GRAMMAR:

REPORTED SPEECH
Introduction to Indirect Statement

SAS, GEP Level 8B, STM Campus

Direct vs Indirect Speech
1.  When we report what we or other people have said or thought, we can use “direct speech”
●
(reporting the exact words), but we usually use “indirect speech”. Normally, we use
quotation mark (speech mark) with “direct speech”.
○ Lovett said, “The operation has been a success.”
○ She said the operation had been a success.

2. The reporting verb “said/told” is normally used in reported speech. The different between
the two reporting verb is:
○ We always put an object after tell :
○ He told her (that) he felt ill.
○ We don’t put an object after say :
○ He said (that) he felt ill.

3. After “reporting verb”, that is optional.

○ Helen said (that) she would be back.
○ Helen told us (that) she would be back.
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No Changes
1. When we report immediately what someone says, or talk as if it was very recent, we can
use “reporting verb” in present tense, and we do not make tense change.
○ Helen says (that) she will be back.
○ Helen tells us (that) she will be back.

2. When the action in “reporting speech” is still happening or going to happen, the tense is
kept the same.
○ Helen said (that) she is currently working on the project.
○ She said (that) she is going to visit her grandma soon.
○ He said (that) he has broken his arm.

3. When the action in “reporting speech” is a fact and is unlikely to change.

○ He said (that) the sun rises from the east.

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Tense Changes
When “reporting verb” is in past tense, and we need to:
a. Change the tense (usually one tense backshift, so present tense => past tense)
b. Change the pronouns and nouns & adverbs of time and places
Direct Speech Reported Speech
Present Simple Past Simple
Present Continuous Past Continuous
Present Perfect Past Perfect
Past Perfect Past Perfect
Past Simple Past Perfect
Will Would
Must / Have to Had to
This That
Here There
Today That day
Yesterday The day before
Tomorrow The next/following day
Tonight That night
Next (week/month/year) The following (week/month/year)
Last (week/month/year) The previous (week/month/year)
A (week/month/year) ago A (week/month/year) before
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 Some Examples in Reported Statement.
Direct Speech: “I know the answer”, she said.
Indirect Speech: She said (that) she knew the answer.
Direct Speech: “I have done it”, she said.
Indirect Speech: She said (that) she had done it.
Direct Speech: “I will see you tomorrow”, she said.
Indirect Speech: She said (that) she would see me the following day..

Direct Speech: “You should see a doctor next month”, Helen said.
Indirect Speech: Helen told David (that) he should see a doctor the
following month.
Direct Speech: “Anna didn’t go shopping yesterday”, Helen said.
Indirect Speech: Helen told David (that) Anna hadn’t gone shopping the
previous day.
 GRAMMAR:
REPORTED SPEECH
Introduction to Indirect Questions

SAS, GEP Level 8B, STM Campus

Reported Question
1. Sometimes, you might need to report others’ questions. In order to do so, you can use
reported question.

2. When reporting question, there are some changes which are the same with reported
statement:
a. Change the tense (usually one tense backshift, so present tense => past tense)
b. Change the pronouns and nouns
c. Change the adverbs of time and places

3. When reporting question, there are some new changes:

a. Invert the Subject-Verb Relationship
b. Adding “if/whether” for Yes/No Question
c. Omit question mark “?”

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 Reported Question with Wh-Question
  1. The reported structure for Wh-Question needs to follow the same word other as
statement form (Verb + Subject Subject + Verb):
○ DQ: ”What temperature is the water?”, she asked.
IQ: She asked what the temperature the water was.

○ DQ: ”How long are you staying?”, she asked.

IQ: She asked me how long I was staying.

2. We do not include auxiliary verb “do/does/did” in reported question.

○ DQ: “What did you eat yesterday?”, she asked.
IQ: She asked what I ate the previous day.
Not She asked what I did eat the previous day.

○ DQ: “What does she get up?”, she asked.

IQ: She asked what time she gets up.
Not She asked what time she does get up. 8
 Reported Question with Yes/No Question
  1. The reported structure for Yes/No Questions to follow the same word other as statement
form (Verb + Subject Subject + Verb). We reported these questions by using “if/whether”.
○ DQ: ”Do you understand the question?”, she asked.
IQ: She asked if/whether we understood the question.
Not She asked if/whether we did understand the question.

○ DQ: “Are you tired?”, she asked.

IQ: She asked if/whether I was tired.

○ DQ: “Will you be at the party”, she asked.

IQ: She asked if/whether I would be at the party.
.

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 GRAMMAR:
REPORTED REQUESTS
AND COMMAND

SAS, GEP Level 8B, STM Campus

Reported Command
1. When reporting command, there are some changes according to the structure of the
reporting verbs for command. Usually, it is being either used with gerund or infinitive.

2. The most commonly used words for reporting command are “ask/tell”. We used told to
report stronger command, and ask for polite request.
○ DC: “Please turn on your computer.”
IC: She asked us to turn on our computer.

○ DC: “Turn on your computer.”

IC: She told us to turn on our computer.

○ DC: “Don’t turn on your computer.”

IC: She told us not to turn on our computer.

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