REPORTED

SPEECH
 REPORTED SPEECH
when we report or tell sb what another person has/had said

actual spoken statement:

“I can see him now.”
Direct statement in Indirect statement Indirect statement
writing (present): (past):

The boss says (that) The boss said (that)

‘I can see him now,'
he can see you he could see you
the boss says/said
now. now.
 can be used to report
SAY statements
can introduce noun clauses
Say + (that) + Say +
Say + Say + Wh- Say + to-
clause: Used for if/whether +
I statements. (to sb): question: infinitive:
Yes/No question

"I'm going to "Do you want "Where are "Leave the building
"I am tired."
the store." to join me?" we going?" immediately."
 can be used to report statements
TELL
must be followed by a personal
indirect object can introduce noun clauses

Tell sb + Tell sb+ if/whether + Tell sb + Wh- Tell sb + to-

that-clause: Yes/No question: question: infinitive:

"I'm leaving "Can you help me "Where is the "Wait here."

the country.” with the project?" nearest bus stop?"
 ASK
It is used to report
questions.

Ask sb + if/whether Ask sb + Wh- Ask sb + to- Ask that sth

+ Yes/No question: question: infinitive: (should) be done:

"Did you see "Where are you “Can you help us "Can the meeting
the movie?" going?" move the furniture? be postponed?"
This 'moving back' of tenses is called backshift.

TENSE CHANGES
TENSE DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH
PRESENT SIMPLE PAST SIMPLE
PRESENT
SIMPLE "I like chocolate," he said.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS PAST CONTINUOUS

PRESENT
"She is working on a new project,"
CONTINUOUS
she said.

PRESENT PRESENT PERFECT PAST PERFECT

PERFECT "I have finished my homework," she
says.
 TENSE DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH
PRESENT PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
PERFECT "I have been working all day," she
CONTINUOUS says.
PAST SIMPLE PAST PERFECT
PAST SIMPLE
"I ate pizza last night," she said.

PAST PAST CONTINUOUS PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

CONTINUOUS "She was reading a book all evening,"
she said.
FUTURE FUTURE SIMPLE CONDITIONAL (WOULD)
SIMPLE
"I will go to the party," she said.
TENSE DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH
WILL "WOULD" (for requests or offers)
WILL "Will you help me?" she asked.
"I will lend you the book," he said.
CAN COULD
CAN "Can you help me?" she asked.
"I can play the piano," he said.

MAY MIGHT
MAY "May I leave early?" she asked.
"I may go to the concert," he said.
 PRONOUN CHANGES
The pronouns will shift depending on who is speaking in the original
statement versus the reporter's point of view.
DS (Ann to Sue):
"I'll send you a card, Sue," said Ann.

IS (reported by IS (reported IS (reported

someone else) by Sue): by Ann):

I told Sue (that) I'd

Ann told Sue (that) Ann said (that) she
send her a card.
she'd send her a card. would send me a card.
 TYPICAL PRONOUN CHANGES
DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH
I SHE / HE
Ann said, "I will call you."

YOU ME

Sue said, "I will meet you at the station."

MY HER / HIS
Sue said, "I have my book."

WE WE
We are coming!" we said.
 TIME CHANGES
DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH
NOW THEN
"I am busy now," she said.

TODAY THAT DAY

"I will call you today," he said.

TOMORROW THE NEXT / FOLLOWING DAY

"I will visit you tomorrow," she said.

YESTERDAY THE PREVIOUS DAY / THE DAY BEFORE

"I saw her yesterday," he said.
 TIME CHANGES
DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH
TWO DAYS AGO TWO DAYS BEFORE / EARLIER
"I met him two days ago," she said.

THIS THAT

"This is my favorite place," he said.

LAST WEEK / MONTH / YEAR THE PREVIOUS WEEK / MONTH / YEAR

"I visited her last week," he said.

NEXT WEEK / MONTH / YEAR THE FOLLOWING WEEK / MONTH / YEAR

"We will start next week," they said.
 PLACE CHANGES
DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH
HERE THERE
"I am here," she said.

THIS PLACE THAT PLACE

"This is where I live," he said.

THESE PLACES THOSE PLACES

"These are the places I visited," he said.

COME GO
“We are coming!" we said.
BRING TAKE
"Bring the book to me," he said.
 MODAL CHANGES
DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH
CAN COULD
"I can help you," he said.

WILL WOULD
"I will see you tomorrow," she said.

MAY MIGHT
"I may come later," she said.

SHALL WOULD
"I shall tell him exactly what I think," she said.
SHALL SHOULD
"Shall I speak to him in person?" she asked.
 DIRECT SPEECH
MODAL CHANGES INDIRECT SPEECH
SHOULD / SHOULDN’T NO CHANGE
"You should see a doctor," he told me.

SHOULD (as a conditional modal) WOULD

"If I were you, I should get another lawyer,"
she said.
NEEDN’T NO CHANGE / DIDN’T HAVE TO
You needn't come in tomorrow," the boss said.

WOULD / COULD / MIGHT / OUGHT TO / NO CHANGE / DIDN’T HAVE TO

NEEDN’T HAVE / USED TO
"You ought to slow down a bit," the doctor
told him.
 DIRECT SPEECH
MODAL CHANGES INDIRECT SPEECH
MUST (obligation or necessity) He told me he must warn me about the consequences.
"I must warn you about the consequences,"
He told me he had to warn me about the consequences.
he said.
MUST (for deduction or possibility)
"George must be a fool to behave like that,"
he said.

MUST (future necessity)

"We must go early tomorrow," she said.

MUSTN’T (prohibition)
"You mustn't cross the border," the guard said.
 CONDITIONALS CHANGES
DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH
TYPE 1
"If you pass your test, I'll buy you a
car," he said.
TYPE 2
"If you passed your test, I would buy you a
car," he said.

TYPE 3
"If you'd passed your test, I'd have
bought you a car," he said.
 EXCLAMATION CHANGES
DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH
"What a beautiful day!" she exclaimed.

"How wonderful!" he cried

REPORTING PERMANENT STATES, FACTS AND HABITS

DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH
"The Earth goes round the Sun,"
Copernicus said.

"Water boils at 100°C," he said.

 YES / NO QUESTIONS
DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH

Are you coming?" he asked.

VERB TO BE
“Is he ready?” She asked.

MODALS
"Can you help me?" he asked.

DO / DOES / DID WE OMIT THE AUXILIARIES

“Did he go home?” She asked,
 YES / NO QUESTIONS
DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH
"Do you play chess?" He asked.
QUESTION TAGS
"You play chess, don't you?" He asked.
IF / WHETHER
"Is it raining?" he asked.
WHETHER
"Do you want tea or coffee?"he asked.

YES/NO QUESTIONS WITH "OR NOT"

"Do you want any dinner or not?" He asked.
 WORD ORDER IN INDIRECT WH-QUESTIONS
DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH

“Where are you going?” she asked.

WORD ORDER FOR QUESTIONS WITH DO, DOES, DID

DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH
“When did you write the letter?” she asked.
 INDIRECT SUBJECT-QUESTIONS
DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH

"Who is in charge here?" he asked

"Which firm makes these parts?" he asked.

"What caused the accident?" he askedd

"Whose novel will win the prize?" He asked

 THE INFINITIVE IN INDIRECT SPEECH
DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH

"Keep a record of your expenses." I told him to keep a record of his expenses.

"Don't make a mess in the kitchen." She told him not to make a mess in the kitchen.

"Remember to switch off all the lights.” She reminded me to switch off all the lights.
 INFINITIVE AFTER QUESTION-WORDS (REQUESTS OR ADVICE)
DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH
"How do I prepare the sauce?" He wanted to know how to prepare the sauce.

"Shall I speak to him in person?" He wanted to know whether to speak to him

in person.

"Should I call her?"

"Where should I park?"

 USE OF THE INFINITIVE WITH REPORTING VERBS
DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH
"I want to speak to the manager." She asked to speak to the manager.

"I want you to help me."

"Please, could you send me the report?"

INFINITIVE AFTER QUESTION-WORDS (WITH EXPECTING YES/NO ANSWERS)

DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH

"Shall I call you?" He wanted to know whether to call me.

He asked if he should call me.
 IMPERATIVE WITH PASSIVE VOICE
DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH

"Wait for me." He was told to wait for him.

"Please send the report by Friday." I was told to send the report by Friday.