Reported speech:

Explanations
Problems This unit assumes that the basic rules for forming reported speech are already
known.
• The most important rule is to use verb forms that are natural in the
situation.

'I'm happy to help you' she said.

She told me she is happy to help us.

In the above example, the verb has not been put one stage back in the past.
In the following example, the same is true.

7 wanted to go to the cinema, but John wasn't so keen,' said Sue.

Sue said that she wanted to go to the cinema, but John wasn't so keen.

• Reported speech with modal auxiliaries

If the reporting verb is in a past verb form, modals change where there is a
' 'past' equivalent.

Will - would can - could may - might

Could, would, and might do not change.

/ might be late. She said (that) she might be late.

Should changes to would if it is used as a first person form of would.

I should love to come. She said (that) she would love to come.

Otherwise should remains unchanged.

You should rest. They said (that) I should rest.

Must can be reported as either had to or remain as must.

• Reported speech with conditional sentences

After a past tense reporting verb, real situations include verb form changes.

If we leave now, we'll catch the train.

I told him that if we left then we'd catch the train.

In reported hypothetical situations, verb form changes are not made if the
event has reference to a possible future.

If you came back tomorrow, I'd be able to help you.

She said that if I came back the next day, she'd be able to help me.

If the event is clearly hypothetical and impossible, time changes are made.

If I had a spanner, I could fix it.

He said that if he had had a spanner he could have fixed it.
Hypothetical past conditional sentences do not change.
• Don't think
Statements reported with verbs of thinking such as think, expect, suppose can
transfer the negative from the statement to the verb.

/ suppose she won't come. (This means I don't suppose she'll come.)

Reporting verbs There are numerous reporting verbs, which report the words of others, or our
own words and thoughts. Only a selection is given here. Other examples are included in the
activities. Only the most useful categories are given here. It is advisable to use a dictionary to
check on how reporting verbs are used.
See Grammar 19, 21 and 22 for prepositions or -ing forms following verbs.
• Verbs followed by that + clause (with * can be followed by a person)
add
admit
agree
announce
argue
believe
claim
complain
confirm
consider
decide
deny
doubt
estimate
expect*
explain
feel
hope
imply
insist
mean
mention
object
persuade
predict
promise*
reassure *
reckon
remark
repeat
reply
report*
say
state
suggest
suppose
tell*
think
threaten
warn*
• Verbs followed by person + to
advise forbid invite persuade
remind warn
tell ask instruct order

• Verbs followed by subjunctive or should

Most of these verbs can also be used in the other ways given.
As these verbs contain the sense that someone 'should do' something, should
can follow them.
They suggested that she should apply again.

More formally, the subjunctive can be used instead of should. This is formed
from the base of the verb (without third person V).

They suggested that she apply again.

Some other verbs of this type are:
advise (also: someone to do/against something)
agree (also: to do something, that + clause)
demand (also: to do something)
insist (also: on someone doing something)
prefer (also: someone to do something)
propose (also: doing something)
recommend (also: doing something)
request (also: someone to do something)
suggest (also: that + clause)
urge (also: someone to do something)

• Verbs which can be followed by that + clause containing would

All these verbs report statements containing will. These verbs can also be
followed by 'to do something'.

/'// leave at 8.00.

She decided to leave at 8.00.

She decided (that) she would leave at 8.00.

Others are: expect, hope, promise, threaten.

Functions • Many verbs describe a function, rather than report words.

Look, if I were you I'd leave early.

She advised me to leave early.

Examples are:
admit complain request suggest
advise invite remind warn
agree persuade threaten

• Some verbs describe actions.

Hi, Dave, how are you?

He greeted me.
Examples are:
accept, congratulate, decide, greet, interrupt, introduce
Changes of Changes of time, place and person reference are assumed known at this level. In
viewpoint reported speech, there is no longer a clear reference which can be understood by
two people in the same place.

/ left the parcel on this chair.

In reported speech one would have to specify which chair:

He said he had left the parcel on the chair by the window.

Or the reference may be replaced by a more general one:

/ love this town.

She said that she loved the town.

Underline the correct word or phrase in each sentence.

a) The government spokesperson denied/refused that there was a crisis.

b) Jane said me/told me there was nothing the matter.
c) Peter persuaded me/insisted me to stay to dinner.
d) The director of studies advised me/suggested me to spend more time in the library.
e) Sheila explained me/warned me not to leave the heater on all night.
f) The chairperson mentioned us/reminded us that time was extremely short.
g) Bill answered them/replied them with a detailed description of his plans.
h) Michael and Sarah announced/reported that they were going to get married,
i) Paul accepted/expected that he had made a mistake, and apologised,
j) The manager confirmed/reassured that our room had been reserved.

2 Rewrite each sentence in reported speech, using the verbs given in the
appropriate verb form. Some may be negative.
a) 'I think I'll take the brown pair/ said the customer.
………………………………………………………………………(decide)
………………………………………………………………………(decide) + (will)
………………………………………………………………………(say) + (will)
b) 'Me? No, I didn't take Sue's calculator.' said Bob
………………………………………………………………………(deny)
………………………………………………………………………(deny)
c) 'Don't forget to buy some milk, Andy,' said Clare.

………………………………………………………………………(remind)
……………………………………………………………………….(say) + (should)
……………………………………………………………………….(remind) + (need)
d) 'I'm sorry I couldn't come on Saturday,' said David.

……………………………………………………………………….(say) + (could)
……………………………………………………………………….(say) + (be able to)
……………………………………………………………………….(apologise for)
e) 'Why don't you go back to Singapore, Brian?' I said.

………………………………………………………………………..(ask) + (do)
………………………………………………………………………..(suggest) + (should)
………………………………………………………………………..(suggest)
f) 'Make sure you don't take the A20, Tim,' said Jack

………………………………………………………………………..(say) + (should)
………………………………………………………………………..(warn)
………………………………………………………………………..(warn)
3 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given.
a) 'Helen, would you like to come to lunch on Sunday?' asked Mary.
If
Mary….. asked Helen if she would like…. to come to lunch on Sunday.

b) 'You are not allowed to smoke in your room, Dick/ said his mother.
forbade
Dick's mother……………………………………… in his room.
c) Sue thought it would be a good idea for me to see a doctor.
advised
Sue……………………………………………… see a doctor.
d) The minister proposed regular meetings for the committee.
suggested
The minister……………………………………. should meet regularly.
e) Jack demanded urgent action from the police.
do
Jack demanded……………………………………….. something urgently.
f) My bank manager invited me to visit him at home.
could
My bank manager………………………………………. visit him at home.
g) 'No, I really don't want to stay the night, Sophia,' Ann said.
staying
Ann insisted…………………………………….. the night at Sophia's house.
h) 'I'll call off the football match if you don't behave,' the teacher said.
threatened
The teacher………………………………………… the children's behaviour
improved.
i) 'Ok mum, I'll do my homework, I promise,' said Laura.
that
Laura ……………………………………………………..do her homework.
j) 'Congratulations on getting engaged, Sue,' said Harry.
congratulated
Harry………………………………………………………………. engagement.

. 4 Underline the most suitable word to complete each sentence.

a) I thought Jim would say something about his new job. But he didn't
mention/state/declare it.
b) Sorry, I wasn't being insulting. I simply offered/reassured/remarked that you
seem to have put on rather a lot of weight recently.
c) The police requested/estimated/advised that the crowd was under 50,000,
although the organisers of the march put it at nearer 100,000.
d) The children complained/threatened/persuaded that their parents were always
checking up on them.
e) It has been objected/hoped/predicted that by the year 2050 some capital cities
will be almost uninhabitable because of the effects of air pollution.
f) During the months before Smith's transfer from City, it had been
rumoured/doubted/threatened that he and the manager had come to blows in
the dressing-room, though this was denied by the club.
g) Brown forbade/recommended/claimed that the arresting officers had treated
him roughly, and that one of them had punched him in the eye.
h) An army spokesman stressed that all troops patrolling the streets had been
denied/ordered/announced to issue clear warnings before firing any shots.
i) Although he didn't say so directly, the Prime Minister told/ordered/suggested
that an agreement between the two sides was within reach.
j) The witness suggested/insisted/gave her name and address to the court before
the cross-examination began.

5 Complete the text with one word in each space.

The case of the break-in at a Cambridge home entered its third day today. The accused's defence
was based on the fact that he (1) ...could. not have entered the house at 6.30. He claimed (2)
………..have been playing football at the time, and stated that several witnesses could confirm
this. At this point, the prosecution (3)……………………. him of changing his story, as he had
previously stated that he had been at home at the (4)……………….. of the break-in. The
defendant agreed that his memory (5) …………………not in the best of shape, as he had been
(6)……………………….. from bouts of depression. The judge stepped in, reminding the
defendant that he (7)…………………… taken an oath to tell the truth, and warning (8) of the
severe consequences of lying in court. The defendant said that he had simply forgotten
(9)…………………….. the football match, and insisted (10) ……………..he was not changing
his story.

Using the information in the e-mail as a guide, complete each space in the letter
with a verb. The first letters of the verbs have been given.

TO: Roberts.hifi.co.uk
FROM: [email protected]

We are sorry that our computer ordering system went on the blink last week.
Don't worry, the system is now up and running again, but we think goods will arrive 2 or 3 days
late. I'd guess the goods you've just ordered should arrive round about Thursday. Thanks a lot
for telling us about the problem with the ZP200. You'll be pleased to know the problem's been
put right now. Re the exhibition you're organising, it seems you want to return any goods you
don't sell. We're certainly interested, yes, but could I ask for more details before I let
you know. Finally, just to tell you, as of 1st May our warehouse is now open 24 hours a day!

Dear Mrs Henderson,

We would like to (1)………apologise….. for the failure of our computer ordering system last
week. Please (2) b…………. reassured that the system is now fully functional again. It is (3)
a…………… that the goods ordered will be delayed by two or three working days. The (4)
e…………… arrival time for your latest order is Thursday. We are grateful to you for (5)
r………………… the defect in the ZP200 model. We are happy to (6) a……………………….
that the defect has now been remedied. You (7) m………………….. the possibility of taking
goods from us 'on sale or return' at an exhibition you are organising. We can certainly (8) c
…………………………….our interest, but we would like to (9) r………………………..
further information before we commit ourselves to a decision.
Please be (10) a……………….. that as of 1 May our warehouse is now open 24 hours a day.

Yours sincerely,
David Smith