Grammar: Reported Speech

Direct speech is the exact words someone said or wrote.

Reported speech is retelling exactly what someone said or wrote, without using their actual words.

There are three types of Direct Speech A. statements

which can be reported: B. questions
C. commands/requests
Direct Speech Reported Speech
• STATEMENT • THAT-CLAUSE
They said (that) the plane would be late.
11
"The plane will be late, they said.
• QUESTION • WH-CLAUSE or IF-CLAUSE
"Why are you late?" she asked. She asked why I was late.
"Are you feeling well?" he asked me. He asked me if I was feeling well.
• COMMAND/REQUEST • TO-INFINITIVE
"Don't touch it!" he said. He told me not to touch it.
"Turn on the light, please, "he said. He asked me to turn on the light.
The most common reporting verbs are say, tell and ask.

• We use say with or without to+ personal object in direct speech but without to+ personal object in reported speech.
"I don't know what to do," he said to Mary.
He said (that) he didn't know what to do.
• We use tell in direct and reported speech with a personal object.
"I don't know where the cafe is", she told me.
She told Mary to wait outside the Principal's office.
Notes
• We can use say + infinitive.
The teacher said to study harder.
• We cannot use say about. We can use tell sb/speak/talk about instead.
He told us/spoke/talked about his experiences travelling in Canada.
• We use ask in reported questions and commands.
He said to me, "Please don't move!"
He asked me not to move.
He said, 'Do you like strawberries r
He asked me if I liked strawberries.

There are some common expressions with say, tell and ask. These are:
say say good morning etc, say a few words, say no more, say one's prayers, say sth, say so, say for certain, etc
tell tell the truth, tell a lie, tell sb the time, tell sb one's name, tell sb's fortune, tell a story, tell a secret, tell sb so,
tell sb the way, tell one from another, tell the difference, etc
ask ask a favour, ask the time, ask a question, ask the price, etc

1 Fill in the blanks with say, tell, speak or ask in the right form.
0 "I don't think he will be on time," he f3aid. 4 Father used to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . us a story before
1 Mark likes ......................... about his schooldays. we went to bed.
2 She ........................ the price of the hairdryer that 5 Sharon ................................. me to help her with
was in the sale. her homework.
3 He ....................... goodbye to his mother and left 6 "I can't .............. her secret," she ................ to me.
for school. 7 I think he will come but I can't ............... for certain.
90
 5a Grammar: Reported Sp
.......... j"" .....C.HANGING
. . . . . !. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FROM
. DIRECT INTO REPORTED SPEECH

• Verb tenses change as follows:

Direct Speech Reported Speech
Simple Present Simple Past
"I can't stand that boy, " she said. ---+ She said (that) she couldn't stand that boy
Present Continuous Past Continuous
"I'm having a nice time," she said. ---+ She said (that) she was having a nice time
Present Perfect Simple Past Perfect Simple
"I've booked my summer holiday, " he said. ---+ He said (that) he had booked his summer holiday.
Present Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous
"I've been waiting For you all morning," he said. ---+ He said (that) he had been waiting for me all morning
Simple Past Past Perfect
"I failed my driving test, " he said. ---+ He said (that) he had failed his driving test.
Simple Future Conditional
"I'll tidy my room tomorrow," she said. ---+ She said (that) she would tidy her room the next day.
Future Continuous Conditional Continuous
"I'll be working in Paris next year," he said. ---+ He said (that) he would be working in Paris the following
year.
Note: Past Perfect Simple and Continuous do not change their forms in Reported Speech.
• The following words also change:
Direct Speech Reported Speech
this/these that/those/the
here there
come go
bring take
He said to me, "Come and look at this bird. " He told me to go and look at that bird.
She said to me, "Stand here and wait for me. " She told me to stand there and wait for her.
• Pronouns and possessive adjectives change according to the meaning of the sentence.
Direct Speech Reported Speech
He said, "/ can't do it myself" He said {that) he couldn't do it himself
• Time expressions change as follows:
Direct Speech Reported Speech
tonight that night
now then, at that time, at once/immediately
now that since
today that day
yesterday the day before, the previous day
tomorrow the day after, the following day, the next day
tomorrow morning the morning after, the following morning/the next morning
last night the night before, the previous night
the day before yesterday two days before
the day after tomorrow in two days time/in two days
this week/month/year that week/month/year
last week/month/year/Monday etc the previous week/month/year/Monday etc
next week/month/year/Monday etc the following week/month/year/Monday etc
two days/years etc, ago two days/years etc, before

"He left last week," she said. ---+ She said (that) he had left the previous week/the week
before.
91
~ammar: Reported Speech

i THERE IS NO CHANGE IN THE UERB TENSES IN REPORTED SPEECH WHEN1

··········•···········································

• the sentence expresses a general
truth or permanent states and
conditions.
• the introductory verb is in the
Present, Future or Present Perfect
tense.
• the verb of the sentence is in the
Unreal Past
(e.g. 2nd type conditionals,
wishes, it's time, would rather,
suppose, as if)
• the following verbs are used:
had better, could, would, used
to, needn't have, should, might
and ought to.
• there is Past Simple or Past
Continuous in a Clause of Time.
• the sentence expresses sth which
is believed to be true. In this case
the verb tense can either change
or remain unchanged. However,
if the sentence expresses sth which
is not true, then the verb changes.
• it is up-to-date reporting.
My mother said, "It gets dark earlier
in the winter."
She says/will say/has said, "I can
cook well."
He said, "I would rather go out for
dinner."
She said, "It's time we went home. 11
Her boyfriend said, " I really ought to
go home."
She said, "I'd better consult the doctor
this evening."
She said, "When I was swimming, I
got cramp."
He said, "Ethiopia is a third-world
country." {true}
He said, "Ethiopia is a highly
developed country. " {false}
Anne said, "I've got a headache."
My mother said {that} it gets dark
earlier in the winter.
She says/will say/has said (that} she
can cook well.
He said (that} he would rather go out
for dinner.
She said (that) it was time they went
home.
Her boyfriend said (that) he really
ought to go home.
She said (that) she'd better consult the
doctor that evening.
She said {that) when she was
swimming, she got cramp.
He said (that) Ethiopia is/was a third-
world country.
He said (that} Ethiopia was a highly
developed country.
Anne said (that} she's got a headache.

2 Rewrite the following sentences in reported speech .

0 "Don't walk on the white carpet!" said the mother
to her son .
The mother told her Bon not to walk on the white
carpet.
"Egypt has a very long recorded history, "she said.
5 "Would it be possible to extend my club
membership?" Adrienne asked the manager.
6 "I have no intention of lending Nick my car," said
Diane.

2 "Do you think Terence will join us for dinner

tonight?" Joanne asked me . 7 "What did the car dealer tell you?" Isabelle asked me.

3 Peter said, "The waiter has made a mistake with the 8 "When I entered the house, there were footprints
bill." on the floor," she said to me.

4 "Stop picking on your younger sister, will you?" he 9 "I'd rather not leave before Leo arrives," Anna said.
said to his daughter.

92

'""'""'i"""'""MODAL UERBS IN REPORTED SPEECH
"""""!""""""'''"''''''''''''''''''"''''''
Modal verbs generally remain unchanged in reported speech. Some of them, however, change as follows:
must
• When must expresses obligation,
it changes into had to (when the
sentence in direct speech refers
to the present) or would have to
(when the sentence in direct
speech refers to the future).
• When must expresses advice,
duty or logical assumption, it does
not change or it changes into
should.
• mustn't usually remains
unchanged or it is expressed by
wasn't to/weren't to/couldn't or
a negative infinitive.
mn changes into:
• could when the sentence in direct
speech refers to the present.
• would be able to when
sentence refers to the future.
shall changes into:
• offered when it expresses
willingness to do sth.
• should when it asks for advice.
• would when it is used to ask for
information.
needn't changes into:
• didn't need to/didn't have to when
the sentence in direct speech refers
to the present or remains the same.
• wouldn't have to when the
sentence in direct speech refers
to the future.
my changes into:
• might when it expresses
probability.
• might/could when it expresses
permission or concession.
Direct Speech
He said, "You must try harder.
HQ smd, --, musr g~r my hmr cur. --
He said, "You must try that new
11
restaurant. {advice)
He said, "You must always lock the
11
door before you leave. (duty)
11
He said, "You must be tired. (logical
assumption)
He said to me, "You mustn't enter that
room."
Direct Speech
He said, "/ can help you. 11
the direct He said, "I can finish it tomorrow.
Direct Speech
He said, "Shall I open the door?"
He said, "What shall I do?"
He said, "When shall we arrive?"
Direct Speech
She said, ''You needn't worry.
She said, "You needn't give me a lift
tomorrow."
Direct Speech
He said "It may snow tonight.
He said "You may go."
5a Grammar: Reported Sp eel)
Reported Speech
11
He said {that) I had to try harder.
lie sa,d (that/ he would ht,vs ro get
his hair cut.
He said (that) I must/should try that
new restaurant.
He said (that) I must/should always
lock "the door before I leave/left.
He said (that) I must be tired.
He told me (that) I mustn't/wasn't to/
couldn't enter that room. or He told
me not to enter that room.
Reported Speech
He said {that} he could help me.
11
He said (that) he would be able to
finish it the following day.
Reported Speech
He offered to open the door.
He wondered what he should do.
He asked when they would arrive.
Reported Speech
11
She said I didn't need to/didn't have
to/needn't worry.
She said I wouldn't have to give her
a lift the following day.
Reported Speech
11
He said it might snow that night.
He said I might/could go.
93
 Oai1Grammar: Reported Speech

3 Rewrite the following sentences in reported speech.

The waitress said, "Shall I put the leftover pizza in 6 My lawyer said, "You needn't give me your final
a doggy bag for you?" answer now."

2 My boss said, "You needn't attend the meeting 7 Peter said, "I may not finish my project in time."
tomorrow."

8 The chairperson said, "We must meet again on

3 The supervisor said, "You mustn't overlook such a Saturday afternoon."
serious mistake again."

9 The assistant chef said, "What shall I do with the

4 Margaret said to the airhostess, "When shall we be extra pastry dough?"
landing?"

10 He said, "You must be very hungry."

5 Martin said, "I can give you a definite answer next
Friday."

i EXCLANATIONS -
··········1···········································
"YES" AND "NO" SHORT ANSWER - QUESTION TAGS

A. Exclamations are introduced in reported speech by exclaim, say or give an exclamation, with an exclamation of
surprise/horror/disgust/delight, thank, wish, call, etc. They usually become statements when reported and the
exclamation mark becomes a full stop.
Direct Speech Reported Speech
She said, "Happy Birthday!" She wished me (a) happy birthday.
"Yuki" she said when she saw the mouldy cake. She gave an exclamation of disgust when she saw the
mouldy cake.
He said, "You idiot!" He called me an idiot.

B. ''Yes" and "No" short answers are expressed in reported speech by subject+ appropriate auxiliary/introductory verb.
Direct Speech Reported Speech
"Will you come with me? he said. He asked me if I would go with him and I said I would.
11
Yes 11, I said.
"Can I have a pay riser he said. He asked (the boss) if he could have a pay rise and/but
11
No 0 , the boss replied. the boss refused/said he couldn't.

C. Question Tags
Question tags are omitted in reported speech. However, we can use the verb reminded as a suitable introductory
verb in order to retain their effect.
Direct Speech Reported Speech
"This isn't the first time she has made this mistake, He reminded me that it wasn't the first time (that) she had
is iW' he said. ➔ made that mistake.
94
 5a Grammar: Reported Sp

4 Turn the following sentences into reported speech.

"Will you lend me your car?" he said . "No," his 6 "That's revolting!" he said when he tasted the soup.
father said .

7 "The curry we ate at the restaurant made us ill, didn't

2 "What a wonderful present!" Frances said . it?" Joe said. "It certainly did;" Elizabeth replied .

3 "Well done! That was a wonderful performance,"

she said to them . 8 "You liar!" she said to him .

4 She said, "Be careful with that knife! It's very sharp!" 9 "Will you remind me to phone Jim later?" he said.
"Yes," I said.

5 "Good luck with the test," he said.

iINTRODUCTORY VERBS
..........!···········································

h, .. vuu .... ,u,,' Verbs Direct Speech Reported Speech

"Yes, I'll take the ;ob." He agreed to take the ;ob.
"I must be informed of your decision He demanded to be informed of my
II
now. decision immediately.
offer + infinitive "Shall I help you?" He offered to help me.
p-oinise "/ will write to you next week." He promised to write to me the next/
refuse following week.
h'eafen "No, I won't tell you the answer." He refused to tell me the answer.
"Slow down or I'll get out of the car. 11
He threatened to get out of the car if
I didn't slow down.
advise "You should see a doctor." He advised me to see a doctor.
mlow "You can leave early. 11
He allowed me to leave early.
ask "Please, don't shout at me." He asked me not to shout at him.
beg "Please , please, don't punish me." He begged me not to punish him.
command "Turn around slowly!" He rommanded her lo tum around slowly.
111COUrage "Go on, buy yourself a new earl" He encouraged me to buy a new car.
bbid "You mustn't talk during the test." He forbade us to talk during the test.
Nlruct "Turn left at the traffic lights." He instructed me to turn left at the traffic
+ sb + infinitive lights.
iMle "I'd like you to come to my wedding. 11
He invited me (to go) to his wedding.
aider "Stop talking at once!" He ordered me to stop talking.
permit "You may enter the palace. 11
He permitted me to enter the palace.
11111ind "Don't forget to post the letters." He reminded me to post the lelters.
'98 "Think about it very seriously." He urged me to think about it very
seriously.
Mlm "Don't believe a word." He warned me not to believe a word.
wont "I'd very much like you to come." He very much wanted me to go.
95
\ ~rammar: Reported Speech

accuse sb of "You lied to me. 11

He accused me of lying/having lied
to him.
admit (to) "Yes, I'm the culprit. 11
He admiffed {to) being the culprit.
apologise for "I'm sorry I missed the meeting. 11
He apologised for having missed the
+ gerund meeting.
deny 11
didn't lose the tickets.
/
11
He denied losing/having lost the tickels.
insist on "You must let me help you." He insisted on me/my letting him help
me.
suggest "Let's go to the park!" He suggested going to the park.
complain to sb "You're always late to work!" He complained to me about my
about+ gerund/noun lateness/being late to work.
agree "Yes, it is a foolish idea. 11
He agreed that it was a foolish idea.
claim "I've never seen her before. 11
He claimed that he had never seen
her/never to have seen her before.
complain "You never listen to me. 11
He complained that I never listened to him.
deny "No, I didn't see the accident." He denied that he had seen the accidert
exclaim + that-clause "What a horrible colour! 11
He exclaimed that it was a horrible co/OIi.
explain "Cheating in exams is a very serious He explained that cheating in exams
matter.11
was a very serious matter.
inform sb "The cheque for the car is in the post. 11
He informed me that the cheque for
the car was in the post.
promise "I'll be very careful." He promised that he would be very carefil.
suggest "You ought to try harder. " He suggested that I should iry harder.
explain to sb +why/how+ clause "That's how I recognised the film star." He explained to me how he had
recognised the film star.
wonder where/what/why/ He asked himself, "Why is she He wondered why she was unhappy.
how + clause (when the subject of the unhappy?"
introductory verb is not the same as
the subject in the indirect question)

wonder where/what/why/ He asked himself, "Where shall I buy He wondered where to buy her
how + infinitive (when the subject of her present from?" present from .
the infinitive is the same as the
subject of the verb)

5 Rewrite the following sentences in reported speech, using an appropriate introductory verb .

"Would you like to come to a show with me .4 "I'll give you the money back tomorrow," she said.
tonight?" he said.

5 She asked herself, "When shall I see him again?'

2 "Shall we buy some new furniture for the study?"
she said .
6 "Give us the money or we'll reveal your secret," the
blackmailers said to her.
3 "He's always moaning about his mother-in-law,"
she said .

96
 5a Grammar: Reported Sp

7 "Don't forget you have a doctor's appointment at 10 "It was John who wrote this graffiti on the wall,"
11 am," I said to him. said his brother.

8 "Please, please, give me one more chance," the 11 "Why don't we postpone the meeting for tomorrow?"
boy said to me. the boss said.

11111,,,., •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.......•..•..••••.••••••

9 "You will attend your aunt's wedding," my father 12 "We know you were lying in your testimony," the
said. policeman said.

. . . . . i!..........................................
f'IIMED TYPES
. OF REPORTED SPEECH

In everyday conversation, we use a mixture of statements, commands and questions. When changing them into reported
speech, we can connect them with the following linkers: and, as, adding that, and he added that, because, but, since,
and he/she went on to say, and he/she continued, explaining that, etc or the introductory verb in present participle
bm. Language features such as oh, well etc, which are used in direct speech, are omitted in reported speech.
Direct Speech Reported Speech
'Oh, it's very cold, " he said. "Shall I close the He remarked that it was very cold and offered to close
window?" -+ the window. (Oh is omitted.)
'He can't come," she said. "He has a meeting." -+ She said that he couldn't go as/because/since he had a
meeting.
Why don't you buy a Mini?" he said.
'They're very economical to run." -+ He suggested that I should buy a Mini, explaining that
they are/were very economical to run.

6 Turn the following info reported speech.

"I know that John's an adventurous businessman," 3 She went on to say, "I usually only teach beginner's
Paul said. "I'd never have expected him to get classes but since we're understaffed at the moment, I
mixed up with such a notorious firm, though." have to take an advanced class too."

2 "When I first came here," Susan said, " I had a 4 "I hope," he said, "that you'll consider taking over
hard time with the language, but now that I've been the shop when I retire as you've developed an
here for five years, I find I can communicate without excellent eye for antiques. And that's quite a
any difficulty." compliment, I assure you, coming from me."

97
 ,5a &Grammar: Reported Speech

5 "Who are you going to leave the house to?" I asked 11 "Oh, it looks as if we'll have to cancel the meeting
my uncle. "Perhaps," I went on, "you should leave it if Julia is going to be away," he said. "Do you know
to Sarah as she seems to be the most attached to it." when she'll be back?"

6 "Don't imagine that just because I've criticised you, I 12 "What do you think about going to a new
don't think you're a good musician," he said to me. restaurant tonight?" he said to his wife. "I've just
"With enough practice, I have no doubt that you will read about one that's meant to be very good."
be able to work as a professional."

7 "Is he going to accept the job offer," she asked, "or 13 "By the way, if anyone rings while I'm out," shetola
will he just continue to stagnate here until it's time her secretary, "please take a message and tell them
for him to retire?" that I won't be here until tomorrow afternoon."

8 "I've heard her say that she may give up her job
and open a restaurant," he said. "She's certainly a 14 "I might be able to come," he said to Sarah,
good enough cook to do it." "although I won't be able to let you know until
tomorrow."
e • • • • • • • • e • • e • • • e • e • • • • • • • • • • • (0 e • • • e e • • • • • • ♦ • • e • 0 • e • • • e • • ♦ • • • • 0 e ♦ ♦ I O t ~I

9 "I needn't have bothered to buy a spare tyre," she

said, "as I didn't have to change the old one after 15 "Shall I pass on the news to the staff," I asked him,
all." "or would you prefer I didn't until you've had a
chance to confirm it with the boss?"

10 "I couldn't believe my ears when I heard they'd split

up," she said to me. "Could you phone Jane to see 16 "Alright, I made a terrible mistake but I really didn't
if it's really true?" do it on purpose," she said.

98
 5a Grammar: Reported Sp

7 Rewrite the following dialogue in reported ( CONUERSATIONAL GRAMMAR )

speech.
Mr Jones: Mr Smith, would you come into my office,
9 Choose the correct item.
please? "What lie did Liz tell you this time?"
Mr Smith: Certainly, sir. "She claimed ......... before she was two."
Mr Jones: Look, we have a problem with the office A that she could write C about writing
Christmas party. Mrs White was orqanisina B to writinq D that she write
bul J,c LuJ
it, Lcc11 lule11 ill. 2 "What was Bob yelling about?"
Mr Smith: Would you like me to arrange it instead? "He warned ......... touch that wire."
Mr Jones: That would be wonderful! And you'll definitely A me to not C that I don't
get a gift basket for yourself and your wife for B that I not D me not to
your extra work.
3 "So, how is Anne getting to the airport?"
"She said that her brother ......... her a lift."
A would have given C should give
B would give D could be given
4 "Did they find out who had taken the money?"
"Yes. Robert finally admitted ......... it all."
A to spend C to have spent
B have spending D to having spent

5 "Why do you look so upset?"

"Mum refused ......... after my flat while I'm away."
A my looking C to looking
B to look D me to look
8 Rewrite the following passage in direct speech.
6 "What did the dietician say to Angela?"
The postman asked Mr Wood to sign for the parcel, "He advised . . . . . . . . . down on fats otherwise she
explaining that it had been sent by Recorded Delivery. would develop heart problems in later life."
Mr Wood exclaimed that it was the gardening book he A to cut C her to cut
had been waiting for, and wondered whether the B that she cuts D her cut
postman was interested in gardening. The postman said 7 "What did Ivan suggest?"
that he was very keen on it and that he had a very large "He suggested ......... on an excursion tomorrow."
garden that was difficult to look after. He asked if Mr A going C we to go
Wood could give him any advice on the subject, and Mr B us to go D to going
Wood offered to lend him the book. The postman
8 The firefighter ordered ......... the building at once.
accepted his offer gladly and thanked him.
A to everyone evacuating C to be evacuated
B everyone to evacuate D evacuating
9 "What's the matter with Terry and Paula?"
"They said that if the business continued to do so
badly they ......... sell the house."
A would have to C had to
B must D should
10 "How did Gina react when she arrived at her
surprise birthday party?"
"She exclaimed ......... a wonderful surprise."
A to be C being
B that it was D to being
gg