ENGLISH COURSE – INTERMEDIATE 2

TEACHER: DANTE PULACHE

 REPORTED STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS
• We use reported speech to say what someone said. In reported speech the verb usually
goes one tense “back”.
Present simple → past simple Past simple → past perfect Am / is / are going to → was / were going to
Present continuous → past Past perfect → past perfect Would / could → would / could
continuous Will / can → would / could
Present perfect → past perfect

• If something is reported which is always true, the tense usually stays the same.
• To reports statements we usually use say and tell. These verbs are often followed by that,
however, that can be omitted.
→The doctor told me [that] was stressed.
→ I said I knew that.
• To report questions we usually use ask with a question word. For yes / no questions we use
if or whether. The word order is the same as in statements.
❑ Where are you from? → She asked me where I was from.
❑ Do you want to dance? → I asked her if she wanted to dance.

• To report questions we usually use ask with a question word. For yes / no questions we use
if or whether. The word order is the same as in statements.
• In reported statements other words can also change, such as pronouns, places and time
references.
❑ I / we → I / he / she / they
❑ Here → there
❑ Last week → the week before
❑ Tomorrow → the next day
❑ Yesterday → the day before / the previous day
LET’S PRACTICE
ENGLISH COURSE – INTERMEDIATE 2
ESL TEACHER: DANTE PULACHE
REMEMBER
 REPORTED STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS
• We use reported speech to say what someone said. In reported speech the verb usually
goes one tense “back”.

Present simple → past simple Past simple → past perfect Am / is / are going to → was / were going to
Present continuous → past continuous Past perfect → past perfect Would / could → would / could
Present perfect → past perfect Will / can → would / could

• If something is reported which is always true, the tense usually stays the same.
• To reports statements we usually use say and tell. These verbs are often followed by that,
however, that can be omitted.
→The doctor told me [that] was stressed.
→ I said I knew that.
• To report questions we usually use ask with a question word. For yes / no questions we use
if or whether. The word order is the same as in statements.
❑Where are you from? → She asked me where I was from.
❑Do you want to dance? → I asked her if she wanted to dance.

• To report questions we usually use ask with a question word. For yes / no questions we use
if or whether. The word order is the same as in statements.
• In reported statements other words can also change, such as pronouns, places and time
references.
❑ I / we → I / he / she / they
❑ Here → there
❑ Last week → the week before
❑ Tomorrow → the next day
❑ Yesterday → the day before / the previous day
NOW
 REPORTED REQUESTS AND COMMANDS

• To report requests we use ask + object + to infinitive.

E.g.: They asked me to observe my neighbours.
• Pronouns, places and time reference can also change (see reported statements and
questions).
• We report commands with tell + object + to infinitive.
E.g.: They told me to leave immediately.