Reported Speech

Reported Speech1Definition

Reported Speech (also called Indirect Speech) is generally used to communicate what someone else has said, but without using their exact words. A few changes are necessary; often a pronoun has to be changed and the verb is usually moved back a tense, where possible. We will explain these changes in more detail later.He said that he was going to come. (The person's exact words were "I'm going to come.")

Changes in Verb tensesPresent Simple Past SimpleI love him, said the girl. The girl said that she loved him.

Present Continuous Past ContinuousI am feeling hungry, he said. He said that he was feeling hungry.

Present Perfect Simple Past Perfect SimpleI have eaten, she said. She said that she had eaten.

Changes in Verb tensesPast Continuous Past Perf. Cont.She was crying, he said. He said that she had been crying.

Past Perfect Past Perfect (No Change)I had seen enough, she said. She said that she had seen enough.

Past Perf. Cont. Past Perf. Cont. (No Change)I had been cleaning, I said. I said that I had been cleaning.Other Verb FormsWill WouldI will come along, she said. She said that she would come along. Can CouldI can read!, said the girl. The girl said that she could read.Must Had toI must do my chores, he said. He said that he had to do his chores.Other Verb FormsShall ShouldShall I go to work?, he asked. He asked if he should go to work.

May MightWe may go out, they said. They said that they might go outTime And Place References Time and place references often have to change:

Direct SpeechIndirect SpeechNowThenTodayThat DayHereThereThisThatThis weekThat WeekTomorrowThe Following DayThe Next DayThe Day AfterTime And Place ReferencesDirect SpeechIndirect SpeechNext WeekThe Following WeekThe Next WeekThe Week AfterYesterdayThe Previous DayThe Day BeforeLast WeekThe Previous WeekThe Week BeforeAgoPreviously

Time And Place ReferencesDirect SpeechIndirect SpeechTonightThat NightLast SaturdayThe Previous SaturdayThe Saturday BeforeNext SaturdayThe Following SaturdayThe Saturday AfterThe Next SaturdayThat SaturdayPersonal Pronoun Changes(I):They need to be altered according to the context. Pronouns and possessive adjectives normally change from first or second person to third person except when the speaker is reporting his own words.

- He said, Ive forgotten my keys at home.He said that he had forgotten his keys at home.- Youve overcooked the steak again, Mary, he said.He told Mary that she had overcooked the steak again.- I said, I like my new house.I said that I liked my new house.

Personal Pronoun Changes (II)However, confusions can arise when we change from direct to indirect Speech. I am going to buy a new car, said Mara.

Mara said that she was going to buy a new car.

In this case, the subject in the direct speech and the pronoun refer to the same person. In order to avoid ambiguity, a noun could be inserted:He entered the room by breaking the window, Tom told me.Tom told me he/the burglar had entered the room by breaking the window.

Uses of ThatIn reported speech, the word that is often used, but it is optional.

He told me that he lived in Valencia.He told me he lived in Valencia.

QuestionsIf you put a question into Reported speech there are some steps you should follow; changing of the person, backshift of tenses and changing of expressions of time.In Reported speech there is no question anymore, the sentence becomes a statement.That's why the word order is: subject -verb- objects(direct and indirect) That is never used in questions, instead we use if.He asked me if I would come to the party.

QuestionsYes/No Questions: use of if

Peter: "Do you play the piano?" Peter asked me whether (if) I played the piano.

Wh- Questions: repetition of wh- word in reported speech

Peter: "When do you play the piano?" Peter asked me when I played the piano.

VerbsWe can use a wide variety of different verbs to introduce reported speech:

Verb clauseExampleAdvise + to + infShe advised us to go home.Agree + that(optional)/ to + inf-He agreed (that) we should go home.-He agreed to go home.Ask + if/whether+ to+infinitive-We asked if we could go home.- We asked to go home. Verb clause ExampleComplain +that she complained that her soup was cold.Offer + to + infinitiveThey offered to do the shopping.Promise + (that) / to + infinitiveHe promised (that) he would love me eternally.- He promised to love me eternally.Regret+(that)/-ing Laura regrets (that) she dyed her hair.-Laura regrets having dyed her hair.Say + (that) -The personal trainer said that I should do more exercise.Other verbs Deny + (that)/ -ing Insist + (that)/ on + -ing Invite + to + infinitive Recommend+ (that) / -ing Suggest+ (that) / -ing Tell+ (that)/ to + infinitive Threaten + (that) /to +infinitive Warn + (that) /to + infinitive/about+-ingExceptions to the Verb Change ruleWhen something is reported that is a general truth, or if the situation hasnt changed yet, there is often no tense change.

Anna said that the sun is hot.Anna said that she is studying at the University.

Exercises1.) James said, I am watching TV. Answer: James said that he was watching TV. 2.) Professor Jones said, I worked all day! Answer: Professor Jones said he had worked all day. 3.) The president said, I will be visiting Italy in December. Answer: The president said that he would be visiting Italy in December.

Exercises4.) The weatherman announced, It may rain today. Answer: The weatherman announced that it might rain that day. 5.) My father screamed, I have to go to the airport, now! Answer: My father screamed that he had to go to the airport then. Group Members:Anna Andjar FornerAnnabel Kay RuizErnesto Maravilla FrasLaura Pons FernndezMara Ruiz PerisRut Villar Snchez

If you have any queries, please ask our dearest teacher, Beatriu Cardona.