Reported Speech

1. Direct speech is the exact words a speaker used. In writing, use quotation marks.

Example: “Stand up and close the door,” said the mother.

- Indirect speech reports what a speaker said without using the exact words.

Example: The mother told her daughter to stand up and close the door.

2. The reporting verbs (say or tell) are usually in the past simple for both direct and

indirect speech.

Example: “Eat healthy food,” he said.

- Put a personal direct object or someone´s name after tell.

Example: She told me to eat healthy food.

- Do not put a personal direct object after say.

Example: I said he should be respectful towards me.

1. Imperatives

1. Imperatives use the base form of the verbs in direct speech.

Imperatives in indirect speech use the infinitive to report:

a/ Instructions: “Come on time”/ He said to come on time.

b/ Commands: “Wait.” / He told me to wait

c/ Requests: Could you please come early?” / He asked her to come early.

d/ Invitations: “Would you join us for dinner?” / I invited her to join us for dinner.

2. Use a negative infinitive (not+ infinitive) to report negative imperatives.

Example: “Don´t leave.” / He told me not to leave.

2. Statements
1. When the reporting verb is in the past simple, the verb in the indirect speech statement

is usually in a different tense from the verb in the direct speech statement.

A. Simple present ➢ Past simple

Example: He said, “It is sunny.” ➢ He said that it was sunny

B. Present continuous ➢ Past continuous

Example: “I am working” ➢ She said that she was working.

C. Present perfect ➢ Past perfect

Example: “I have never flown” ➢ He said that he had never flown

D. Simple Past ➢ Past perfect

Example: “I travelled” ➢ She said that she had travelled

E. Past continuous ➢ Past perfect continuous

Example: “I was fishing” ➢ he said that he had been fishing

2. In indirect speech the change of verb tense is optional when reporting:

A. something someone has just said.

Example: What did you just said? ➢ I said I am tired / I said I was busy.

B. something that is still true

Example: Tom said that the school needs money/ He said that the school needed money.

C. a general truth or scientific law.

Example: He said that everyone lies/ he said that everyone lied.

3. When the reporting verb is in the present simple, do not change the verb tense in

indirect speech.

Example: “I exercise every day” ➢ She says that she exercises every day