We use reported speech when we want to reproduce what somebody says or said.

When we report what somebody said in the past we have to change the tense(s) we use in reported speech. These tenses usually go one step back into the past. Ex: I feel tired, he said. He said that he felt tired.

PRESENT SIMPLE PAST SIMPLE Personal pronouns change to the PRESENT CONTINUOUS PAST CONTINUOUS third person singular or plural, except PAST SIMPLE PAST PERFECT when the speaker reports his own PRESENT SIMPLE PAST SIMPLE We Personal use reported pronouns speech change when to the PAST CONTINUOUS PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS words: PRESENT CONTINUOUS PAST CONTINUOUS we third want person to reproduce singular what or plural, except PRESENT PERFECT PAST PERFECT PAST SIMPLE PAST PERFECT somebody when the says speaker or said. reports When his own PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS I like your new bike, Mary told him PAST PERFECT we words: report what CONTINUOUS somebody said PAST PERFECT PAST PERFECT PAST CONTINUOUS Mary told him that she liked his new CONTINUOUS PRESENT PERFECT PAST in thePERFECT past we have to change PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS PAST PERFECT bike. PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS the I like tense(s) your new we use bike, in Mary told him SIMPLE FUTURE PRESENT CONDITIONAL I PAST have never been to the zoo, I said PAST PERFECT PRESENT CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONDITIONAL reported MaryPERFECT told speech. him that These she tenses liked his new to my friend. PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS CAN COULD usually bike. go one step back into I told my friend that I had never been SIMPLE FUTURE PRESENT CONDITIONAL MAY MIGHT the I past. have never been to the zoo, I said zoo. CONDITIONAL PRESENT CONDITIONAL to the PERFECT MUST MUST OR HAD TO Ex: to my I feel friend. tired, he said. CAN COULD He I told saidmy that friend he felt that tired. I had never been MAY MIGHT to the zoo. We do not need to change the MUST MUST OR HAD TO

Time/place references are TODAY NOW YESTERDAY TOMORROW NEXT WEEK/MONTH LAST WEEK/MONTH AGO THIS (TIME) THIS/THAT / + NOUN HERE GO

also changed in reported speech: THAT DAY THEN THE DAY BEFORE THE NEXT DAY THE FOLLOWING WEEK/MONTH THE WEEK/MONTH BEFORE BEFORE THAT THE + NOUN THERE COME

Put the following statements into reported speech. Use the introductory verb in the past. Then, match the sentences with the right picture. Put the following statements into reported speech. Use the
1.

tense if the reporting verb is in the present, or if the original In reported statements we often usethe We do not need to change statement was about something the verbstense say if and We use thetell. reporting verb is in that is still true: 'say' when there is no or indirect object: the present, if the Time/place references are also In reported changed statements in reported weoriginal often speech: use Mary wants to go to the disco, He said that he was tired. statement was about We something the verbs say and tell. use TODAY THAT DAY Peter says. Always use 'tell' when you say who that isthere still true: 'say' when is no indirect object: NOW THEN was being spoken to (i.e. with Mary wants to go to an the disco, He said that he was tired. Mary YESTERDAY THE DAY BEFORE Peter says that wants to go indirect object): Peter says. Always use 'tell' when you say who THE NEXT DAY to the disco. TOMORROW He told me that he was tired. was being spoken to (i.e. with an NEXT WEEK/MONTH THE FOLLOWING WEEK/MONTH Marys boyfriend lives in Paris, When we use say indirect Peter says with that an Mary wants to go indirect object): THE WEEK/MONTH BEFORE Sue told me. LAST WEEK/MONTH object weto must disco. use the preposition He toldthe me that he was tired. AGO BEFORE to before the indirect object: Marys lives in Paris, When we useboyfriend say with an indirect THIS (TIME) THAT Sue told me that Marys He said to me that she was very Sue told me. object we must use the preposition THIS/THAT / + NOUN THE + NOUN boyfriend lives in Paris. happy to be with him. to before the indirect object: HERE THERE Sueto told me that Marys He said me that she was very GO COME boyfriend lives in Paris. happy to be with him.

Mary and Paulshe are will going to get married nextbirthday, week, Jim said. 2. 1. If Mum has time, make a cake for your she said. If Mum has father time, she will me make a cake for your birthday, she said. 3. 2. I often ask my to help with my homework, Bill said. often ask my father to help me with homework, Bill said. 4. 3. He I spent the afternoon reading before his my wife arrived, Mary He spent the because afternoon reading before his wife arrived, said. 5. 4. Im very happy I have just got my driving license,Mary I said. happy because I have just got driving license, I said. 6. 5. WeIm havevery been shopping this afternoon, my my friends said. We have been this afternoon, my friends said. 7. 6. If she accepts me, shopping we will get married in June, Peter told me. If says she accepts me, we will get married in June, Peter told 8. 7. Dave he loves playing computer games, my brother toldme. me. Dave says he party. loves playing my Jim brother told me. 9. 8. I cant go to the Ive gotcomputer a terrible games, headache, said. I cant to angry the party. Ive terrible headache, Jim said. 10. 9. Bills father go gets when his got sonaarrives late, they said. Bills father angry when his son arrives they said. 11. 10. She doesnt likegets doing the housework. She says late, it is boring, I said. She like doing housework. She says it is said. boring, I said. 12. 11. John gotdoesnt a big present for the his last birthday!, his brother got a big present his last birthday!, his brother said. 13. 12. MyJohn father must travel a lotfor because hes a salesman, she said. My father must travel lot because hes a salesman, 14. 13. Hes got the biggest nose a I have ever seen, Marta said. she said. Hes got so the biggest nose I have ever seen, Marta said. 15. 14. If he drives fast, he will have an accident, his friend said. he drives fast, hegot willan have an accident, friend said. 16. 15. He If studied very so hard and excellent mark, his teacher said. He studied very hard and got an excellent mark, teacher said. 17. 16. I want to be a basketball player when I grow up, Timhis said. I want to be people a basketball player when grow she up, Tim said. 18. 17. There are three waiting at the bus I stop, said. 18. There are three people waiting at the bus stop, she said.

introductory verb in the past. Then, match the sentences with the Mary and Paul are going to get married next week, Jim said. right picture.