USING MORE INTERESTING REPORTING VERBS

There are lots of verbs that you can use to introduce reported speech apart from SAY, TELL and ASK. These verbs are more descriptive.

SHE to HIM: "Don't leave me"SHE to HIM: "Please please please don't leave me"SHE to HIM: "GET OUT NOW!!!"SHE to HIM: "You should leave"SHE to HIM: "I would leave if I were you"SHE to HIM: "Come to my party tomorrow"SHE to HIM: "Don't forget to do your homework"SHE to HIM: "I will help you, I promise"SHE to HIM: "I'll kill you if you forget our anniversary again"SHE to HIM: "Let's go for a walk"- "It's a beautiful day!" - "Yes, it is"Sheaskedhim not to leave herShebeggedhim not to leave herSheorderedhim to get out / Sheshoutedat him to get outSheadvisedhim to leaveSheadvisedhim to leaveSheinvitedhim to go to her partySheremindedhim to do his homeworkShepromisedto help himShethreatenedto kill him if he forgot their anniversary againShesuggestedthat they go for walkShe said that it was a beautiful day, and heagreed

Question tags. When you put question tags into reported speech you have to consider if the speaker is really asking a question or if he/she is confirming information he/she already has.

SHE to HIM: "It's a beautiful day, isn't it?"SHE to A BABY: "You're a beautiful baby, aren't you?"SHE to A FOREIGNER: "You speak English, don't you?"SHE to A FRIEND: "You will come to my party, won't you?"She told him that it was a beautiful dayShe told the baby that he was beautifulShe asked him if he spoke EnglishShe asked him if he would come to her party

Interjections. Interjections can't be put into reported speech.

SHE to HIM: "Awesome!"SHE to HIM: "Oh my God, you're really intelligent"SHE to HIM: "Hurrah! We have won the match!"She said "awesome"She said he was really intelligentShe celebrated that they had won the match

Indirect speech for sentence having MODALS, can, may, must,Present modals are changed to past modalsDirect SpeechIndirect Speech

Indirect speech for sentence having MODALS,can, may, must, should, ought to

CANchanges intoCOULD

He said, I can drive a car

She said, he can play a violin.

They said, we can climb on a hillHe said that he could drive a car.

She said that he could play a violin.

They said that they can climb on a hill.

MAYchanges intoMIGHT

He said, I may buy a computer

She said, he may visit a doctor.

They said, they may go to zooHe said that he might buy a computer.

She said that he might visit a doctor.

They said that they might go to zoo.

MUSTchanges intoHAD TO

He said, I must work hard

She said, they must carry on their work

I said to him, you must learn the test-taking strategiesHe said that he had to work hard.

She said that they had to carry on their work.

I said to him that he had to learn the test-taking strategies.

Indirect speech for sentence having MODALS, should, ought to, might, would, and couldThe modal will not change in indirect speechDirect SpeechIndirect Speech

THESE MODALS DO NOT CHANGEWould, could, might, should, ought to

Would

They said, we would apply for a visa

He said, I would start a business.

She said, I would appear in examThey said that they would apply for visa.

He said that he would start a business.

She said that she would appear in the exam.

Could

She said, she could play a piano

They said, we couldnt learn the lesson

He said, I could run fasterShe said that she could play a violin.

They said they couldnt learn the lesson.

He said that he could run faster.

Might

He said, guests might come

She said, it might rain

John said, I might meet himHe said that guest might come.

She said that it might rain.

John said that he might meet him.

Should

He said, I should avail the opportunity

She said, I should help a him

They said, we should take the examHe said that he should avail the opportunity.

She said that she should help him.

They said that they should take the exam.

Ought to

He said to me, you ought to wait for him

She said, I ought to learn method of study

They said, we ought to attend our classesHe said to me that I ought to wait for him.

She said that she ought to learn method of study.

They said that they ought to attend their classes.