REPORTED SPEECH

I speak English.
“I speak English.” direct speech

He says that he speaks English. reported speech

(no backshift)

He said that he spoke English. reported speech

(backshift)
 Statements

1) If the sentence starts in the present, there is no backshift of tenses in

Reported speech.

Example: Susan, "I work in an office." Susan says that she works
in an office.

2) If the sentence starts in the past, there is often backshift of tenses in

Reported speech.

Example: Susan, "I work in an office." Susan said that she worked
in an office.
When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:

1. Pronouns

2. present tense verbs (3rd person singular)

3. place and time expressions

4. tenses (backshift)
 Backshift of tenses

from to

Simple Present Simple Past

Simple Past

Present Perfect Past Perfect

Past Perfect

will would

The verbs could, should, would, might, must, needn’t, ought to,
used to do not normally change.
Example:
He said, “She might be right.” – He said that she might be right.
 Shifting of expressions of time

Peter: "I worked in the garden yesterday."

Peter said that he had worked in the garden the day before.

this (evening) that (evening)

today/this day that day
these (days) those (days)
now then
(a week) ago (a week) before
the weekend before / the
last weekend
previous weekend
here there
next (week) the following (week)
tomorrow the next/following day
 Reported questions

If you put a question into Reported speech there are some steps which are the
same like in statements:
changing of the person,
backshift of tenses,
changing of expressions of time.

In Reported speech there is no question anymore, the sentence becomes a

statement.
That's why the word order is: subject - verb

Question without question words (yes/no questions):

Peter, "Do you play football?" - Peter asked me whether (if) I played football.

Question with question words:

Peter, "When do you play football?" - Peter asked me when I played football.
 Reported commands

The form is mostly: form of to tell +person + to + infinitive.

Affirmative commands

Father, "Do your homework.”

Father told me to do my homework.

Negative commands

Teacher, "Don't talk to your neighbour."

The teacher told me not to talk to my neighbour.
 Requests

The basic rule for requests is: introductory clause + ‚to‘ + infinite verb.
Example:
“Say hello to your mum.“
She asked me to say hello to my mum.

Advise expressions with must, should and ought are usually reported using
advise / urge.
Example:
“You must read that book.“
He advised / urged me to read that book.

The expression let’s is usually reported using suggest. In this case, there are
various possibilities for reported speech: gerund or statement with should.
Example:
“Let’s go to the cinema.“
He suggested going to the cinema.
He suggested that we should go.to the cinema.