PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE

PRESENT SIMPLE TO PAST SIMPLE

PRESENT CONTINUOUS TO PAST CONTINUOUS
PRESENT CONTINUOUS TO PAST CONTINUOUS
PAST SIMPLE TO PAST PERFECT
PRESENT PERFECT TO PAST PERFECT
PAST CONTINUOUS TO PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
WILL TO WOULD
CAN TO COULD
 How to report questions?
In direct questions, the auxiliary verb comes before the subject. In reported questions, the
subject comes before the verb/auxiliary verb. While reporting questions, we have to use an
appropriate reporting verb like ask. Reported questions do not end with a question mark.

Study the following examples:

•He said, ‘Where are you leaving?’

•He asked me when I was leaving. (NOT He asked me when was I leaving?)

•The girl said, ‘Do you know where the nearest post office is?’

•The girl asked me if I knew where the nearest post office was.
Yes/no questions are reported with if or whether.

•The boy asked his mother, ‘Is there anything in the fridge?’

•The boy asked his mother if there was anything in the

fridge.

•The teacher asked the students, ‘Do you believe in ghosts?’

•The teacher asked the students if they believed in ghosts.

Exercise
Report the following questions. Answers

1. She asked, ‘Will you help me?’ 1. She asked me if I would help her.

2. The stranger asked, ‘Do you know where 2. The stranger asked me if I knew where
Krishna lives?’ Krishna lived.

3. She asked, ‘May I know the truth?’ 3. She asked if she might know the truth.

4. She asked, ‘Have you met my cousin Jay?’ 4. She asked if I had met her cousin Jay.

5. The teacher asked the boy, ‘Have you paid 5. The teacher asked the boy if he had paid
the fee?’ the fee.
Here are some further examples using the imperative sentences above,
showing them in direct speech and indirect speech.

Direct Speech:
•She said, "Keep quiet!"
•"Please close the window", the teacher said
•He told her, "Go and lie down"
•She said, "Take the test next year instead“

Reported Speech:
•She instructed me to keep quiet
•The teacher asked me to close the window
•He told her to go and lie down
•She advised them to take the test next year instead
Here are some examples of direct speech changed into indirect
speech using negative imperatives.

Direct Speech:
•She said, "Don't keep talking!"
•"Please don't study too hard", the teacher said
•He told her, "Don't wait up for me"
•The doctor said, "Don't over eat"

Reported Speech:
•She instructed us not to keep keep talking
•The teacher asked them not to study to hard
•He urged me not to wait up for him
•The doctor advised me not to over eat
 PRACTICE

that she didn’t like the chocolate

that she wouldn’t see me tomorrow

that she was living in Paris for a few months

that she had visited her parents at the weekend

that she hadn’t eaten sushi before

 PRACTICE

that she hadn’t travelled by underground before she came to London

that they would help if they could

that she would do the washing-up later

that he could read when he was three

that she had been sleeping when Julie called

 EVALUATION
1. "Jane left the party early." He told me Jane had left the party early.

2. "I've never been to Brazil." She said she had never been to Brazil.

3. "I will stop smoking on Tuesday." She said she would stop smoking on Tuesday.

4. "We are not visiting Paris during our trip." He told me they weren't visiting Paris during their trip.

5. "He didn't take a shower." He told me he hadn't taken a shower.

 EVALUATION

6. "They won't be able to arrive early." She said they wouldn't be able to arrive early.

7. "We haven't seen the new play." She said they hadn't seen the new play.

8. "She forgot to bring the CDs." He told me she had forgotten to bring the CDs.

9. "I'm taking the train to Berlin." He told me he was taking the train to Berlin

10. "Lucy didn't go to university." He told me Lucy hadn't gone to university.