Reported Speech
we use when we want to tell another person about a
conversation that took place in the past.
We often use reported speech to . . .
1. Give someone a telephone message
2. Tell someone news that we heard from
someone else:
3. To report something that happened:
What is Reported Speech?
Reported Speech is
a way how we report
what someone has
said by changing
some of the words
said, but retaining
the same meaning.
How to use
reported
speech:
When we use reported speech, we are usually
talking about the past.
Therefore, verbs usually change to the past
tense in reported speech.
am / is was
are were
have / has had
could
can / can’t
couldn’t
would
will / won’t wouldn’t
Reported speech typically
uses the following
structure:
Someone said (that) she was very happy
OR
Someone told me (that) they were talking on the
phone
SIMPLE PRESENT----SIMPLE PAST
Shawn said:
Reported
“I want to buy a new speech:
dress”
Shawn said that she
wanted to buy a
new dress.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS--PAST CONTINUOUS
Tina said: Reported
“My sister is speech:
coming to visit Tina told me that
me soon.” her sister was
coming to visit
her soon.
Simple Past--Past Perfect
Reported
speech:
Tina said: Tina told me that
she had seen a
“I saw a movie.”
movie
Present perfect -- Past Perfect
Edu said:
“I’ve read
interesting books” Reported
speech:
Edu said that he
had read
interesting books
Carla said: Will ---- Would
“The new computer
will help you” Reported
speech:
Carla told me
that the new
computer would
help me.
CAN--COULD Reported
speech:
Susan said that
Susan said: they could learn a
“They can learn a lot” lot.
REPORTED INSTRUCTIONS
The nurse said: be
quiet!
Reported
speech:
The nurse told me
to be quiet!
REPORTED QUESTIONS
André asked : Where
are you?
He asked me where I
was.
Rewrite the sentences in
Reported Speech
1- ‘I want a bite of your sandwich!’ she said.
She said that she wanted a bit of my sandwich
2- ‘They are waiting outside the museum for hours’ she said.
She said that they were waiting outside the museum for hours.
3- ‘A florist prepares the bouquets,’ she said.
She said that a florist prepared the bouquets
4- I’ve been to the theatre five times’ he told them.
He told them he had been to the theatre five times
5- ‘They will get into trouble’ he said.
He said that they would get in trouble.
6- ‘I’m studying martial arts,’ she said.
She said that she was studying martial arts
7- “Leave the building!’ he ordered.
He ordered them to leave the building.
8- “Don’t cross the road there!’ she said to us.
She said to us not to cross the road on that place.
9- ‘ Close the windows immediately!’ she ordered.
She ordered to us to close the windows immediately
10- He asked: Who is that girl?
He asked me which girl was that
• 1 The tests with dolphins didn't teach us
anything. (Dr. Henry Smith)
He said the tests with dolphins hadn’t taught them anything
• 2 My work has been very useful. (Professor Silvia Black)
She said her work had been very useful.
• 3 Humans.will never be able to talk to animals.
(Dr. HemySmith).
He said humans would never be able to talk to animals.
• 4 In the future, I will learn to understand all animals.
(Professor Silvia Black)
She said that in the future she would learn to understand all
animals.
• 5 I can copy bird song, but I can’ t communicate with
birds. (Dr. Henry Smith)
He said that he could copy bird songs, but he couldn’t
communicate with birds.
• 1 Give the bananas to me.
She told him to give the bananas to her.
• 2 Don’t eat the flowers.
She told him not to eat the flowers.
• 3 Show your picture to me.
She told him to show his pictures to her.
• 4 Don’ t bite me.
She told him not to bite her.
• 5 Don’t climb on the table.
She told him not to climb on the table.
• 6 Put me down!
She told him to put her down.
