Reported speech rules

Statements If we want to say what other people said, thought or felt, we can use the direct and indirect speech (reported speech). The direct speech: "I like it," he said. "Irene is late," he thought. "I will pass the exam," she hoped. The reported speech: He said he liked it. He thought that Irene was late. She hoped she would pass the exam. The reported speech is typically introduced by verbs such as say, tell, admit, complain, explain, remind, reply, think, hope, offer, refuse etc. in the past tense. He said (that) he didn't want it. She explained that she had been at the seaside. If these verbs are in the past tense, we change the following: a) verb tenses and verb forms, b) pronouns, c) the adverbs of time and place.

A) Verb tenses We change the tenses in the following way: 1. Present - past "I never understand you," she told me. - She told me she never understood me. "We are doing exercises," he explained. - He explained that they were doing exercises. 2. Present perfect - past perfect "I have broken the window," he admitted. - He admitted that he had broken the window. "I have been waiting since the morning," he complained. - He complained that he had been waiting since the morning. 3. Past - past perfect "She went to Rome," I thought. - I thought that she had gone to Rome. "He was thinking of buying a new car," she said. - She said he had been thinking of buying a new car. 4. Will - conditional Will changes into the conditional. "I will come on Sunday," he reminded me. - He reminded me that he would come on Sunday. Notes I shall, we shall usually become would. "I shall appreciate it," he said. - He said he would appreciate it. I should, we should usually changes into would. "We should be really glad," she told us. - She told us they would be really glad. May becomes might. "I may write to him," she promised. - She promised that she might write to him.

The verb forms remain the same the following cases. 1. If the reporting verb is in the present tense. Bill: "I am enjoying my holiday." - Bill says he is enjoying his holiday. Sandy: "I will never go to work." - Sandy says she will never go to work. 2. When we report something that is still true. Dan: "Asia is the largest continent." - Dan said Asia is the largest continent. Emma: "People in Africa are starving." - Emma said people in Africa are starving.

3. When a sentence is made and reported at the same time and the fact is still true. Michael: "I am thirsty." - Michael said he is thirsty. 4. With modal verbs would, might, could, should, ought to, used to. George: "I would try it." - George said he would try it. Mimi: "I might come." - Mimi said she might come. Steve: "I could fail." - Steve said he could fail. Linda: "He should/ought to stay in bed." - Linda said he should/ought to stay in bed. Mel: "I used to have a car." - Mel said he used to have a car. 5. After wish, would rather, had better, it is time. Margo: "I wish they were in Greece." - Margo said she wished they were in Greece. Matt: "I would rather fly." - Matt said he would rather fly. Betty: "They had better go." - Betty said they had better go. Paul: "It is time I got up." - Paul said it was time he got up. 6. In if-clauses. Martha: "If I tidied my room, my dad would be happy." - Martha said that if she tidied her room, her dad would be happy. 7. In time-clauses. Joe: "When I was staying in Madrid I met my best friend." - He said that when he was staying in Madrid he met his best friend. 8. We do not change the past tense in spoken English if it is clear from the situation when the action happened. "She did it on Sunday," I said. - I said she did it on Sunday. We must change it, however, in the following sentence, otherwise it will not be clear whether we are talking about the present or past feelings. "I hated her," he said. - He said he had hated her. 9. We do not usually change the modal verbs must and needn't. But must can become had to or would have to and needn't can become didn't have to or wouldn't have to if we want to express an obligation. Would/wouldn't have to are used to talk about future obligations. "I must wash up." - He said he must wash up/he had to wash up. "I needn't be at school today." - He said he needn't be/didn't have to be at school that day.

"We must do it in June." - He said they would have to do it in June. If the modal verb must does not express obligation, we do not change it. "We must relax for a while." (suggestion) - He said they must relax for a while. "You must be tired after such a trip." (certainty) - He said we must be tired after such a trip. B) Pronouns We have to change the pronouns to keep the same meaning of a sentence. "We are the best students," he said. - He said they were the best students. "They called us," he said. - He said they had called them. "I like your jeans," she said. - She said she liked my jeans. "I can lend you my car," he said. - He said he could lend me his car. Sometimes we have to use a noun instead of a pronoun, otherwise the new sentence is confusing. "He killed them," Kevin said. - Kevin said that the man had killed them. If we only make mechanical changes (Kevin said he had killed them), the new sentence can have a different meaning - Kevin himself killed them. This and these are usually substituted. "They will finish it this year," he said. - He said they would finish it that year. "I brought you this book," she said. - She said she had brought me the book. "We want these flowers," they said. - They said they wanted the flowers. C) Time and place Let's suppose that we talked to our friend Mary on Friday. And she said: "Greg came yesterday." It means that Greg came on Thursday. If we report Mary's sentence on Sunday, we have to do the following: Mary: "Greg came yesterday." - Mary said that Greg had come the day before. If we say: Mary said Greg had come yesterday, it is not correct, because it means that he came on Saturday. The time expressions change as follows. today - that day, tomorrow - the next day/the following day, the day after tomorrow - in two days' time, yesterday - the day before, the day before yesterday - two days before, next week/month - the following week/month, last week/month - the previous week/month, a year ago - a year before/the previous year Bill: "She will leave tomorrow." - Bill said she would leave the next day. Sam: "She arrived last week." - Sam said she had arrived the previous week.

Julie: "He moved a year ago." - Julie said he had moved a year before. Note If something is said and reported at the same time, the time expressions can remain the same. "I will go on holiday tomorrow," he told me today. - He told me today he would go on holiday tomorrow. "We painted the hall last weekend," she told me this week. - She told me this week they had painted the hall last weekend. On the other hand, if something is reported later, the time expressions are different in the reported speech. Last week Jim said: "I'm playing next week." If we say his sentence a week later, we will say: Jim said he was playing this week. Here usually becomes there. But sometimes we make different adjustments. At school: "I'll be here at 10 o'clock," he said. - He said he would be there at 10 o'clock. In Baker Street: "We'll meet here." - He said they would meet in Baker Street. Questions Questions become statements. The reporting verb say changes into ask, want to know, wonder ... . "Where have you been?" he said. - He asked me where I had been. "What time did it start?" he said. - He wanted to know what time it had started. "Why won't he do it?" she said. - She wondered why he wouldn't do it. In yes/no questions we use if or whether in questions. If is more common and whether is more formal. "Will you come?" she asked me. - She asked me if/whether I would come. "Did he marry Sue?" she said. - She wondered if/whether he married Sue. Commands, requests and advice The commands, requests and advice mostly have the same form in English: verb + object + infinitive ( advise, ask, beg, forbid, order, persuade, recommend, tell, urge, warn etc.). Unlike the direct speech the person addressed must be mentioned in the indirect speech. "Get up!" he said. - He told me to get up. "Please, revise for the test," he said. - He urged me to revise for the test. "Put on your coat," I said. - I advised him to put on his coat.

Negative commands, requests and advice are made by verb + object + not + infinitive. "Don't hesitate," he said. - He persuaded me not to hesitate. "Don't smoke," the doctor warned my father. - The doctor warned my father not to smoke. Tell can introduce statements, commands, requests or advice. The form is different, however. Statements with tell "I'm leaving," he told me. - He told me that he was leaving. Commands, requests or advice with tell "Leave the room," he told John. - He told John to leave the room. "Don't give up," the teacher told her students. - The teacher told the students not to give up. Similarly ask is used in reported questions, commands, requests or advice in different forms. Questions with ask "Will you make coffee?" he said. - He asked me if I would make coffee. Commands, requests or advice with ask "Make coffee, please," he said. - He asked me to make coffee. "Don't park in my place," Greg told me. - Greg asked me not to park in his place.

Example:"I admire you." - She said she admired me.

"It is too late." - I said Right: it was too late

"I have replied." - He claimed that Right: he had replied

"I met you yesterday." - Sam told me . Right: he had met me the previous day / he had met me the day before "I cannot come." - Mary explained that Right: she could not come "I could fall down." - He was afraid Right: he could fall down . .

"I will pay tomorrow." - He said . Right: he would pay the next day / he would pay the following day "The Himalayas are the highest." - He knew that Right: the Himalayas are the highest "I may lend you some money." - Bill promised Right: he might lend me some money "I have been watching a film." - He replied that Right: he had been watching a film "Claire must rest." - The doctor said Right: Claire must rest / Claire had to rest "I have not done it today." - I explained that Right: I had not done it that day "If I was younger, I would accept it." - He thought that Right: if he was younger, he would accept it "I was with him last week." - Jill admitted that . Right: she had been with him the previous week / the week before "You needn't change your shoes in our house." - She reminded me that . Right: I need not change my shoes in their house / I did not have to change my shoes in their house "I am calling my mum." - She said Right: she was calling her mum . . . .

"I will finish this picture tomorrow." - Diana supposed that . Right: she would finish that picture the following day / she would finish that picture the next day "I would buy it." - She said Right: she would buy it .

"Greg used to be my friend." - He told us Right: Greg used to be his friend

"Put it here." - He told me Right: to put it there "What do you do?" - She wondered Right: what I did

"Do you want it?" - Joe asked me Right: if I wanted it / whether I wanted it "Don't forget!"- He reminded me Right: not to forget "Where did you live?" - He wanted to know Right: where I lived

"Park your car behind the house, please." - He asked me Right: to park my car behind the house "Do not hesitate." - He told me Right: not to hesitate .

He admitted that he had never met us. Right: I have never met you. They told us they would start the following day. Right: We will start tomorrow. We called them that we were walking in the park. Right: We are walking in the park. She said she worked for Ford. Right: I work for Ford. I replied that I had been trying to mend it since the morning. Right: I have been trying to mend it since the morning. He said that at one o'clock he had been doing nothing. Right: At one o'clock I was doing nothing.

They explained that they had closed down the previous year. Right: We closed down last year. Neil said he wished he could be independent. Right: I wish I could be independent. She told us we had better accept it. Right: You had better accept it. He claimed that while he was sleeping someone screamed in the garden. Right: While I was sleeping someone screamed in the garden. Moira admitted that she would rather stay. Right: I would rather stay.

Example:Mike: "What are you doing here, Liz? I haven't seen you since June." Liz: "I've just come back from my holiday in Ireland." Mike: "Did you enjoy it?" Liz: "I love Ireland. And the Irish people were so friendly." Mike: "Did you go to the Wicklow Mountains?" Liz: "It was my first trip. I can show you some pictures. Are you doing anything tomorrow?" Mike: "I must arrange a couple of things. But I am free tonight." Liz: "You might come to my place. What time shall we meet?" Mike: "I'll be there at eight. Is it all right?"

Mike asked Liz . And he said . Right: what she was doing there; he had not seen her since June Liz explained that . Right: she had just come back from her holiday in Ireland Mike wondered . Right: if she had enjoyed it / whether she had enjoyed it Liz told him that and that .

Right: she loved Ireland; the Irish people had been so friendly Mike wanted to know . Right: if she had gone to the Wicklow Mountains / whether she had gone to the Wicklow Mountains Liz said that and that she . Right: it had been her first trip; could show him some pictures And then she asked him if . Right: he was doing something the next day / he was doing something the following day Mike explained that . Right: he must arrange a couple of things / he had to arrange a couple of things But he added that Right: he was free at night .

Liz suggested that and asked him . Right: he might come to her place; what time they would meet Mike said . Right: he would be there at eight And then he asked . Right: if it was all right / whether it was all right

Example:"Pass me the salt, please." - He asked me to pass him the salt. "What did you say?" - He asked me what I had said.

"Where are you?" - He asked me Right: where I was "What will you choose?" - He asked me Right: what I would choose

"Please, get in touch with them today." - He asked me

Right: to get in touch with them that day "Don't leave your luggage unattended." - He asked me Right: not to leave my luggage unattended "Are you flying soon?" - He asked me . Right: if I was flying soon / whether I was flying soon "May I ask you a question?" - He asked me . Right: if he might ask me a question / whether he might ask me a question "Jump in!" - He asked me Right: to jump in . .

"Have you set your alarm clock?" - He asked me . Right: if I had set my alarm clock / whether I had set my alarm clock "Is Prague the capital?" - He asked me . Right: if Prague is the capital / whether Prague is the capital "You mustn't touch the screen!" - He asked me Right: not to touch the screen .

"Would you rather dance?" - He asked me . Right: if I would rather dance / whether I would rather dance "How long have you been standing here?" - He asked me Right: how long I had been standing there "Stop laughing!" - He asked me Right: to stop laughing . .

"I am not going to tolerate this any more," said Sarah. Sarah said she was not going to tolerate this any more. - Sarah said Right: she was not going to tolerate that any more "You have always been my friend," said Joe. Joe said I was always his friend. - Joe said . .

Right: I had always been his friend "We never eat meat," claimed Bill. Bill claimed that they had never eaten meat. - Bill claimed that Right: they never ate meat "I will talk to Sam soon," she told me on Sunday. She told me on Sunday she will talk to Sam soon. - She told me on Sunday Right: she would talk to Sam soon "Mary used to exercise every day," he said. He said Mary had used to exercise every day. - He said Right: Mary used to exercise every day "I wish I was twenty years younger," said Linda. Linda said she wished she had been twenty years younger. - Linda said Right: she wished she was twenty years younger "Answer the phone!" he told me. He told me I answered the phone. - He told me Right: to answer the phone "Where is Alex?" she asked me. She asked me where was Alex. - She asked me Right: where Alex was . . . . . .

"I got the message while I was waiting at the bus stop." He told me that Right: he got the message while he was waiting at the bus stop "We will set off tomorrow." They said Right: they would set off the next day "Get out of my way!" He ordered us Right: to get out of his way "I invited him last week." . . .

She told me this week that Right: she had invited him last week "I will resign today." This morning he announced that he Right: would resign today "She'd better refuse this job." He insisted that Right: she had better refuse that job "We used to take the same medicine." She thought that Right: they used to take the same medicine "I entered the university a year ago." He told me last year Right: he had entered the university a year before "It is time we had an agreement." She suggested that Right: it was time we had an agreement "We must go skiing in winter." He said that Right: they must go skiing in winter . . . . . .

Example:He asked me to stand up. - Stand up! He asked me if I was sleepy. - Are you sleepy?

He asked me what I wanted from him. Right: What do you want from me Sam wondered if they had arrived on time. Right: Did they arrive on time I advised them not to go out at night. Right: Do not go out at night !

He wanted to know why I was crying. Right: Why are you crying

He asked me whether I would marry him the following year. Right: Will you marry me next year He asked me not to interrupt him. Right: Do not interrupt me !

He wanted to know if he should lock the door. Right: Shall I lock the door / Should I lock the door She wondered whether she might use my laptop. Right: May I use your laptop Nicol asked me to join her. Right: Join me / Will you join me Lily told me not to eat so much. Right: Do not eat so much !

He wondered if I had received his message. Right: Have you received my message Ezra asked us what we had been doing so long. Right: What have you been doing so long

Change the following sentences from direct speech to reported speech : Example : Direct Speech: Jane : "I play tennis every Saturday." Reported Speech : Jane said she played tennis every Saturday