Reported Speech
In English language, there are two ways of reporting what a person has said: direct and indirect speech. Notice that in writing, a comma follows the introductory (reporting) verb, and the person’s words are placed between quotation marks. However, we do not use quotation marks in indirect speech.
Basics of Indirect Speech
Direct Statement Indirect Statement
¨Bill said, “Gail knows that man.” Bill said Gail knew that man.
¨Amy said, “Mark is leaving today.” Amy said Mark was leaving that day.
¨Joe said, “I have seen that movie.” Joe said he had seen that movie.
¨Lisa said, “We saw it too.” Lisa said they had seen it too.
¨Tom said, “I was thinking about it.” Tom said he had been thinking about it.
¨Sue said, I am going to see it soon.” Sue said she was going to see it soon.
When the introductory verbs (say, tell, ask…etc.) are in the past, the tense of the verbs in the indirect speech usually changes. The verbs in the indirect statements are past in form, but not in meaning; in other words, the verbs may indicate past, present or future time.
The tense of the verb or verbs does not always change. There is no tense change under the following circumstances.
¨There is no tense change if the statement reports a historical or a geographical fact or general truth.
*_He said that Florida is in the southeastern US.
_She said that the best coffee comes from South America.
“The sun rises in the East,” ÞHe said (that) the sun rises in the East.
“Water boils at 100 Co.” The teacher said that water boils at 100 Co.
¨The verb also does not change when the indirect statement is given soon after the original statement.
Ann: I am tired.
Ray: What did you said?
Ann: I said I am tired.
¨When the reporting verb is in the present tense.
Joe says, “I have seen that movie.” ÞJoe says he has seen that movie.
“I cannot drive,” he says. ÞHe says (that) he cannot drive.
¨Past forms of verb TO BE do not commonly change.
She said, “I was a nurse during the war.”ÞShe said she was a nurse during the war.
¨The tenses in second and third conditional sentences do not change.
She said, “If I were you, I would not go out with him.”ÞShe said if she were me, she would not go out with him.
¨The tenses in proverbs and sayings of famous people are not changed.
Aristotle said, “Poverty is the parent of both crime and revolution.”ÞAristotle said poverty is the parent of both crime and revolution.
¨A story which is originally told in the past tense does not require tense change.
¨If the reality about the statement is still valid, no change is necessary. In addition, no changes are required if the report comes soon after the statement.
A:I am tired.
B: Excuse me. I couldn’t understand what you said.
A: I said I am tired.
3-The word that is optional after most introductory verbs. Both of the following sentences are correct.
They said that they were going to come.
They said they were going to come.
¨If the indirect report is made very soon after the direct statement or on the same day, it is not necessary to change the time word. The following conversation took place on Monday morning.
Pete: Hi, Fran! What are you doing?
Fran: Hello, Pete. I am packing. My vacation begins today, and I am leaving for Mexico tomorrow.
On Monday afternoon Pete reported his conversation.
Pete: Hello, Şule. I talked to Fran this morning, and she told me that she was packing because her holiday began today, and she was leaving for Mexico tomorrow.
¨In indirect speech, the demonstrative pronouns (this, that, these, those) usually change to the.
He said, “I bought this diamond ring for my wife.”
He said that he had bought the diamond ring for his wife.
¨A place expression usually replaces the word here.
She said, “You can sit here.”
She said that I could sit on the floor (or beside her).
Past Time Changes
¨The simple past tense usually changes to the past perfect. However, sometimes in informal language there is no tense change if the meaning does not change.
The tense must change if the meaning changes.
Phil said, “I love her.” (He still loves her.)
Phil said he loved her.
Phil said, “I loved her.” (He does not love her anymore.)
Phil said he had loved her. (He does not love her anymore.
As mentioned earlier, past forms of VERB TO BE do not usually change. Moreover, in written English, the simple past and past progressive (continuous) tense become past perfect and past perfect continuous tense. However, in dependent time clauses, these tenses do not usually change.
Barbara said, “When I saw the police, I stopped.”ÞBarbara said that when she saw the police, she stopped.
She said, “When I was driving home, I saw Mary.”ÞShe said that when she was driving home, she saw Mary. The following reported sentence is also true.
She said that when she was driving home, she had seen Mary.
Changes About Modals
The following changes are made about modals.

¨canÞcould
willÞwould
mayÞmight
have toÞhad to/would have to
must(necessity)Þhad to (optional) Would
Could
Should Þ.usually remain the same.
Needn’t
Ought to
Had better
¨We sometimes use alternative forms or expressions instead of using modals. The use of these expressions is optional.
HAD BETTERÞAli said, “You had better not drink alcohol.ÞHe advised me not to drink alcohol. OR She said that I had better not drink alcohol.
SHOULDÞ “You should read this chapter,” Selmin said.ÞSelmin said that I should read that chapter. OR Selmin advised me to read that chapter.
She said, “You must not tell anyone.” ÞShe said I mustn’t tell anyone. OR She said I was not to tell anyone.
¨Note that the main verb after the modal does not change.
Reporting Statements
1- The verbs say and said are used when the person to whom we spoke to is not mentioned.
Jenifer said (that) the movie was excellent.
2-Apart from say and tell we can use some other verbs to add variety to our speech. The following verbs can be used for this purpose.
announce remark predict
complain mention promise
declare reply deny
state answer explain

Reporting Questions and Answers
1-Yes /no questions are reported with if or whether (or not).
The president asked, “Did you vote for me? ÞHe asked if I had voted for him.
He asked whether I had voted for him.
He asked whether I had voted for him or not.
2-Instead of ask as a reporting verb, the expression want to know can be used.
The president wanted to know if I had voted for him.
3-The words yes and no do not usually appear in the reported statements.
He asked, “Can you swim?” and I said, “No.”ÞHe asked me if I could swim,and I said (that) I couldn’t.
She asked, “Will you have time to help me? And, I said, “Yes.”ÞShe asked me if I would have time to help her, and I said I would.
As it is seen in the examples, yes /no questions are expressed in the indirect speech by subject + suitable auxiliary verb.
4-When we report WH questions, we have the following pattern.

question word +subject +verb +complement
¨He asked where I lived in Polatlı.
¨I wanted to know how many years Ali would be living abroad.
Reporting Commands
A command is an order given by someone who is in authority. To report a command, the verbs order, command, warn, direct can be used. The following pattern is used.

tell +indirect object +(not)+infinitive
The finance company said, “Pay immediately.”ÞThe finance company ordered him to pay immediately.
The police officer said, “Move back.” ÞThe police officer commanded us to move back.
The thief said, “Leave your gun and do not try anything funny.” ÞThe thief warned them to leave their guns and not to try anything funny.
Reporting Requests
A request is something asked for usually in a polite manner. We use the verb ask to report requests. In direct speech, the phrases will you, would you and could you are often used to form polite requests.
¨She said, “Will you hold my packages for me?” ÞShe asked me to hold her packages for her.
¨He asked me, “Could you tell me the time, please?”ÞHe asked me to tell him the time.
Reporting Exclamations
1-Exclamations become statements in indirect speech.
“What a beautiful day!” he said.ÞHe said it was a beautiful day.
“What a beautiful car!” he saidÞHe said that I had a beautiful car.
2-Exclamations such as Oh, no! and Ugh! are usually expressed by a sentence that explains the person’s feelings.
“Oh, no! I have a flat tire,” she said.ÞShe exclaimed with disgust that she had a flat tire.

SUBJECT : Reported Speech

A) Change the following sentences from DIRECT to INDIRECT SPEECH:

1. He said, “I will be here at noon.”
He said that he would be here at noon.
2. Mary said, “The train will probably arrive on time.”
………………………………………………………………………………………..
3. He said, “I have to finish this report by five o’clock.”
………………………………………………………………………………………..
4. The doctor said, “Mr. Smith will improve quickly.”
………………………………………………………………………………………..
5. William said to me, “I am leaving in the morning.”
………………………………………………………………………………………..
6. The teacher said, “Everyone has to write a composition.”
………………………………………………………………………………………..
7. John said, “I saw that movie on Wednesday.”
………………………………………………………………………………………..
8. Helen said, “I have read that book.”
………………………………………………………………………………………..
9. Mary said to John, “I cannot go to the movie with you.”
………………………………………………………………………………………..
10. John said, “I have finished studying my lesson.”
………………………………………………………………………………………..
11. Mary remarked, “John speaks English well.”
………………………………………………………………………………………..
12. William said to me, “I will not see Mr. Jones until Tuesday.”
………………………………………………………………………………………..
13. Mr. Smith said, “I will refuse their offer.”
……………………………………………………………………………………….
14. John said, “I certainly hope it won’t rain tomorrow.”
……………………………………………………………………………………….
15. Henry said, “I can meet them later.”
……………………………………………………………………………………….
16. The boy said, “I am only eight years old.”
……………………………………………………………………………………….
17. She said to me, “The lights have gone out.”
……………………………………………………………………………………….
18. The man said, “The telephone is out of order.”
……………………………………………………………………………………….
19. He said, “I will never speak to her again.”
……………………………………………………………………………………….
20. I said to the clerk clearly, “I have already paid that bill.”
………………………………………………………………………………………






B) REPORT what the guests said at a wedding last Saturday:

1. Miss Moore: “They’ll make a lovely couple.”
Miss Moore said (that) they would make a lovely couple.

2. Mr. Smith: “They’re going to live in Brighton.”
………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Mrs.Jones: “The bride and the groom are very nice young people.”
………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Mr. Roberts: “The bride is wearing a beautiful wedding dress.”
………………………………………………………………………………………
5. Mr. Clarke: “The couple’s parents look happy.”
………………………………………………………………………………………
6. Miss Mayall: “The bride’s father has bought them a big flat.”
………………………………………………………………………………………

C) Write sentences about Jane’s trip to Paris:

1. We’re taking the nine o’clock plane.
Jane told me they were taking the nine o’clock plane.
2. I’ll have to get up early.
She said ……………………………………………………………………………
3. I don’t really like traveling by air.
She told me ………………………………………………………………………..
4. But it’s the easiest way to travel.
But she decided ……………………………………………………………………
5. We’re going to spend a week in Paris.
She told me ………………………………………………………………………..
6. I want to go up the Eiffel Tower.
She said ……………………………………………………………………………
7. We’ve been to Paris before.
She told me ………………………………………………………………………..
8. But we didn’t see everything.
But she said ……………………………………………………………………….
9. I’ll send you a postcard.
She said ……………………………………………………………………………
10. But I won’t write you a letter.
But she told me ……………………………………………………………………
11. I’m very excited!
She said ……………………………………………………………………………
12. We’ll be in Paris tomorrow!
The last thing she said was that ……………………………………………………

D) REPORT the police-officer’s questions to the shop owner:

1. What’s your name?
The police-officer asked him what was his name was.
2. Did you see the robbers?
………………………………………………………………………………………
3. What were they wearing?
………………………………………………………………………………………
4. How do you think they got in?
………………………………………………………………………………………

5. What did they take?
………………………………………………………………………………………
6. Has this ever happened before?
………………………………………………………………………………………


D) Turn the following dialogue into REPORTED SPEECH:

Sally: Have you applied for the job? Sally asked Diane if she had applied for the job
Diane: Yes, I had an interview yesterday. Diane told her…………………………………….
Sally: How did it go? …………………………………………………….
Diane: Fine, but I’m wondering if I want …………………………………………………….
the job because I will have to move …………………………………………………….
to Manchester. …………………………………………………….
Sally: What will you do then? ……………………………………………………
Diane: If they offer me the job, I can’t ……………………………………………………
accept it. …………………………………………………….

E) Write what the family said at the dinner table:

1. Mother: “Does anyone want some more potatoes?”
Mother asked if anyone wanted some more potatoes.
2. Father: “Pass me the wine, Beth.”
………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Beth: “The chicken is very nice.”
………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Grandfather: “I’m going to start my diet tomorrow.”
………………………………………………………………………………………………
5. Grandmother: “Don’t eat with your mouth open, Sam!”
………………………………………………………………………………………………
6. Tim: “This is the best dinner I’ve had!”
………………………………………………………………………………………………
7. Jean: “Is there any more salad, Mum?”
………………………………………………………………………………………………
8. Sam: “I’m very hungry because I only had a sandwich for lunch today.”
………………………………………………………………………………………………
9. Helen: “What are we having for dessert, Mum?”
………………………………………………………………………………………………
10. Bob: “I don’t want anything else to eat.”
………………………………………………………………………………………………

F) Gavin has worked for Bisco Supermarkets for thirty years. He can still remember his
job interview after leaving school and he can remember the questions that the interview
asked him:

Example: “Where do you live?” She asked him where he lived.
“Have you worked before?” She asked him if he had worked before.
1. “Why do you want the job?”
She asked him …………………………………………………………………………..
2. “How did you hear about it?”
She asked him …………………………………………………………………………..
3. “Are you fit?”
She asked him …………………………………………………………………………..

4. “Can you work on Saturdays?”
She asked him …………………………………………………………………………..
5. “How will you travel to work?”
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
6. “Have you got a bicycle?”
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
7. “How much do you expect to earn?”
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
8. “When can you start?”
…………………………………………………………………………………………..

G) What does the policeman want to know?

1. What’s your name?
The policeman wants to know what my name is.
2. What’s your job?
………………………………………………………………………..
3. Where do you work?
………………………………………………………………………..
4. Where do you live?
………………………………………………………………………..
5. Where were you yesterday?
………………………………………………………………………..
6. Why are you in London?
………………………………………………………………………..
7. When did you come?
………………………………………………………………………..
8. How did you come?
………………………………………………………………………..
9. Where’s your ticket?
……………………………………………………………………….
10. Have you ever been in London?
……………………………………………………………………….
11. Do you know anyone in London?
……………………………………………………………………….
12. Were you in London last month?
……………………………………………………………………….
13. Are you telling the truth?
……………………………………………………………………….

H) Tell your family what the doctor said:

1. “You really ought to stay in bed.”
He said I ought to stay in bed.
2. “But you can get up for half an hour.”
……………………………………………………………………….
3. “You can leave here on Thursday.”
……………………………………………………………………….
4. “You ought to take some exercise.”
……………………………………………………………………….
5. “But you shouldn’t walk too much.”
……………………………………………………………………….
6. “You mustn’t run at all.”
………………………………………………………………………