UNIT 2 REPORTED SPEECH.

MEANING AND USE

1. Direct Speech is the exact words someone said: “I’ll go to

London,” she said. Quotation marks (“…”) are used in Direct
Speech.
Reported Speech is the exact meaning of what someone said
but not the exact words: She said she would go to London. Quotation
marks are not used in Reported Speech.
2. The verbs most commonly used to introduce the Reported
Speech are to tell and to say.
The verb tell is used to mention the hearer (the person spoke
to): Sarah’s boss told her she could leave early. Daniel tells me he is
ready.
The verb tell is used without an indirect object (e.g. her, me)
only in the expressions tell a story, tell the truth, tell a lie, tell
the time, tell you so.
The verb say is used when one doesn’t mention the hearer:
Sarah’s boss said she could leave earlier. Daniel says he is ready.
Sometimes to is used after say, especially when the words are
not reported: The boss wanted to say something to Sarah. What did
Matthew say to you?
3. In order to interpret what we hear or read the following
verbs can be used:
Introductory verbs Direct Speech Reported Speech

Verb + to-inf.
Agree “Yes, I’ll help you.” He agreed to help me
Offer “Shall I open the door?” He offered to open the door.
Promise “Of course I’ll pay you.” He promised to pay me.
Refuse “No, I won’t go with you.” He refused to go with us.
Threaten “I’ll punish you.” He threatened to punish me.
Verb + sb. + to-inf.
Advise “You should see a He advised me to see a lawyer.
lawyer.”
Ask “Could you help me?” He asked me to help him.
Beg “Please, don’t hurt her.” He begged me not to hurt her.
Command “Stand up!” He commanded to stand up.
 Invite “Will you go out with He invited me to go out with
me?” him.
Order “Leave the cat!” He ordered me to leave the
cat.
Remind “Don’t forget to ring Ann.” She reminded me to ring Ann.
Warn “Don’t go near her.” She warned me not to go near
her.
Verb + gerund
Admit “Yes, I did it.” He admitted doing/having
done it.
Accuse sb. of “You took the money.” He accused me of taking/
having taken the money.
Apologise for “I’m sorry I came so late.” He apologised for
coming/having come so late.
Boast “I’m the fastest of all.” He boasted of/about being the
of/about fastest of all.
Complain to “I have a toothache.” He complained to me of
sb. of having a toothache.
Deny “I didn’t take the book.” He denied taking/having
taken the book.
Insist on “You must come with us.” He insisted on me/my going
with them.
(Say one) “I’d rather do it myself.” He said he preferred doing/to
prefers do it himself.
Suggest “Let’s have a party.” He suggested having a party.
Verb + that clause
Agree “Yes, it’s a big house.” He agreed that it was a big
house.
Complain “You’re always lying to me.” He complained that I was
always lying to him.
Deny “I didn’t take that book.” He denied that he had taken
the book.
Explain “That’s why I didn’t take it.” He explained to me why/that
he hadn’t taken it.
Exclaim/ “What a sunny day it is.” He exclaimed/remarked that
remark it was a sunny day.
Promise “Of course I’ll help you.” He promised that he would
help me.
Suggest “You’d better see a doctor. He suggested that I (should)
see a doctor.
 NOTE: admit, advise, boast, insist, threaten, warn, remind can
also be followed by a that-clause in Reported Speech.
4. Reported Speech commonly occurs in continuous
paragraphs of reported language, not in unrelated sentences. To
hold it together such phrases and words as she went on to say,
he continued, he added that, and, as, because, but, since,
while, then, etc. are used:
“I’m really tired,” she said to him. “Can you make me a cup of
coffee?”
She exclaimed that she was tired and asked him to make her a cup of
coffee.
We can report:
– statements
– questions
– commands, requests, suggestions, etc.