English 4: Reported Speech

Reported speech
When you want to talk about what another person says, you can say it directly
(direct speech) or use reported speech. Compare:
Tom said, Im having a great time
(Direct speech)
Tom said (that) he was having a great time (Indirect speech)
Generally we report something that someone said in the past, so we change the
tense of the verb.
Direct speech
Be Present
Im glad to be here today.
Present Simple
She likes horror movies.
Present Progressive
Im having a great time.
Present Perfect
I have never been to a museum
before.
Past Simple
We had a delicious dinner last
night.
Past Perfect
We had done a lot of things that
day, so
we were very tired
Modals
I will call you as soon as I can.
Imperative
Please, be quiet.

Reported speech
Be Past
He said he was glad to be here today.
Past Simple
He said she liked horror movies.
Past Progressive
Tom said he was having a great time.
Past Perfect
She said she had never been to a museum
before.
Past Perfect
They said that theyd had a delicious
dinner last night.
Past Perfect
They said they had done a lot of things
that day so they had been very tired
Past Modals
He said he would call me as soon as he
could
to+infinitive
The teacher asked us to be quiet

However, we can also report something that someone says in the present or
something that is still true or relevant today. In such cases, we may or not change
the tense of the verb, its optional.
I really like living here.
He says he really likes living there.
(He still likes it)
For statements, that is usually omitted in informal English. However, questions
are always connected by if or whether (yes/no questions) or question words
(WH questions). In reported or indirect questions, we use the same order as in
statements, not as in questions.
Examples:
Are you coming with us?
He asked if/whether I was coming with them.
(Yes/No question)
What is your name?
He asked me what my name was.
(WH question)

You might also need to change other expressions such as time adverbials,
pronouns, adjectives, etc.
I want to come back tomorrow, so I will have time to tell you everything she
said.
She said she wanted to come back the next day, so she would have time to tell
me everything.
Some of the following verbs or phrases are very common for reporting statements
or questions:
- statements:
say, tell, promise, know, believe, think, claim, state, etc.
- questions: ask, wonder, want/would like to know, etc.
Activity
Read this story about a funny incident in the park. Then, answer the
reading comprehension questions.
Guess Who I Bumped Into?
Tim wandered along the path thinking aloud, "If I continue
this diet I will lose twenty pounds by the end of..." when he
bumped into another city dweller out for a day's walk in the
park.
"I'm terribly sorry", he apologized. "I was so caught up in
my thoughts I didn't see you!" he managed to stammer.
Smiling, Sheila responded, "It's OK. Nothing's broken... No
really, I wasn't watching my step either." Suddenly they both
stopped making excuses and stared at each other. "Don't I know you from
somewhere?" inquired Tim while Sheila exclaimed, "You're Tim, Jack's brother,
aren't you?!" They both began to laugh as they had met each other the week
before at a party that Jack had given.
Still laughing, Tim suggested, "Why don't we have a cup a coffee and donut?"
to which Sheila replied, "I thought you wanted to continue your diet!" They both
were still laughing by the time they reached the Swimming Donut cafe.
1. Why did Tim bump into Sheila?
a. He was on a diet.
b. He wasn't paying attention.
c. He was writing his thoughts
down.
2. Where do they live?
a. In the park
b. In the countryside
c. In the city
3. Whose fault was the incident?
a. Tim's
b. Sheila's
c. It's not clear.

4. Where did they first meet?

a. In the park
b. At the Swimming Donut
c. At Tim's Brother's house
5. Why was Tim's suggestion funny?
a. He was supposedly on a diet.
b. The name of the cafe was
strange.
c. They were on a walk and they
were no donuts in the park.

Later that day Sheila told the story to her friend Mike. Fill in the blanks
with reported (indirect) speech using the text above.
As he was walking down the path Tim said if he _________ diet he _________
lose twenty pounds. We bumped into each other. He apologized saying he
_________ terribly sorry.
I told him it _________ OK, that nothing _________ broken. Tim said he _________
so caught up in _________ thoughts that he _________. He seemed embarrassed, so I
added that I _________ my step either. At that moment we recognized each other!
He asked me if he _________ from somewhere. I then remembered that he was
Jack's brother. We both had a good laugh and then he invited me to have a cup of
coffee and a donut. We had a great time together.

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 was waiting for the bus when he arrived
She told me
__________________________________________________________________________
4.
Id never been there before
She said __________________________________________________________________________
5.
I didnt go to the party
She told me
__________________________________________________________________________
6.
Lucyll come later
She said __________________________________________________________________________
7.
He hasnt eaten breakfast
She told me
__________________________________________________________________________
8.
I can help you tomorrow
She said __________________________________________________________________________
9.
You should go to bed early
She told me
__________________________________________________________________________

10. I dont like chocolate

She told me
__________________________________________________________________________
11. I wont see you tomorrow
She said __________________________________________________________________________
12. I hadnt travelled by underground before I came to London
She said __________________________________________________________________________
13. He could read when he was three
She said __________________________________________________________________________
14. I was sleeping when Julie called
She said __________________________________________________________________________