REPORTED SPEECH AND PASSIVE VOICE

DAHIANA LEAL SOTO 1

Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Carretera Transpeninsular, Ensenada-Tijuana,

1

No.3917, Colonia Playitas C.P. 22860

Ensenada, Baja California, México
*dahiana.leal@gmail.edu.mx

When we want to communicate or report what another person has said, there are two ways
of doing so: direct speech and indirect or reported speech.

When we want to communicate or report what another person has said, there are two ways
of doing so: direct speech and indirect or reported speech.

Reported Speech

With reported speech, as opposed to direct speech, we do not use quotation marks and it
does not have to be word for word.

“I am going to London next week,” she said.

“Do you have a pen I could borrow,” he asked.

Alice said, “I love to dance.”

Chris asked, “Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow night?”

❖ We sometimes use “that” in affirmative and negative sentences to introduce what the
other person has said.

❖ In interrogative sentences, “if” or “whether” are used.

❖ In general, when we use indirect or reported speech, the verb tense changes.

❖ Time expressions also change in reported speech.

 Modal Verbs

The verb tense also changes in indirect or reported speech with some of the modal verbs.
 Direct speech Indirect speech
Will Would
She said, “I’ll teach English online She said she would teach English online
tomorrow” tomorrow.
Can Could
She said, “I can teach English online” She said she could teach English online
Must Had to
She said, “I must have a computer to She said she had to have a computer to
teach English online” teach English online
Shall Should
She said, “What shall we learn She said what we should learn today
today?”
May Might
She said, “May I open a new She asked if she might open a new
browser?” browser

Note: With “would”, “could”, “should”, “might” y “ought to”, the verb tense does not
change.

Note: Below is a table with an explication of how expressions of time change in indirect or
reported speech.
 When the present stands…

If the statement remains true, the verb is usually kept in the present tense. For example:

I’m staying at my mother’s / He said he is staying at his mother’s.

(if he is still there).

I love chocolate / She said she loves chocolate.

(we can assume that this is a permanent state).

Passive Voice

Passive voice is used when:

➢ The focus is on the action.

It is not important or not known, however, who or what is performing the action.

Example: "A letter was written."

The focus, here, is on the fact that a letter was written. We don't know, however, who

wrote it.

➢ Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice.

Example: A vase was broken.

Focus, here, is on the fact that a vase was broken, but we don't blame anyone.

Compare this to: "You broke the vase."

STRUCTURE

Subject + the appropriate form of to be + Past Participle

To be is put in the tense of the active voice main verb.

Rewriting active sentences in passive voice,

note the following:

■ The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.

■ The subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is
dropped).
 Impersonal Passive:

We use the impersonal form "it is..."

This is only possible with verbs of perception…

■ It is said that...

■ It is thought that...

■ It is believed that...

■ It is known that...

It is also common that we start the passive form of these sentences

with the subject of the that-clause…

■ They say that the planet is in danger.= The planet is said to be in danger.

■ They think that women live longer than men. = Women are thought to live longer.

In conclusion, we use Reported Speech when we want to tell someone what someone said,
on the other hand, four big reasons you might want to use the Passive Voice are to
emphasize the Action, create a sense of Anonymity, fosters objectivity, and also imbues
authority.
References…

English Grammar - Passive Voice. (9 de agosto de 2018). Learn English - Grammar,

Vocabulary, Speaking, Exercises, Lessons.

https://www.myenglishpages.com/english/grammar-lesson-passive-voice.php

El "reported speech" en inglés. (26 de febrero de 2020). British Council.

https://www.britishcouncil.es/blog/reported-speech-english

English lesson: Direct and Reported Speech. (5 de mayo de 2018). Curso de inglés

online. Tu sitio para aprender inglés gratis. https://www.curso-

ingles.com/en/learn/courses/advanced-level/direct-and-reported-speech/direct-and-
reported-speech