Transcript We use the Reported Speech

THE REPORTED
SPEECH
What is it? How do we use it?
We use the Reported Speech:
• To report what another person has said, but
not using the speaker’s exact words; To give
someone a telephone message; or to tell
something you have read in a newspaper...
• The structure is a little different depending
on whether we want to transform a
statement, question or request.
Ex: Mark said that he wanted to live in London.
Please, note that:
• Quotation/speech marks are not used in reported speech.
• Verb tenses, pronouns and some “time” and “place” words
may change because the time, place and speaker may be
different.
•When we report a statement, we use reported verbs
such as say, tell, explain, inform, answer, decide, etc.
often followed by that. When we use reported speech
we are usually talking about the past. Therefore, verbs
in reported speech usually change to the past.
•Reported speech usually uses the following structure:
-Someone said that….
--Someone told me that…
-However, in English you can never say: Someone said
me…
Verb tense changes:
DIRECT SPEECH
REPORTED SPEECH
Present Simple
Past Simple
Past Simple
Past Perfect
Present Continuous
Past Continuous
Past Continuous
Past Perfect Continuous
Present Perfect
Past Perfect
Ex: “I prefer my own friends”, said Paul.
Paul said (that) he preferred his own friends.
Verb tense changes:
Past Perfect
Past Perfect
Future (shall, will)
Conditional (should, would)
May
Might
Can
Could
Must - prohibitions/probability
Had to
necessity /obligation
Ex: “They will go to the concert”, said John
John said (that) they would go to the concert.
“I must go to the doctor” , said Mary.
Mary said (that) she had to go to the doctor.
PLACE CHANGES
DIRECT SPEECH
REPORTED SPEECH
here
there
this place
that place
Ex: “Here is your coat”, said Mary.
Mary said (that) there was my coat.
TIME CHANGES
DIRECT SPEECH
now
today
tonight
yesterday
last month
next week
tomorrow
REPORTED SPEECH
then
that day
that night
the day before
the month before
the following week
the next day/the following day
Ex: “Yesterday we went to the beach”, they said.
They said (that) the day before they had gone to the beach.
POSSESSIVES CHANGES
DIRECT SPEECH
my
your
our
mine
yours
ours
REPORTED SPEECH
his, her
my, his, her, our, their
their
his, hers
mine, his, hers, ours, theirs
mine, his , hers, ours, theirs
PERSONAL PRONOUNS CHANGES
DIRECT SPEECH
I
you
we
me
you
us
REPORTED SPEECH
he, she
I, she, he, we, they
they
him, her
him, her, us, them
them
Ex: “I am going to London”, said Peter.
Peter said (that) he was going to London.
QUESTIONS
1. Yes/No Questions
If + Subject + Verb
• “Is it raining?” The old lady asked if it was raining.
• “Do you have any stamps?” I asked them if they had any
stamps.
• “Can I borrow your pen?” He asked her if he could
borrow her pen.
NB: In Reported questions there is no question mark
and the order of words is like in a simple statement.
2. Wh-Questions
Wh-word + Subject + Verb
• “Where are you going?” He asked her where she was going.
• “When do you get up in the morning?” I asked him when he
got up in the morning.
REQUESTS
When we put an IMPERATIVE sentence into
Indirect Speech, we usually use a verb like tell,
followed by a TO-INFINITIVE CLAUSE.
“Give me the money.” He told /ordered me to give him the
money.
“Come in, please.” The manager asked me to come in.
Exercises:
A – Rewrite the sentences in reported speech:
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“I watch a film on Saturdays.” Caroline said…
“He is my best friend.” Fred told me…
“The scarf is in my bag.” Janice said…
“This film wasn't very interesting” Tom told me…
“This isn't my school.” Jerry said…
'”We will walk for half an hour.” Yesterday Jennifer told me…
“These T-shirts don't fit me.” Mike said…
• “We are parking our car here” They said…
• “It is my boyfriend's birthday party tomorrow.” Helen told me…
• ”I think there will be a students' meeting very soon.” He said…
B – Put into Reported Speech:
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“She’s the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.” Peter said…
“He didn’t come in for tea.” She said…
“We’ll have to wait until she comes.” They said…
“I went to the theatre with my parents yesterday night.” She said…
“I know we don’t have enough money.” He said…
“They tried to make him leave the office.” She said…
“The farmer doesn’t know why the weather is going to change.” They
said…
“Carol wasn’t invited to the party.” They said…
“They divided the cake into three pieces.” She said…
“There was a terrible accident near my school two weeks ago.” She said…
“The robbery wasn’t discovered until the evening.” They said…