Transcript Reported Speech

Reported Speech
Curs 2008-09 / 2n de Batxillerat
What’s the reported speech?
• The reported speech
is to reproduce what
somebody else says.
Example - Joseph and Lara are
talking about the next exams:
Lara : When is the next English
exam?
Joseph: Mmmm!!!! I think it’s next
Wednesday
Later, Judith, another classmate asks
him:
Judith: Lara, did you ask Joseph
when is the English exam?
How will Lara reproduce Joseph’s
answer?
•What is Lara’s answer?
“He said that it was the following Wednesday”
• Which changes can you see?
- the verb : is = was
- next Wednesday = the following Wednesday
• When a sentence is reported in another place
at a different time, and perhaps by another
person there are often grammatical differences
between direct and indirect speech : tenses,
pronouns and in time and place expressions.
Reported Speech: Characteristics
 The reported speech explains what somebody else has said.
 When using the R.S the sentence suffers some changes (see pages 121 and
122 from the TB)
- verb tense (one step backwards to the past)
Ex. Simple Present ___
Present Cont. ___
Simple Past
Past Cont.
- pronouns : I __ he /she
we __ they
- adverbs of time and place: now __ then
here __ there
Reported sentences consist of 2 parts:
She + reporting verb + (that) + reported sentence
S2
S1
She said
that
she was getting married
• Reporting verbs: say / tell / explain / ask / suggest / agree / …
Reported Speech
Questions
• Yes/No questions
• Wh questions
Orders
Suggestions,
Advices,
Offers …
Reported Speech: Statements
 We use say and tell + object to introduce the sentences
together with that :
Example:
D.S Tom said : “My sister has finished her degree project today”
R.S Tom said (that) her sister had finished her degree project that
day
 that can be omitted
 When the sentence expresses likes, dislikes, origins, events etc.
we don’t need to change the verbs:
Example:
D.S Tom told me : “My sister goes to every Coldplay concert”
R.S Tom told me (that) her sister goes to every Coldplay concert
Statements: Exercises
1.“The Christmas holidays will start on 19th December” my father said
My father said that the Christmas holidays would start on 19th December
2. “I posted the letter last weeK” said the secretary
The secretary said that she had posted the letter the previous week.
3. “I’m starting a new language course to find a better job” said Sarah
Sarah said she was starting a new language course …
4. “ My sister had a baby yesterday! “ Kim announced
Kim announced thar her sister had a baby yesterday.
Reported Speech: Questions I
 Reporting verbs : we use ask , wonder , wanted to know …to
introduce the sentences.
 We report the sentences depending on the kind of questions:
a) Yes/No questions:
-Questions beginning with auxiliars or modals
- we use if / whether to introduce the sentence
Example : D.S “Is your husband at home?” he asked
I.S He asked if /whether my husband was at home.
He wanted to know if my husband was at home.
Reported Speech: Questions II
b) Wh questions:
-Questions beginning with what,where,when,who,
which,how
- we use the questions words to introduce the sentence
Example : D.S “When does he usually get home?” he asked
I.S He asked when he usually got home.
IMPORTANT!!!!
 The word order in a reported question is the same as in a
direct statement: Subject+verb+objects
 There are no auxiliars in the reported questions
Reported Speech: Orders and
requests
 We report orders with
tell+object+(not)+ infinitive
Example: D.S “Take the pills before breakfast” the doctor said
I.S The doctor told me to take the pills before breakfast
D.S “Don’t smoke!” the doctor said
I.S The doctor told me not to smoke.
 We report requests with ask+ object+ (not)+ infinitive
Example: D.S “Can you park the car here,please?” asked Peter
I.S Peter asked me to park the car there.
D.S “Would you mind not leaving the car here?” asked Peter
I.S Peter asked me not to leave the car there.