Reported Speech - Indirect Speech
Indirect Speech (also referred to as 'reported speech') refers to a sentence reporting what someone has said. It is almost always used in spoken English.If the reporting verb (or introductory part) is in the present we are going to change only the pronoun to make a logical sentence, but the tense remains the same.
E.g.:
Dayana says “I don’t like this class”-
in reported speech:
Dayana says she doesn’t like this class.
John always says “I love Meche”
– in reported speech
John always says he loves Meche.
José says “when I was a child, I didn’t use to play soccer”
In reported speech
– Josè says that when he was a child he didn’t use to play soccer
If the reporting verb (or introductory part) is in the past, the reported clause will be in a past form. This form is usually one step back into the past from the original.
For example:
Eduardo said: “the test is difficult”
He said the test was difficult.
Karen said "I watch TV everyday"
She said she watched TV every day.
Luis said “I come to school everyday”
Luis said he came to school every day.
When the introductory part in a reported speech sentence is in the past the following changes occur:
___________________________________________________________
From to
Will would
Can could
Shall should
Must had to
May might
Am/is going to was going to
Are going to were going to
Present past
Present perfect past perfect (Had + past participle)
Past past perfect (had + past participle)
Example:
Marcial said “I went to the movies with Melissa last night”
Marcial said he had gone to the movies with Melissa the night before
Jessica: "I live in Paris."
She said she lived in Paris.
Anthony:"I am cooking dinner."
He said he was cooking dinner.
Juan Carlos "I have visted London twice."
He said he had visited London twice.
Roberto: "I went to New York last week."
He said he had gone to New York the week before.
Yesenia "I had already eaten."
She said she had already eaten.
Martin "I am going to find a new job."
He said he was going to find a new job.
Carolina "I will give Luis a call."
She said she would give Luis a call.
If simple present, present perfect or the future is used IN THE INTRODUCTORY PART (i.e. says) the tense is retained.
For example:
Hugo says
“The test is difficult”
He says the test is difficult.
Diana has said
“I watch TV everyday”
She has said (that) she watches TV every day.
Jessica will say “I come to school everyday”
Jessica will say that she comes to school every day.
If reporting a general truth the present tense will be retained.
For example:
Teacher: “Phrasal verbs are very important”
The teacher said that phrasal verbs are very important.
Carlo: “The Earth is round”
Carlo said the Earth is round
YES/ NO QUESTIONSYes no questions in reported speech don’t use auxiliaries and, if they use them they follow the structure of an affirmative sentence preceded by the word if.
Example:
Carlos: “Is Jesus complaining?
Carlos asked if Jesus was complaining
From to
Will would
Can could
Shall should
Must had to
May might
Am/is going to was going to
Are going to were going to
Present past
Present perfect past perfect (Had + past participle)
Past past perfect (had + past participle)
Example:
Marcial said “I went to the movies with Melissa last night”
Marcial said he had gone to the movies with Melissa the night before
Jessica: "I live in Paris."
She said she lived in Paris.
Anthony:"I am cooking dinner."
He said he was cooking dinner.
Juan Carlos "I have visted London twice."
He said he had visited London twice.
Roberto: "I went to New York last week."
He said he had gone to New York the week before.
Yesenia "I had already eaten."
She said she had already eaten.
Martin "I am going to find a new job."
He said he was going to find a new job.
Carolina "I will give Luis a call."
She said she would give Luis a call.
If simple present, present perfect or the future is used IN THE INTRODUCTORY PART (i.e. says) the tense is retained.
For example:
Hugo says
“The test is difficult”
He says the test is difficult.
Diana has said
“I watch TV everyday”
She has said (that) she watches TV every day.
Jessica will say “I come to school everyday”
Jessica will say that she comes to school every day.
If reporting a general truth the present tense will be retained.
For example:
Teacher: “Phrasal verbs are very important”
The teacher said that phrasal verbs are very important.
Carlo: “The Earth is round”
Carlo said the Earth is round
YES/ NO QUESTIONSYes no questions in reported speech don’t use auxiliaries and, if they use them they follow the structure of an affirmative sentence preceded by the word if.
Example:
Carlos: “Is Jesus complaining?
Carlos asked if Jesus was complaining
If + sub.+ verb
To do this we use:
the introductory part + if + subject + verb + complement
WH-QUESTIONS
For wh- questions we use the following structure:
Introductory part + wh-question word + subject + verb + complement
Example:
Ivan asked Carina “ Where do you want me to take you tonight?”
Ivan asked Carina Where she wanted him to take her that night
Q.W. S V C
That means that after the question word we use the structure of an affirmative sentence
Subject + Verb + complement
Changing Pronouns and Time Signifiers
When changing from direct speech to indirect speech, it is often necessary to change the pronouns to match the subject of the sentence.
For example:
She said, "I want to bring my children."
BECOMES
She said she wanted to bring her children.
Jack said, "My wife went with me to the show."
BECOMES
Jack said his wife had gone with him to the show.
It is also important to change time words (signifiers) when referring to present, past or future time to match the moment of speaking.
For example:
Giannina said, "I want to bring my children tomorrow."
BECOMES
She said she wanted to bring her children the next day.
Jack said, "My wife went with me to the show yesterday." BECOMES
Jack said his wife had gone with him to the show the day before.
Indirect Questions
When reporting questions, it is especially important to pay attention to sentence order.
When reporting yes/ no questions connect the reported question using 'if'.
When reporting questions using question words (why, where, when, etc.) use the question word.
For example:
She asked, "Do you want to come with me?"
BECOMES
She asked me if I wanted to come with her.
Dave asked, "Where did you go last weekend?"
BECOMES
Dave asked me where I had gone the previous weekend.
He asked, "Why are you studying English?"
BECOMES
She asked me why I was studying English.
The following chart includes sentences changed from quoted speech to reported speech using a past form.
Note:
Simple past, present perfect, and past perfect all change to past perfect in the reported form.
Advanced Reporting Verbs
verb +object +infinitive
advise, encourage, invite, remind, warn
E.g.:
Jack encouraged me to look for a new job.
They invited all their friends to attend the presentation
verb +infinitive
agree. Decide, offer, promise, refuse, threaten
E.g.:
She offered to give him a lift to work.
My brother refused to take no for an answer
verb +gerund
deny, recommend, suggest,
E.g.:
He denied having anything to do with her.
Ken suggested studying early in the morning
Verb + (that)
admit, agree, decide, deny, explain, insist, promise, recommend, suggest
E.g.:
Tom admitted (that) he had tried to leave early.
She agreed (that) we needed to reconsider our plans.
verb +object +preposition +gerund
accuse, blame, congratulate
E.g.:
They accused the boys of cheating on the exam.
She blamed her husband for missing the train.
verb +preposition +gerund
apologize, insist
E.g.:
He apologized for being late.
She insisted on doing the washing up
MSR/mbs
To do this we use:
the introductory part + if + subject + verb + complement
WH-QUESTIONS
For wh- questions we use the following structure:
Introductory part + wh-question word + subject + verb + complement
Example:
Ivan asked Carina “ Where do you want me to take you tonight?”
Ivan asked Carina Where she wanted him to take her that night
Q.W. S V C
That means that after the question word we use the structure of an affirmative sentence
Subject + Verb + complement
Changing Pronouns and Time Signifiers
When changing from direct speech to indirect speech, it is often necessary to change the pronouns to match the subject of the sentence.
For example:
She said, "I want to bring my children."
BECOMES
She said she wanted to bring her children.
Jack said, "My wife went with me to the show."
BECOMES
Jack said his wife had gone with him to the show.
It is also important to change time words (signifiers) when referring to present, past or future time to match the moment of speaking.
For example:
Giannina said, "I want to bring my children tomorrow."
BECOMES
She said she wanted to bring her children the next day.
Jack said, "My wife went with me to the show yesterday." BECOMES
Jack said his wife had gone with him to the show the day before.
Indirect Questions
When reporting questions, it is especially important to pay attention to sentence order.
When reporting yes/ no questions connect the reported question using 'if'.
When reporting questions using question words (why, where, when, etc.) use the question word.
For example:
She asked, "Do you want to come with me?"
BECOMES
She asked me if I wanted to come with her.
Dave asked, "Where did you go last weekend?"
BECOMES
Dave asked me where I had gone the previous weekend.
He asked, "Why are you studying English?"
BECOMES
She asked me why I was studying English.
The following chart includes sentences changed from quoted speech to reported speech using a past form.
Note:
Simple past, present perfect, and past perfect all change to past perfect in the reported form.
Advanced Reporting Verbs
verb +object +infinitive
advise, encourage, invite, remind, warn
E.g.:
Jack encouraged me to look for a new job.
They invited all their friends to attend the presentation
verb +infinitive
agree. Decide, offer, promise, refuse, threaten
E.g.:
She offered to give him a lift to work.
My brother refused to take no for an answer
verb +gerund
deny, recommend, suggest,
E.g.:
He denied having anything to do with her.
Ken suggested studying early in the morning
Verb + (that)
admit, agree, decide, deny, explain, insist, promise, recommend, suggest
E.g.:
Tom admitted (that) he had tried to leave early.
She agreed (that) we needed to reconsider our plans.
verb +object +preposition +gerund
accuse, blame, congratulate
E.g.:
They accused the boys of cheating on the exam.
She blamed her husband for missing the train.
verb +preposition +gerund
apologize, insist
E.g.:
He apologized for being late.
She insisted on doing the washing up
MSR/mbs
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