Created by

Steven Davies

B2.2 Unit 1
R E P O RT E D S P E E C H
 Listening
Exercise 1
1. Tina said that she had stayed at a hotel far away from the airport. True/False
1. Tina said that she had stayed at a hotel far away from the airport. True/False
2. Tina said that she hadn’t gone to a bar. True/False
2. Tina said that she hadn’t gone to a bar. True/False
3. Tina said that she had watched TV and fallen asleep. True/False
3. Tina said that she had watched TV and fallen asleep. True/False
4. Tina said that she had found a taxi. True/False
4. Tina said that she had found a taxi. True/False
5. Tina said that she had taken a city bus to the airport. True/False
5. Tina said that she had taken a city bus to the airport. True/False
6. Tina said that her flight had been delayed for nineteen hours. True/False
6. Tina said that her flight had been delayed for nineteen hours. True/False
7. Tina said that there had been a huge storm during the flight. True/False
7. Tina said that there had been a huge storm during the flight. True/False
8. Tina said that she hadn’t put her mask on. True/False
8. Tina said that she hadn’t put her mask on. True/False
9. Tina said that the flight had arrived in Hong Kong. True/False
9. Tina said that the flight had arrived in Hong Kong. True/False
 Direct
Directand
andIndirect
IndirectSpeech
Speech
Grammar
Grammar
• Both direct and indirect speech help us to talk about what someone else has said.
• You can answer the question ‘what did he/she say’ in two ways:

• By repeating the words spoken (direct speech)

• By reporting the words spoken (reported/indirect speech)
 Grammar
Grammar
Direct Speech
Direct Speech
• Direct speech repeats, or quotes, the exact words spoken.

• When we use direct speech in writing, we place the words spoken between quotation marks (“ “) and there
is no change in these words.
• We may be reporting something that’s being said now (for example, a telephone conversation), or telling
someone later about a previous conversation.

Examples

 She says, ‘What time will you be at home?’ and I said, ‘I don’t know!’

 ‘There’s a fly in my soup!’ screamed Simone.

 John said, ‘There’s an elephant outside the window.’

 Grammar
Grammar
Reported/Indirect
Reported/IndirectSpeech
Speech
• Reported or indirect speech is usually used to talk about the past, so we normally change the tense of the
words spoken.

• We use reporting verbs like ‘say’, ‘tell’, and ‘ask’, and we may use the word ‘that’ to introduce the reported
words. Speech marks are not used.

Examples

 She said, ‘I saw him.’ (direct speech)

 She said that she had seen him. (indirect speech)

 Nathan told me, ‘I play in a basketball team.’ (direct speech)

 Nathan told me that he played in a basketball team. (indirect speech)

 Indirect
IndirectSpeech
Speech
‘Say’
‘Say’and
and‘tell’
‘tell’
• Use ‘say’ when there is no indirect object (i.e. a recipient of the action of the main verb)

He said that he was tired.

Michael said that he had forgotten his passport.

Emma said that she was coming home.

Always use ‘tell’ when you say who was being spoken to (i.e. with an indirect object):

He told me that he was tired.

Michael told the customs officer that he had forgotten his passport.

Emma told her mother that she was coming home.

 Indirect Speech
Backstepping Verbs
It is not necessary to backstep the verb in reported If the main verb is in the past tense, then it will be
speech if the main verb is in the present. necessary to backstep the verb in reported speech.

• Michael says, ‘I live in Spain.’ • Michael said, ‘I live in Spain.’

• Michael says that he lives in Spain. • Michael said that he lived in Spain.

• Gabriela tells us, ‘I work really hard.’ • Gabriela told us, ‘I work really hard.’

• Gabriela tells us that she works really hard. • Gabriela told us that she worked really hard.

• Michelle says, ‘I play football for a professional • Michelle said, ‘I play football for a professional
team.’ team.’

• Michelle says that she plays football for a • Michelle said that she played football for a
professional team. professional team.
 Indirect
Indirect Speech
Speech
Backstepping Verbs
Backstepping Verbs
Simple Present Simple Present -> Simple Past

James said, ‘I eat plenty of vegetables.’ James said that he ate plenty of vegetables.

Mary told us, ‘I draw pictures in my notebook.’ Mary told us that she drew pictures in her notebook.

David confessed, ‘I don’t study hard enough.’ David confessed that he didn’t study hard enough.

William declared, ‘I believe in this team.’ William declared that he believed in that team.
 Indirect Speech
Indirect Speech
Backstepping
BacksteppingVerbs
Verbs

Simple Past (direct Speech) Simple Past -> Past PerfeCT

James agreed, ‘Dan made a big mistake.’ James agreed that Dan had made a big mistake.

Martina said, ‘I drank the coffee.’ Martina said that she had drunk the coffee.

Alison told me, ‘I did the homework.’ Alison told me that she had done the homework.

Mr Bates announced, ‘I broke the glass.’ Mr Bates announced that he had broken the glass.
 Indirect
IndirectSpeech
Speech
Backstepping
BacksteppingVerbs
Verbs
PRESENT PERFECT P R E S E N T P E R F E C T - > PA S T P E R F E C T

(DIRECT SPEECH) (INDIRECT SPEECH)

Amanda noted, ‘David has travelled a lot.’ Amanda noted that David had travelled a lot.

Wayne said, ‘I have won four trophies.’ Wayne said that he had won four trophies.

Ariana told me, ‘you have prepared dinner.’ Ariana told me that I had prepared dinner.

Mrs Smith observed, ‘the weather has improved.’ Mrs Smith observed that the weather had improved.
 Indirect
Indirect Speech
Speech
Backstepping Verbs
Backstepping Verbs

Present Continuous Present Continuous – Past Continuous

Jane told me, ‘you are driving too fast.’ Jane told me that I was driving too fast.

Neil informed us, ‘we are flying to Chicago.’ Neil informed us that they were flying to Chicago.

Belinda commented, ‘I am trying my best.’ Belinda commented that she was trying her best.

Mr Jones said, ‘I am working here.’ Mr Jones said that he was working there.
 Indirect
IndirectSpeech
Speech
Backstepping
BacksteppingVerbs
Verbs

Past Continuous Past Continuous -> Past Continuous Perfect

David said, ‘I was studying yesterday.’ David said that he had been studying yesterday.

Natasha told me, ‘you were talking too fast.’ Natasha told me that I had been talking too fast.

Carina stated, ‘we were playing football.’ Carina stated that they had been playing football.

Mr Wilson noted, ‘Daniel was speaking to the Mr Wilson noted that Daniel had been speaking to
manager.’ the manager.
 Indirect
Indirect Speech
Speech
Backstepping Verbs
Backstepping Verbs

SIMPLE FUTURE (WILL ->

SIMPLE FUTURE (WILL) WoulD)
Cassandra said, ‘I will leave tomorrow.’ Cassandra said that she would leave the next day.

Ian told me, ‘I won’t go to the party.’ Ian told me that he wouldn’t go to the party.

Mrs Roberts announced, ‘I will buy some food.’ Mrs Roberts announced that she would buy some
food.
Mr Coles confirmed, ‘I will fly to New York.’
Mr Coles confirmed that he would fly to New York.
 Indirect Speech
Backstepping Summary

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

Simple Present (He said, ‘I watch TV.’) Simple Past (He said that he watched TV.)

Simple Past (He said, ‘I watched TV last night.’) Past Perfect (He said that he had watched TV the night before.)

Present Perfect (He said, ‘I have watched TV.’) Past Perfect (He said that he had watched TV.)

Past Perfect (He said, ‘I had watched TV.’) Past Perfect (He said that he had watched TV.)

Present Continuous (He said, ‘I am watching TV.’) Past Continuous (He said that he was watching TV.)

Past Continuous (He said, ‘I was watching TV.’) Past Perfect Continuous (He said that he had been watching TV.)

Future Simple: (He said, ‘I will watch TV tomorrow’) Future Simple: (He said that he would watch TV the next day.

Can: (He said, ‘I can watch TV tomorrow.’) Could: (He said that he could watch TV the next day.)

May: (He said, ‘I may watch TV tomorrow.’) Might: (He said that he might watch TV the next day.)
Indirect
Indirect Speech
Speech
Backstepping (time expressions, etc)
Backstepping (time expressions, etc)
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Today That day
Now Then/at the moment
Yesterday The day before
… days ago … days before
Next year The following year
Tomorrow The next day/the following day
Here There
This That
Tonight That night
Last week The week before
 Task: convert the sentence from direct speech to indirect speech.

Indirect
IndirectSpeech
Speech
Exercise
Exercise11
1. Tom said, ‘I bought a new car yesterday.’

__________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Michael stated, ‘I watched a great movie last night.’

__________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Luke told me, ‘I need your help tomorrow.’

__________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Simone said, ‘I will go shopping next Sunday.’

__________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Daniela observed, ‘John has eaten a lot of food for dinner this evening.’

__________________________________________________________________________________________
 Indirect
IndirectSpeech
Speech
Exercise
Exercise11(answers)
(answers)
1. Tom said, ‘I bought a new car yesterday.’

Tom said that he had bought a new car the day before.

2. Michael stated, ‘I watched a great movie last night.’

Michael stated that he had watched a great movie the night before.

3. Luke told me, ‘I need your help tomorrow.’

Luke told me that he needed my help the next day.

4. Simone said, ‘I will go shopping next Sunday.’

Simone said that she would go shopping the following Sunday.

5. Daniela observed, ‘John has eaten a lot of food for dinner this evening.’

Daniela observed that John had eaten a lot of food for dinner that evening.
 Task: change the sentences in direct speech to indirect speech.

Indirect
IndirectSpeech
Speech
Exercise
Exercise22
1. David noted, ‘I have visited New York twice.’

__________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Belinda said, ‘I am visiting my parents next week.’

__________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Erica told me, ‘you spoke very well at the meeting yesterday.’

__________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Lucy announced, ‘my dog broke the cup on the table.’

__________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Mr Oakley commented, ‘I was watching television at home yesterday.’

___________________________________________________________________________________________
 Indirect
IndirectSpeech
Speech
Exercise
Exercise22(answers)
(answers)
1. David noted, ‘I have visited New York twice.’

David noted that he had visited New York twice.

2. Belinda said, ‘I am visiting my parents next week.’

Belinda said that she was visiting her parents the following week.

3. Erica told me, ‘you spoke very well at the meeting yesterday.’

Erica told me that I had spoken very well at the meeting the day before.

4. Lucy announced, ‘my dog broke the cup on the table.’

Lucy announced that her dog had broken the cup on the table.

5. Mr Oakley commented, ‘I was watching television at home yesterday.’

Mr Oakley commented that he had been watching television at home the day before.
 Task: correct the mistakes with the sentences in indirect speech

Indirect Speech
Exercise 3
1. James said, ‘I finished the activity last night.’

James said that he had finished the activity last night.

2. William told me, ‘I know a lot of people in Los Angeles.’

William told me that he knows a lot of people in Los Angeles.

3. Mary observed, ‘it snowed last night.’

Mary observed that it snowed the night before.

4. Andrea informed us, ‘I will travel by plane tonight.’

Andrea informed us that she will travel by plane that night.

5. Thomas declared, ‘I play the electric guitar.’

Thomas declared that he plays the electric guitar.

 Indirect Speech
Exercise 3 (answers)
1. James said, ‘I finished the activity last night.’

James said that he had finished the activity last night (the night before).

2. William told me, ‘I know a lot of people in Los Angeles.’

William told me that he knows (knew) a lot of people in Los Angeles.

3. Mary observed, ‘it snowed last night.’

Mary observed that it had snowed the night before.

4. Andrea informed us, ‘I will travel by plane tonight.’

Andrea informed us that she will (would) travel by plane that night.

5. Thomas declared, ‘I play the electric guitar.’

Thomas declared that he plays (played) the electric guitar.

 Indirect Speech
Indirect Speech
Reporting
ReportingQuestions
Questions
When we write questions in reported/indirect speech, we do so in the following way.

Matthew asked, ‘What time did you leave school?’ (direct speech)

Matthew asked what time I had left school. (reported speech)

Jenny asked, ‘Why didn’t you win the race?’ (direct speech)

Jenny asked why I hadn’t won the race. (indirect speech)

Michael inquired, ‘When did you leave the cinema?’ (direct speech)

Michael inquired when I had left the cinema. (indirect speech)

 Indirect
IndirectQuestions
Questions
Structure
Structure
• Indirect speech questions do not use question marks (?)

Indirect speech questions consist of a main clause + noun clause

She asked me, ‘why do you like football?’

She asked me why I liked football.

interrogative (‘why’) + subject (‘I’) + verb (‘liked’)

The indirect question is structured like a statement.

Paul inquired, ‘what did you eat last night?’

Paul inquired what I had eaten the night before.

interrogative (‘what’) + subject (‘I’) + verb (‘had eaten’)

 Indirect Question
Closed/Open Questions

Open Questions Closed Questions

David asked, ‘where will you go tomorrow?’ David asked, ‘will you go tomorrow?’

David asked where I would go the next day. David asked if I would go the next day.

Olivia asked, ‘why did you buy a cake?’ Olivia asked, ‘did you buy a cake?’

Olivia asked why I had bought a cake. Olivia asked if I had bought a cake.

Andrew inquired, ‘where are you travelling?’ Andrew inquired, ‘are you travelling?’

Andrew inquired where I was travelling. Andrew inquired if I was travelling.

Harriet wondered, ‘when did David arrive?’ Harriet wondered, ‘did David arrive?’

Harried wondered when David had arrived. Harriet wondered if David had arrived.
 Task: convert the direct questions into indirect questions

Indirect Questions
Exercise 1

1. Sarah asked, ‘where do you live?’

__________________________________________________________________________________________

2. David wondered, ‘when did the movie start?’

__________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Alan asked, ‘why did Paul write a letter?’

__________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Paula inquired, ‘how did the students travel to Paris yesterday?’

__________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Michael asked, ‘which dish did John eat at the restaurant?’

__________________________________________________________________________________________
 Indirect Questions
Exercise 1 (answers)

1. Sarah asked, ‘where do you live?’

Sarah asked where I lived.

2. David wondered, ‘when did the movie start?’

David wondered when the movie had started.

3. Alan asked, ‘why did Paul write a letter?’

Alan asked why Paul had written a letter.

4. Paula inquired, ‘how did the students travel to Paris yesterday?’

Paula inquired how the students had travelled to Paris the day before.

5. Michael asked, ‘which dish did John eat at the restaurant?’

Michael asked which dish John had eaten at the restaurant.