REPORTED SPEECH

DIRECT SPEECH
 We usually put direct speech in quotation marks after a reporting verb
(ask/told/reply…)
Ex: Mark said, “I need you here”
 We can also put direct speech before a reporting verb with its subject or in
the middle of two parts of direct speech
Ex: “That’s too late”, he said
 DIRECT SPEECH
 We used indirect speech to report the meaning of what was said, not the
exact words.
Ex:
Direct speech : they said, “it’s a strange story”
Indirect speech: they said (that) it was a strange story
WORD FOR PLACES, TIMES AND PEOPLE

Direct speech Indirect speech

I He, she
You He, she, they
Personal pronouns
We They
They They
He, she He, she, I
My His, her, my
Your His, her, my
Possessive pronouns His, her His, her
Their Their
Our Their
WORD FOR PLACES, TIMES AND PEOPLE
  Direct speech Indirect speech
Here There
places This That
These Those
Now Then; at that time
Yesterday The day before; the previous day
Today That day
Tomorrow The next day; the following day
Time This (week/month/year) That (week/month/year)
Next (week/year/month) The following(week/year/month)
The (week/year/month) before
Last (week/month/year)
The previous (week/year/month)
TENSE IN INDIRECT SPEECH

Direct speech Indirect speech

Present simple Past simple

Present progressive Past Progressive

Past simple
Past perfect
Present perfect
MODALS IN INDIRECT SPEECH
Shall Should

Will Would

Can Could
Modal verb

May Might

Must Must/Had to
REPORTING VERBS WITH THAT-CLAUSES
 We use verbs such as mention or say before that-clauses
Ex: “I’ve been ill” >>>>>>> She mentioned that she’d been ill
“it’s cold” >>>>>>>>>>Kara said that it was cold
 After a reporting verbs such as tell and assure we must include an object (the
hearer)
Ex: “She has gone home” >>>>>> He told me that she had gone home
“You’ll be paid” >>>>>> I assured them that they would be paid
 After a reporting verbs such as say, we can use to + object before a that-
clause.
Ex: “I’m not ready.” >>>>> He said (to me) that he wasn’t ready
 After a reporting verb such as agree, we use with + object before a that –
clause.
Ex: “You’re right. There is a mistake”
>>>>> He agreed (with me) that there was a mistake
 REPORTING ORDERS AND REQUESTS

 We usually use ask or tell to report orders or requests :

Ex: Please don’t smoke >>>>> I asked him not to smoke
Don’t touch it >>>>>>>>>> I told him not to touch it
 REPORTING VERBS WITH
INFINITIVE AND GERUND
 After reporting verbs such as invite and encourage, we include an object
before an infinitive. (ask, expect, order, remind, urge, warn…..)
Ex: He invited us to go with him
 After reporting verbs such as invite and encourage, we include an object
before an infinitive.
Ex: She denied taking it
 REPORTING QUESTIONS

 Y/N QUESTIONS:
Ex: Is she a doctor or a nurse? >>>> He wanted to know if/where she was a doctor
 Y/S QUESTIONS WITH WHETHER by using an infinitive:
Ex: Should I wait for him? >>> She’s wondering whether to wait for him
 WH – QUESTIONS:
Ex: Where are the keys? >>>> I asked where the keys were
 WH- QUESTIONS WITH SHOULD by using an infinitive:
Ex: When should I come and what should I do?
>>>> I asked them when to come and what to do