REPORTED SPEECH

Direct and Indirect Speech

We use reported speech when we want to tell someone else said. We usually use a reporting verb
(e.g. say, tell, ask, etc). Then, change the tense of what was said in indirect speech.
Types of sentences to be converted :
1. Statements (Assertive Sentences)
2. Questions (Interrogative Sentences)
3. Imperatives (Commands, Requests, Advice, Suggestion)
4. Exclamatory Sentences/Exclamations
5. Optative Sentences expressing Prayers and Wishes)
General Rules for Conversation
 Change of Adverbs
 Change of Pronoun
 Change of Tense of the Verb of the Quoted Speech
Adverbial Changes
Here ----------------- there
Ago ------------------ before
Now ----------------- then
This ------------------ that
These ---------------- those
Today --------------- that day
Tonight ------------- that night
Last (week) -------- the previous week
Next (month) ------ the following month
Yesterday ---------- the previous day
Tomorrow --------- the next day

Change of Pronouns
The subject of the quoted speech changes according to the subject of the reporting speech. The
object of the quoted speech changes according to the object of the reporting speech.
Eample: She said to him, “I saw your house.”
Chang to
She told him that she had seen his house
NOTE
 When there is no object in the reporting speech, the object of the quoted speech usually
remains the same
e.g. Laila said, “I bought a gift for him.”
Laila said that she had bought a gift for him
EXCEPTION
 Where the subject is you, it may remain the same or may change into 3 rd person pronoun
(he, him, she, her, etc).

e.g. The person sid,”I will tell you the time.”

The person said that he would tell you /her the time.

CHANGE OF TENSE
Change/Backshift Examples of Backshift of Tenses
of Tenses
From To From To
Simple Simple Ali said to me, “I Ali told me that he
Present Past play.” played
Simple Ali said, “I played.”
Past Past
Present Perfect Ali said, “I have Ali said that he had
Perfect played.” played
Past No Ali said, “I had
Perfect change played.”

CHANGE IN MODAL VERBS

will would Ali said, “You will Ali said that he/you
play.” would play
shall would/ Ali said, “I shall Ali said that he
should play.” (statement) would play
Ali said, “Shall I Ali said if he should
pick you bag?” pick his/your bag.
(offer)
can could Ali said, “I can Ali said that he could
play.” play
may might Ali said, “I may Ali said that he
play.” might play.
Would, Ali said, “I would Ali said he would
could, No play.” (might, play.” (might,
should change should, ought, to) should, ought to)
etc.
must must/had Ali said, “I must Ali said that he
to play.” must/had to play.

Progressive Progressive forms

forms
am/are/is was/were Ali said, “I am Ali said that he was
playing.” playing.
was/ had Ali said, “I was
were been playing.” Ali said that he had
has been Ali said. “I have been playing.
been playing.”

REMEMBER where tense of the quoted speech doesn’t change

The tense of the verb of the reported speech is not changed:
 When the reporting verb is the simple present, present perfect or future tense.
 When the statement in the reported speech is a fact or Universal Truth.
 When there is an immediate reporting or when the time still persists at the time of
speaking.
e.g. Maryam said this morning that she will come tomorrow.
1. REPORTED STATEMENT
 The reporting verb said to changes into told when it follows an object.
e.g. She said to me __________ She told me

 The reporting verb said does not change when it is not followed by an object.
e.g. She said __________ She said

 The comma and inverted commas are removed.

 The conjunction that is added to join the two clauses (optional).
 All the general rules mentioned ealier also apply.
Examples:
 Kate said, “I am going out with Sara tonight.”
Kate said that she was going out with Sara that night.

 Mrs. John said tome, “I will visit you tomorrow.”

Mrs John told me that she would visit me the next day.

2. REPORTED QUESTION
 When we report questions, we do not follow the normal question order. Instead, we use
the word order of a statement.
e.g. ‘Can I leave?’ _________ I asked if I could leave.
 We do not use question mark in the reported question.
 Tense changes are the same reported statements.
(PART A) WH – QUESTIONS
 When we report a wh queston the wh-word (who, what, where, when) or how, how
long, ….. remains at the same place while applying other changes mentioned in the
previous slide.
e.g. ‘Who lives there?’ __________ He asked me who lived there.
‘What are you doing?’ __________ She asked me what I was doing.
We said to them, “Why were you angry yesterday?” __________
We said him why they had been angry the day before.
You said to him, “When did you come?” _____ You said him when he had
Come.
(PART B) YES / NO QUESTIONS
While reporting such questions we begin the reported speech with if or whether, after
Removing the commas.
e.g. She said, “Does he live in a big flat?” ___ She asked if/whether he lied in a big flat.
NOTE :
We must use whether not if, when we are asking someone to make a choice or not
e.g. He said, ‘Do you want coffee or tea?’ _________
He asked me whether I wanted coffee
Mr. Aldi said, “is he coming or not?” _________
Mr. Aldi asked whether he was coming or not.
3. IMPERATIVE
 . ORDERS/COMMENDS
 Said to changes into ordered, commanded, asked, warned, forbade whichever befits
the sense of the sentences.
 We use’to’ to join the two clauses.
Example : The policeman said to the man, ”Get out of the car.”
The policeman ordered/asked/commanded the man to get out of the car.

 REQUESTS
 Said to changes into begged, pleaded, implored, requested, told and other words
whichever befits the sense of the sentences.
 We use ‘to’ to join the two clauses.
Examples: - Sara said, “Lend me your camera.”
Sara requested me to lend her my camera.
- He said to me, “Please help me.”
He pleaded/implored me to help him.
 ADVICE
 Said to changes into advised, recommended, urged and other words whichever
befits the sense of the sentences.
 We use ‘to’ to join the two clauses.
Examples: - My sister said to me, “Speak the truth.”
My sister advised me to speak the truth.
- My friend said to me, “Join the army.”
My friend recommended me to join the army.
 SUGGESTIONS
 Said to changes into suggested and other words whichever befits the sense of the
sentences.
 We use ‘that’ to join the two clauses.
 Modal auxiliary ‘should’ is added after the subject.
Examples: - She said, “Let’s go to the park.”
She suggested that they should go to the park.
- They said, “Let’s get a mechanic to look at the car.”
They suggested that they should get a mechanic to look at the car.
 EXLAMATORY SENTENCES
1. Sentences Expressing Happiness/Grief
 Said to changes into exclaimed with joy/sorrow.
 The connecting word ‘that’ is added to join the two clauses.
Examples:
- He said, “Hore! I have defeated her.”
He exclaimed with joy that he had defeated her.
- She said, “Alas! My sister has met an accident.”
She exclaimed with sorrow that her sister had met an accident.
2. Sentences Expressing Wonder
 Said to changes into exclaimed in wonde.
 The connecting word ‘that’ is added to jon the two clauses.
 Assertive sentences structure is followed.
Example:
- My friend said to me, “How beautifully you write.”
My friend exclaimed in wonder that I wrote very beautifully.
- The tourist said, “What a beautiful sight it is!”
The tourist exclaimed in wonder that it was a very veautiful sight.
********************