
Michael said to me that.
7) Jason and Victoria: "We will do our
best in the exams tomorrow."
Jason and Victoria ……………
8) Andrew: "We didn't eat fish two
days ago."
Andrew remarked that ..
9) Alice: "I spent all my pocket money
on Monday."
Alice complained that ..
10) David: "John had already gone at
six."
David …………………….

Ex.3. Finish the sentences using Reported speech. Always change the tense,
although it is sometimes not necessary.
Example: Peter: "Did John clean the black shoes yesterday?"
Peter asked me _________________________________________
Answer: Peter asked me if John had cleaned the black shoes the day before.
1) Mandy: "Are the boys reading the book?"
Yesterday Mandy asked me…………
2) Jason: "Who gave you the laptop?"
Yesterday Jason wanted to know………..
3) Robert: "Is Tim leaving on Friday?"
Yesterday Robert asked me……..
4) Daniel: "Will it rain tomorrow?"
Yesterday Daniel asked me……………
5) Jennifer: "Where do you play football
today?"
Yesterday Jennifer wanted to know……………
6) Nancy: "Why didn't Nick go to New York
last summer?"
Yesterday Nancy wanted to know……………
7) Barbara: "Must I do my homework this
afternoon?"
Yesterday Barbara asked me………………….
8) Linda: "Did Max fly to London two weeks
ago?"
Yesterday Linda wanted to know……………………
9) Grandmother: "Where are my glasses?"
Yesterday Grandmother asked me………………….
10) A man: "When does the train to Liverpool
leave?"
Yesterday a man asked me……………………
11) Marry: “Bring me some coffee, please”
……………………………..
12) John: “Don’t take y cards, I don’t allow
you.”
1. Rewrite the sentences in reported speech.

“I was in London last week”, she says. _______________________________

“I am tired”, he says. _______________________________________________
“They will visit us next weekend”, he says. _______________________________
“ Carol is a smart girl”, he says. _______________________________________
“John has lost his bicycle”, she says. ____________________________________

2. Rewrite the sentences in reported speech. Make any necessary changes.

a) “I go to Cardiff by train”, he said. _______________________________
b) “He is feeling better today”, his mother said. _______________________________
c) “We’ll go fishing next weekend”, they said. _______________________________
d) “I visited James last Saturday”, Carol explained. _______________________________
e) “He has just decided to travel to Spain next year”, she said.
________________________________________________________
f) “I like this dress”, she said. _______________________________
g) “We can’t go. We are studying now”, they explained. _______________________________
h) “I’ll do it for her”, he told me. __________________

Study the picture and then rewrite each of the quotes using reported speech.

1)You must look at 2)I don't 4)This is a boring

this poster and copy understand what he lesson.
it. is saying.
3)This teacher
gives too much
homework.

5)Will you lend

me your pen?

9)I love this

class!
7)I hate football.

6)I'm going to play

football after 8)Can I play football
school. with you?
1)______________________________________________________________________

2)______________________________________________________________________

3)______________________________________________________________________
4)______________________________________________________________________

5)______________________________________________________________________

6)______________________________________________________________________

7)______________________________________________________________________

8)______________________________________________________________________

9)______________________________________________________________________