Reporting statements

I want to be a
photographer.

Daisy Zoe
• ‘I want to be a photographer,’ Daisy told
Zoe.
• Daisy told Zoe that she wanted to be a
photographer.
What are the differences between the
following sentences?
• ‘‘II want
want to be a photographer,’’ Daisy
told Zoe.
she wanted
• Daisy told Zoe (that)she wanted to be
a photographer.
We use reported speech
when we are telling
someone what another
person said or thought.
When we report statements in simple
present tense, follow these rules:
1. We DO NOT use quotation marks.

‘I want to be a photographer,’ Daisy told

Zoe.

Daisy told Zoe that she wanted to be a

photographer.
2. We use a reporting verb, e.g. said,
told, added, explained, etc.
There’s a huge
exhibition in the
City Hall.

Zoe said (that) there was a huge

exhibition in the City Hall.
The word that after the reporting verb can
be omitted.
Your turn….
• ‘I like watching films,’ Rachel said.
• Rachel (that)
said she liked watching films.

• ‘I love ballet,’ said Bella. ‘I want to be a

ballet dancer,’ she added.
• Bella (that) she loved ballet. She
(that) shesaid
wanted to be a ballet dancer.
added
3. We change the verb tense from the
simple present to the simple past.

I have two tickets

of the exhibition.

Zoe told Daisy that she had two tickets

of the exhibition.
Your turn….
• ‘You have my ticket,’ said Jenny.
• Jenny said that I had her ticket.

• ‘I plan to take you to a painting exhibition

next week,’ our Art teacher told us.
• Our Art teacher told us that she planned
to take us to a painting exhibition.
4. We change pronouns and possessive
adjectives, e.g. I he/she, your my/our.

I want to join the

art club.

Daisy told Zoe (that) she wanted to

join the art club.
 Personal pronouns changes

I / you he / she
we / you they
me / you him / her
us / you them
Possessive adjectives changes

My / your his / her

Our / your their
Mine / yours his / hers
Ours / yours theirs
Your turn….
• ‘I finish my drawing,’ Candy told Michelle.
• Candy told Michelle (that) she
finished
drawing.
her

• ‘My brother is the chairperson of the school

Drama Club,’ Luke told Eric.
• Luke toldEric (that) brother
his the
chairperson
was of the school Drama Club.
5. We change the time words,
e.g. now then, tomorrow the next day.

The exhibition
opens today.

Daisy said that the exhibition opened

that day.
 Change the time words
now then

today that day

this afternoon that afternoon

this evening that evening

tonight that night

tomorrow the following/next day

yesterday the day before

Your turn….
• ‘The art festival opens next month,’ said the
manager.
• The manager said the art festival opened
the following month .

• ‘I plan to take some of you to a painting

exhibition this weekend,’ our Art teacher told
us.
• Our Art teacher told us she planned
to take some of us to a painting
exhibition that weekend .