Ingles 10ano Reported Speech Exerc 20121129

GINÁSIOS DA EDUCAÇÃO DA VINCI
UNIDADE DE VILA NOVA DE GAIA

________ _________________________________ Inglês 10º ano IDDoc:______Correcção IDDOC:_____
Reported Speech
We use reported speech when we are saying what other people say, think or believe.
 He says he wants it.

 We think you are right.
 I believe he loves her.
 Yesterday you said you didn't like it but now you do!
 She told me he had asked her to marry him.
 I told you she was ill.
 We thought he was in Australia.
When we are reporting things in the present, future or present perfect we don't change the tense.
 He thinks he loves her.

 I'll tell her you are coming.
 He has said he'll do it.
When we tell people what someone has said in the past, we generally make the tense 'more in the
past'.
 You look very nice. = I told him he looked very nice.

 He's working in Siberia now. = She told me he was working in Siberia now.
 Polly has bought a new car. = She said Polly had bought a new car.
 Jo can't come for the weekend. = She said Jo couldn't come for the weekend.
 Paul called and left a message. = He told me Paul had called and had left me a message.
 I'll give you a hand. = He said he would give me a hand.
However, when we are reporting something that was said in the past but is still true, it is not
obligatory to make the tense 'more in the past'. The choice is up to the speaker. For example:
"The train doesn't stop here."
 He said the train doesn't stop here.

 He said the train didn't stop here.
"I like Sarah."
 She said she likes Sarah.

 She said she liked Sarah.
When we are reporting what was said, we sometimes have to change other words in the sentence.
We have to change the pronoun if we are reporting what someone else said. Compare these two
sentences. In each case the person actually said "I don't want to go."
 I said I didn't want to go.

 Bill said he didn't want to go.
Rua Joaquim Nicolau de Almeida, 86, 4430-116 Vila Nova de Gaia

Emails: davinci.vngaia@gmail.com ou vngaia@davinci.com.pt
Telefones: 91 326 13 37, 91 326 13 57 e 22 099 11 53
Actividade Educativa http://www.davinci.com.pt/vngaia/
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We have to change words referring to 'here and now' if we are reporting what was said in a
different place or time.
Compare these two sentences. In each case the person actually said "I'll be there at ten
tomorrow."
 (If it is later the same day) He said he would be there at ten tomorrow.
 (If it is the next day) He said he would be there at ten today.
Now compare these two sentences.
 (If we are in a different place) He said he would be there tomorrow at ten.

 (If we are in the place he is coming to) He said he would be here at ten tomorrow.
Tense changes
"I'm going swimming" – She said she was going swimming.
"I haven't seen the film" – She said she hadn't seen the film.
"I have been working all morning" – She said she had been working all morning.
"I was working all week" – She said she had been working all week.
"He went on holiday to Greece" – She said he had gone on holiday to Greece.
Sentences that are already in the "had done" form remain the same:
"I hadn't seen him before" – She said she hadn't seen him before.
Reporting modal verbs
Modal verbs also go back one tense.
Will becomes would.
For example: "I will see him later" – She said she would see him later.
Can becomes could.
For example: "I can swim" – She said she could swim.
May becomes might.
For example: "It may become colder over night" – He said it might become colder over night.

Telefones: 91 326 13 37, 91 326 13 57 e 22 099 11 53
Direct speech using would, could, might and should all stay the same in reported speech.
"You should speak more" – He said I should speak more.
Reporting questions
When you report questions, the word order changes to look like a normal statement.
For example: "Can you help me?" – She asked me if I could help her.
"What's the time?" – He asked her what the time was.
Other changes
Time expressions also change in reported speech.
today – that day
tomorrow – the day after / the next day
yesterday – the day before / the previous day
now – then
next week – the week after
last week – the week before / the previous week
Other expressions that change:
here – there
this – that
Exercises
Telefones: 91 326 13 37, 91 326 13 57 e 22 099 11 53
Finish the sentences using Reported speech. Always change the tense, although it is sometimes not
necessary.
1) Andrew: "Clean the blue bike!"
Andrew told me .
2) Jessica: "Write a text message!"
Jessica told me .
3) Nelly: "Help Peter's sister!"
Nelly told me .
4) Fred: "Wash your hands!"
Fred told me .
5) Anna: "Open the window!"
Anna told me .
6) Tom: "Come at 8!"
Tom told me .
7) Teacher: "Do your homework!"
The teacher told me .
8) Doris: "Dance with me!"
Doris told me .
9) Sabine: "Meet Sandy at the station!"
Sabine told me .
10) Victoria: "Check your e-mails!"
Victoria told me .
Finish the sentences using Reported speech. Always change the tense, although it is sometimes not
necessary.
1) Karen: "Don't play football in the garden!"
Karen told me .
Telefones: 91 326 13 37, 91 326 13 57 e 22 099 11 53
2) Teacher: "Don't forget your homework!"

The teacher reminded me .
3) Mike: "Don't shout at Peter!"
Mike told me .
4) Yvonne: "Don't talk to your neighbour!"
Yvonne told me .
5) Denise: "Don't open the door!"
Denise told me .
6) Marcel: "Don't sing that song!"
Marcel reminded me .
7) Jane: "Don't watch the new film!"
Jane advised me .
8) Walter: "Don't ring Romy on Sunday!"
Walter told me .
9) Lisa: "Don't fly via Paris!"
Lisa advised me .
10) Jamie: "Don't eat so much junk food!"
Jamie reminded me .

Telefones: 91 326 13 37, 91 326 13 57 e 22 099 11 53

Ingles 10ano Reported Speech Exerc 20121129

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GINÁSIOS DA EDUCAÇÃO DA VINCI

UNIDADE DE VILA NOVA DE GAIA

 He says he wants it.

 He thinks he loves her.

 You look very nice. = I told him he looked very nice.

"The train doesn't stop here."

 He said the train doesn't stop here.

"I like Sarah."

 She said she likes Sarah.

 I said I didn't want to go.

Rua Joaquim Nicolau de Almeida, 86, 4430-116 Vila Nova de Gaia

Now compare these two sentences.

 (If we are in a different place) He said he would be there tomorrow at ten.

"I'm going swimming" – She said she was going swimming.

"I haven't seen the film" – She said she hadn't seen the film.

"I was working all week" – She said she had been working all week.

"He went on holiday to Greece" – She said he had gone on holiday to Greece.

"I hadn't seen him before" – She said she hadn't seen him before.

Reporting modal verbs

Modal verbs also go back one tense.

For example: "I can swim" – She said she could swim.

Rua Joaquim Nicolau de Almeida, 86, 4430-116 Vila Nova de Gaia

"You should speak more" – He said I should speak more.

"What's the time?" – He asked her what the time was.

Time expressions also change in reported speech.

today – that day

tomorrow – the day after / the next day

yesterday – the day before / the previous day

next week – the week after

last week – the week before / the previous week

Other expressions that change:

2) Teacher: "Don't forget your homework!"

Rua Joaquim Nicolau de Almeida, 86, 4430-116 Vila Nova de Gaia

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