DIRECT AND REPORTED SPEECH

Reported Statements

When do we use reported speech? Sometimes someone says a sentence,

for example "I'm going to the cinema tonight". Later, maybe we want to tell
someone else what the first person said.

Here's how it works:

We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'. If this verb is in the present
tense, it's easy. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence:

 Direct speech: I like ice cream.

 Reported speech: She says (that) she likes ice cream.

We don't need to change the tense, though probably we do need to change

the 'person' from 'I' to 'she', for example. We also may need to change
words like 'my' and 'your'.

(As I'm sure you know, often, we can choose if we want to use 'that' or not
in English. I've put it in brackets () to show that it's optional. It's exactly the
same if you use 'that' or if you don't use 'that'.)

But, if the reporting verb is in the past tense, then usually we change the
tenses in the reported speech:

 Direct speech: I like ice cream.

 Reported speech: She said (that) she liked ice cream.
 Tense Direct Speech Reported Speech

present
I like ice cream She said (that) she liked ice cream.
simple

present I am living in
She said (that) she was living in London.
continuous London

She said (that) she had bought a car OR

past simple I bought a car
She said (that) she bought a car.

past I was walking She said (that) she had been walking
continuous along the street along the street.

present
I haven't seen Julie She said (that) she hadn't seen Julie.
perfect

I had taken
She said (that) she had taken English
past perfect* English lessons
lessons before.
before

will I'll see you later She said (that) she would see me later.

would* I would help, but... She said (that) she would help but...

I can speak perfect She said (that) she could speak perfect
can
English English.

I could swim She said (that) she could swim when she
could*
when I was four was four.

shall I shall come later She said (that) she would come later.

I should call my
should* She said (that) she should call her mother
mother

might* I might be late She said (that) she might be late

 She said (that) she must study at the
I must study at the
must weekend OR She said she had to study at
weekend
the weekend

* doesn't change.

Occasionally, we don't need to change the present tense into the past if the
information in direct speech is still true (but this is only for things which are
general facts, and even then usually we like to change the tense):

 Direct speech: The sky is blue.

 Reported speech: She said (that) the sky is/was blue.

Reported Questions

So now you have no problem with making reported speech from positive and
negative sentences. But how about questions?

 Direct speech: Where do you live?

How can we make the reported speech here?

In fact, it's not so different from reported statements. The tense changes are the
same, and we keep the question word. The very important thing though is that,
once we tell the question to someone else, it isn't a question any more. So we need
to change the grammar to a normal positive sentence. A bit confusing? Maybe this
example will help:

 Direct speech: Where do you live?

 Reported speech: She asked me where I lived.

Do you see how I made it? The direct question is in the present simple tense. We
make a present simple question with 'do' or 'does' so I need to take that away. Then
I need to change the verb to the past simple.

Another example:
 Direct speech: Where is Julie?
 Reported speech: She asked me where Julie was.

The direct question is the present simple of 'be'. We make the question form of the
present simple of be by inverting (changing the position of)the subject and verb.
So, we need to change them back before putting the verb into the past simple.
Here are some more examples:

Direct Question Reported Question

Where is the Post Office,

She asked me where the Post Office was.
please?

What are you doing? She asked me what I was doing.

She asked me who that fantastic man had

Who was that fantastic man?
been.

So much for 'wh' questions. But, what if you need to report a 'yes / no' question?
We don't have any question words to help us. Instead, we use 'if':

 Direct speech: Do you like chocolate?

 Reported speech: She asked me if I liked chocolate.

No problem? Here are a few more examples:

Direct Question Reported Question

Do you love me? He asked me if I loved him.

Have you ever been to Mexico? She asked me if I had ever been to Mexico.

Are you living here? She asked me if I was living here.

 Reported Requests

There's more! What if someone asks you to do something (in a polite way)? For
example:

 Direct speech: Close the window, please

 Or: Could you close the window please?
 Or: Would you mind closing the window please?

All of these requests mean the same thing, so we don't need to report every word
when we tell another person about it. We simply use 'ask me + to + infinitive':

 Reported speech: She asked me to close the window.

Here are a few more examples:

Direct Request Reported Request

Please help me. She asked me to help her.

Please don't smoke. She asked me not to smoke.

She asked me to bring her book that

Could you bring my book tonight?
night.

Could you pass the milk, please? She asked me to pass the milk.

Would you mind coming early She asked me to come early the next
tomorrow? day.

To report a negative request, use 'not':

 Direct speech: Please don't be late.

 Reported speech: She asked us not to be late.
 Reported Orders

And finally, how about if someone doesn't ask so politely? We can call this an
'order' in English, when someone tells you very directly to do something. For
example:

 Direct speech: Sit down!

In fact, we make this into reported speech in the same way as a request. We just
use 'tell' instead of 'ask':

 Reported speech: She told me to sit down.

Direct Order Reported Order

He told the child to go to

Go to bed!
bed.

Don't worry! He told her not to worry.

Be on time! He told me to be on time.

Don't smoke! He told us not to smoke.

Time Expressions with Reported Speech

Sometimes when we change direct speech into reported speech we have to change
time expressions too. We don't always have to do this, however. It depends on
when we heard the direct speech and when we say the reported speech.

For example:
It's Monday. Julie says "I'm leaving today".

If I tell someone on Monday, I say "Julie said she was leaving today".
If I tell someone on Tuesday, I say "Julie said she was leaving yesterday".
If I tell someone on Wednesday, I say "Julie said she was leaving on Monday".
If I tell someone a month later, I say "Julie said she was leaving that day".

So, there's no easy conversion. You really have to think about when the direct
speech was said.

Here's a table of some possible conversions:

now then / at that time

today yesterday / that day / Tuesday / the 27th of June

the day before yesterday / the day before / Wednesday / the 5th of
yesterday
December

last night the night before, Thursday night

last week the week before / the previous week

tomorrow today / the next day / the following day / Friday

EXERCISES:

1. Change this direct speech into reported speech.

1. "He works in a bank"
She said ___________________________________________________________
2. "We went out last night"
She told me ________________________________________________________
3. "I'm coming!"
She said ___________________________________________________________
4. "I was waiting for the bus when he arrived"
She told me ________________________________________________________
5. "I'd never been there before"
She said ___________________________________________________________
6. "I didn't go to the party"
She told me ________________________________________________________
7. "Lucy'll come later"
She said ___________________________________________________________
8. "He hasn't eaten breakfast"
She told me ________________________________________________________
9. "I can help you tomorrow"
She said ___________________________________________________________
10. "You should go to bed early"
She told me ________________________________________________________

2. Change the direct speech into reported speech.

1. "I'm sleeping"
She told me _____________________________________________________
2. "We're working"
She told me _____________________________________________________
3. "She's coming to the party"
She told me _____________________________________________________
4. "He's talking on the telephone"
She told me _____________________________________________________
5. "Lucy is reading a book in front of the fire"
She told me _____________________________________________________
6. "I'm not going out"
She said ________________________________________________________
7. "We are not visiting Paris during our trip"
She said ________________________________________________________
8. "I'm listening to my new CD"
She said ________________________________________________________
9. "John is working in a bar for the summer"
She told me _____________________________________________________
10. "I'm not going to go on holiday"
She told me _____________________________________________________

3. Change the direct speech to reported speech.

1. "I've never been to Brazil."
She said ________________________________________________________
2. "She has visited Paris three times."
She said ________________________________________________________
3. "He has read 'War and Peace'."
She said ________________________________________________________
4. "I haven't seen Julie for ages."
She said ________________________________________________________
5. "He hasn't been to school this week."
She said ________________________________________________________
6. "We haven't seen 'The Lord of the Rings'."
She said ________________________________________________________
7. "They've eaten in a lot of different restaurants."
She said ________________________________________________________
8. "I've never tried skateboarding."
She said ________________________________________________________
9. "Lucy has drunk six cups of coffee today."
She said ________________________________________________________
10. "Mr Black has written three books."
She said ______________________________________________

4. Change the direct speech into reported speech.

1. "I went to the cinema yesterday."
She said ________________________________________________________
2. "Jane left the party early."
She told me _____________________________________________________
3. "I didn't go out at the weekend."
She said ________________________________________________________
4. "He didn't like chocolate as a child."
She said ________________________________________________________
5. "They visited Japan."
She said ________________________________________________________
6. "She didn't buy the dress."
He told me _____________________________________________________
7. "I travelled through India and Pakistan."
She told me _____________________________________________________
8. "He met his girlfriend in a café."
She said ________________________________________________________
9. "David didn't arrive until 10 o'clock."
She said ________________________________________________________
10. "We went to the park to have a picnic."
She told me _____________________________________________________

5. Change the direct speech into reported speech.

1. "I'll go to the cinema later."
She said ________________________________________________________
2. "We'll meet the children at six."
She said ________________________________________________________
3. "She'll be late."
She said ________________________________________________________
4. "Lucy will definitely come."
She said ________________________________________________________
5. "I will stop smoking on Tuesday."
She told us _____________________________________________________
6. "John won't do it."
She said ________________________________________________________
7. "They won't be able to arrive early."
She said ________________________________________________________
8. "I won't come with you."
She said ________________________________________________________
9. "He won't remember to buy milk."
She said ________________________________________________________
10. "It won't rain later, I'm sure."
She said ________________________________________________________

6. Change the direct questions into reported questions.

1. "Is John at home?"
She asked me if __________________________________________________
2. "Am I late?"
She asked me if __________________________________________________
3. "Is it cold outside?"
She asked me if __________________________________________________
4. "Are they in Paris?"
She asked me if __________________________________________________
5. "Is the bus stop near the shopping centre?"
She asked me if __________________________________________________
6. "Is the milk fresh?"
She asked me if __________________________________________________
7. "Are you a doctor?"
She asked me if __________________________________________________
8. "Are James and Lucy from France?"
She asked me if __________________________________________________
9. "Is my brother in the garden?"
She asked me if __________________________________________________
10. "Is the weather good in Shanghai in the summer?"
She asked me if __________________________________________________

7. Change the direct questions into reported questions.

1. "Where is the post office?"
She asked me ___________________________________________________
2. "Why is Julie sad?"
She asked me ___________________________________________________
3. "What's for dinner?"
She asked me ___________________________________________________
4. "Who is the woman in the red dress?"
She asked me ___________________________________________________
5. "How is your grandmother?"
She asked me ___________________________________________________
6. "When is the party?"
She asked me ___________________________________________________
7. "How much is the rent on your flat?"
She asked me ___________________________________________________
8. "Where are the glasses?"
She asked me ___________________________________________________
9. "How is the weather in Chicago?"
She asked me ___________________________________________________
10. "Who is the Prime Minister of Canada?"
She asked me ___________________________________________________

8. Change these direct questions into reported speech:

1. "Where is he?"
She asked me ______________________________________________________
2. "What are you doing?"
She asked me ______________________________________________________
3. "Why did you go out last night?"
She asked me ______________________________________________________
4. "Who was that beautiful woman?"
She asked me ______________________________________________________
5. "How is your mother?"
She asked me ______________________________________________________
6. "What are you going to do at the weekend?"
She asked me ______________________________________________________
7. "Where will you live after graduation?"
She asked me ______________________________________________________
8. "What were you doing when I saw you?"
She asked me ______________________________________________________
9. "How was the journey?"
She asked me ______________________________________________________
10. "How often do you go to the cinema?"
She asked me ______________________________________________________

9. Change the direct speech into reported speech.

1. "Please help me carry this"
She asked me ______________________________________________________
2. "Please come early"
She ______________________________________________________________
3. "Please buy some milk"
She ______________________________________________________________
4. "Could you please open the window?"
She ______________________________________________________________
5. "Could you bring the book tonight?"
She ______________________________________________________________
6. "Can you help me with my homework, please?"
She ______________________________________________________________
7. "Would you bring me a cup of coffee, please?"
She ______________________________________________________________
8. "Would you mind passing the salt?"
She ______________________________________________________________
9. "Would you mind lending me a pencil?"
She ______________________________________________________________
10. "I was wondering if you could possibly tell me the time?"
She ______________________________________________________________
10. Change the direct speech into reported speech. Choose the past simple of
'ask', 'say' or 'tell'.
1. "Don't do it!"
She ______________________________________________________________
2. "I'm leaving tomorrow"
She ______________________________________________________________
3. "Please get me a cup of tea"
She ______________________________________________________________
4. "She got married last year"
She ______________________________________________________________
5. "Be quick!"
She ______________________________________________________________
6. "Could you explain number four, please?"
She ______________________________________________________________
7. "Where do you live?"
She ______________________________________________________________
8. "We went to the cinema and then to a Chinese restaurant"
She ______________________________________________________________
9. "I'll come and help you at twelve"
She ______________________________________________________________
10. "What are you doing tomorrow?"
She ______________________________________________________________
11. Change the direct speech into reported speech. Choose the past simple of
'ask', 'say' or 'tell'.
1. "Come quickly!"
She ______________________________________________________________
2. "Did you arrive before seven?"
She ______________________________________________________________
3. "How was your holiday?"
She ______________________________________________________________
4. "I would have visited the hospital, if I had known you were sick"
She ______________________________________________________________
5. "Don't touch!"
She ______________________________________________________________
6. "Do you usually cook at home?"
She ______________________________________________________________
7. "They had never been to Scotland until last year"
She ______________________________________________________________
8. "Make sure you arrive early!"
She ______________________________________________________________
9. "I should have studied harder for the exam"
She ______________________________________________________________
10. "Would you mind telling me how to get to the art gallery, please?"
She ______________________________________________________________

12. Put in 'said' or 'told'.

1. Julie ______________ that she would join us after work.
2. She ______________ me that she was going running this evening.
3. John ______________ us that he couldn't come to the party.
4. John ______________ that he had been to the cinema at the weekend.
5. She ______________ them she wanted to quit.
6. David ______________ he was going to arrive at eight.
7. They ______________ that they didn't want to meet us on Tuesday.
8. I ______________ him I wasn't impressed.
9. Lucy ______________ Julie that she was leaving on Wednesday.
10. We ______________ that we were going on holiday the following week.
11. Jack ______________ my mother he would be in Spain this week.
12. I ______________ that I hated mushrooms.
13. She ______________ she loved chocolate.
14. They ______________ they were meeting Luke today.
15. They ______________ us they were going to the museum this afternoon.
16. He ______________ he wouldn't start without us.
17. I ______________ them I'd bring pudding.
18. Jonathan ______________ it would rain today.
19. They ______________ us that it was fine to come late.
20. The boss ______________ me that I should do some more work on this
report.

13. Change the sentences to reported speech !

1. Mary said, “I will play a card game tomorrow.”
Mary informed me that
______________________________________________________________ .
2. Sophie said, “I went to bed early last night.”
Sophie said that
___________________________________________________________________
___ .
3. The teacher said to Jenny, „You have to learn your grammar.”
The teacher told
Jenny______________________________________________________________
__ .
4. Jessica told the immigration officer,” This is my first trip to England.”
Jessica told the immigration officer that
______________________________________________ .
5. He told me, “You are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.”
He told me
that_______________________________________________________________
________ .
6. Marty said, “I’m going to visit my uncle next month.”
Marty said that
___________________________________________________________________
____ .
7. Lara said, “I get on with my parents really fine.”
Lara said
that_______________________________________________________________
__________ .
8. Gloria explained, “I can’t come to the party because I’m going away for the
weekend.”
Gloria explained that
_________________________________________________________________ .
9. Mark said, “My friend found a new job in the music business.”
Mark said that
___________________________________________________________________
_____ .
10. Judy complained, “I have already written this essay four times.”
Judy complained that
_________________________________________________________________ .
11. Peter announced, “I will not give up until this factory is shut down.”
Peter announced that
________________________________________________________________
12. Her boyfriend told her,” You have bought a wonderful dress.”
Her boyfriend told her that
___________________________________________________________ .
13. Paul said, “I don’t like my new flat.”
Paul said that
___________________________________________________________________
_____ .
14. My father told Ben, “I am sure I saw you here last week.
My father told Ben that
_______________________________________________________________ .
15. Betty said, „If I knew the answer, I would tell you.”
Betty said that
___________________________________________________________________
____ .