Lengua extranjera.

Inglés C1
E.U. DE EDUCACIÓN DE SORIA

Reported Speech
When we report what people think or have said, we often do it in our own words when the information
they convey is more important than their exact words. In this case, we use sentences that include a
reporting clause and a reported clause:

reporting clause reported clause

She explained (that) she couldn't take the job until January.
If their exact words are important, or if we want to create some dramatic effect, we might report their
actual words. In writing this is done in a quotation:
'I suppose you've heard the latest news,' she said.
In the English used in stories and novels, the reporting verb is often placed before the subject when the
reporting clause comes after the quotation:
'When will you be back?' asked Arnold.
However, we don't normally use this order when the subject is a pronoun:
'And after that I moved to Italy,' she continued.

GENERAL CHANGES
Using reported (or indirect) speech often involves making some changes in grammar and vocabulary, as
we are reporting what other person said in a different place at a different time.

Pronoun and determiner changes

Direct speech Indirect speech
I/we  he/she/they
me/us  him/her/them
my/our  his/her/their
this/that + noun  the/that
this/that + verb  it/that
these/those + noun  the/those
these/those + verb  they
verb + these/those  them

Time and place changes

Direct Indirect Direct Indirect
here  there now, at the moment  then/at that moment
tomorrow  the following/next next week/year...  the following/next
day, the day after week, the week after
tonight  that night last week/year...  the week before/the
previous week
yesterday  the day before, the ago  before, previously,
previous day earlier
 Lengua extranjera. Inglés C1
E.U. DE EDUCACIÓN DE SORIA

Tense changes
If the reporting verb is in the past, we usually have to change the tense of what the person actually said.
The general rule is go back one tense, but there are some exceptions.
Direct Indirect Direct Indirect
Present simple  Past simple Present perfect  Past perfect
continuous continuous
Present continuous  Past continuous Past simple  Past perfect simple
Present perfect  Past perfect Past continuous  Past perfect
simple continuous continuous

Exceptions to backshifting
With past perfect simple and continuous, there is no tense change.
'I had booked the room beforehand,' she said She said she had booked the room beforehand.
When something is still true, we can change the tense but we don't have to.
'Fishing is the most popular sport in Britain.'  The article said that fishing is/was the most popular...
When we are reporting a scientific or historical fact, we don't usually change tense.
'Queen Victoria hated Gladstone,' said the book.The book said that Queen Victoria hated Gladstone.

Modal and semi-modal changes

If the reporting verb is in the past, we sometimes have to change modals and semi-modals. Could,
would, should, ought to, had better and need don't change.

Direct will / shall can must* / have to don't have to mustn't may

Indirect would could had to didn't have to shouldn't might

be to be not to
* must doesn't usually change to had to when we are expressing probability.

REPORTED STATEMENTS
That-clause

When we report statements we often use a that-clause as a reported clause.

'I'm enjoying my work,' he said.  He said (that) he was enjoying his work.

After the more common reporting verbs (say, agree, mention, notice, promise...) we can omit that,
particularly in informal speech, but it's less likely to be left out in the following situations:

 After less common reporting verbs, such as complain, confide, deny, grumble, speculate or warn.
 In formal writing.
 Lengua extranjera. Inglés C1
E.U. DE EDUCACIÓN DE SORIA

 If the that-clause doesn't immediately follow the verb:

She agreed with her parents and brother that it would be safer to buy a car than a motorbike.

Some reporting verbs which are followed by a that-clause have an alternative with an object + full
infinitive. These verbs include acknowledge, assume, believe, consider, expect, find, find, presume,
report, think, understand.

I felt that the results were satisfactory. = I felt the results to be satisfactory.

Verbs like assure, convince, inform, notify, persuade, reassure, remind and tell must always include an
object before the that-clause, and this object can't be a prepositional object.

I notified the bank that I had changed my address.

Other verbs (e.g. advise, promise, show, teach, warn) also admit an object before a that clause, but it's
not always necessary.

They promised (me) that they would come to the party.

After some verbs we can use a that-clause with or without a personal object; if we include an object, we
must put a preposition before it:

 To: announce, complain, explain, indicate, mention, point out, propose, recommend, report, say,
suggest.

She admitted (to me) that she was seriously ill.

 With: agree, argue, disagree, joke.

I checked (with them) that they were free on Friday.

 Of: ask, demand, require.

The company demands (of its staff) that they should be at work by 8:30.

Wh-clause

Some verbs can be followed by a clause beginning with a wh-word (how, what, when, where, which,
who, why):

That might explain why he's unhappy.

Sometimes we need an object before the wh-clause, but this is not always necessary:

She reminded me what I had to do. (necessary)

I showed (him) how he could get to the station. (unnecessary)

These verbs can also be followed by object + wh-word + full infinitive:

She reminded me what to do.

I showed (him) how to get to the station.
 Lengua extranjera. Inglés C1
E.U. DE EDUCACIÓN DE SORIA

We can use whether as the wh-word in a wh-clause when we want to show possible options. It can be
followed by a complete clause or by an infinitive:

He couldn't remember whether he had turned the computer off.

You have one week to decide whether you keep it or not.

Gerund

Some reporting verbs are followed by a gerund. These verbs include admit, apologize for, deny, mention,
suggest, recommend, regret and suggest.

'I didn't break the jar,' he said.  He denied breaking the jar.

There are some verbs that admit another structure including an -ing form: verb + object + preposition +
gerund. These verbs are, among others, accuse someone of, blame someone for, congratulate someone
on and thank someone for.

'Well done, you've won'.  He congratulated her on winning.

Infinitive

Some reporting verbs can be followed by an infinitive. These verbs include agree, offer, promise, refuse,
swear, threaten and volunteer.

'I'll help you'  He offered to help her.

There is another structure involving an infinitive: verb + person + infinitive + complement

'He's over 21, I believe.'  I believe him to be over 21.

With this structure, we use verbs like believe, consider, presume or understand.

REPORTED QUESTIONS
With reported questions, we make the same changes regarding tense, pronoun and time and place
references as we do with reported statements.

'Are you coming to the party tomorrow?' he asked me.

He asked me if I was going to the party the following day.

Note that when reporting a question, we don't use the question form or question marks.

Wh-word questions

When the question includes an interrogative pronoun we will keep it in the reported question:

'What time does the match start?' he asked. He asked what time the match started.

The structure question word + infinitive is very common with reported questions:

'How can I tune a piano?' she asked.  She asked me how to tune a piano.
 Lengua extranjera. Inglés C1
E.U. DE EDUCACIÓN DE SORIA

Yes/No questions

When the question doesn't include an interrogative pronoun, we'll have to add if or whether before the
reported clause:

'Are you sure about this?' he asked  He asked if/whether I was sure about that.

REPORTED COMMANDS AND REQUESTS

We normally use tell to report orders and ask to report requests, but there are other reporting verbs we
can use to make our sentence more expressive. These verbs include beg, command, forbid, instruct,
order, request.

The structure for reported commands and requests is as follows: verb + person + infinitive.

'Stop what you are doing!'  She told me to stop what I was doing.

'Please don't go' She asked me to stay. /She asked me not to go.

'Could you do me a favour?'  She asked me to do her a favour.

Not only commands and requests

There are other sentences that involve an imperative or a modal expression and are not commands or
requests. When reporting them we will also use the verb + person + infinitive structure. The reporting
verbs we use in these cases are advise, challenge, convince, encourage, expect, invite, remind, permit,
persuade and warn.

'I would stop, if I were you.'  She advised me to stop.

'Don't interfere or you could get into trouble'.  My mother warned me not to interfere.

VERBATIM REPORTING AND SUMMARY

Speakers don't always report exactly every word spoken, especially if this would make a lengthy and
repetitive report. Instead, they summarize and often use words that describe what was said.
'Take the first left, then go straight on, and then turn right after the church.'

She told me how to get there.

'What do you think about John and Mia getting married so soon?  I asked him for his opinion.
'Would you like to have a drink?'  She offered us a drink.

Let's practise!
1/ Complete each second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence.

a. Jimmy said that he definitely wasn't going to the match on Saturday.

'__________________________________________________________,' said Jimmy.

 Lengua extranjera. Inglés C1
E.U. DE EDUCACIÓN DE SORIA

b. Alison told Ben that he'd forgotten to do the washing-up.

"__________________________________________________________, Ben!' said Alison.

c. Jason admitted that he had been lying when he'd said he had nothing to do with the breakages.

'Actually, I _______________________________________________________,' admitted Jason.

d. Paul told me that Dawn hadn't been particularly hard-working when she was at university.

'__________________________________________________________,' said Paul.

e. Sharon shouted that she hadn't finished yet.

'__________________________________________________________!' shouted Sharon.

f. Rudy said he'd meet us all at the café in half an hour.

'__________________________________________________________,' said Rudy.

g. Belinda's mum told her that she didn't have to eat her sprouts if she didn't want to.

'__________________________________________________________, Belinda,' said her mum.

h. Sebastian announced that he and Tristan were going to set up a website.

'Tristan ____________________________________________________,' announced Sebastian.

i. Karen asked Diana when she had got married.

'__________________________________________________________, Diana?' asked Karen.

j. Freda asked Bjorn if she could borrow his bike for a couple of hours.

'Bjorn, __________________________________________________________?' asked Freda.

2/ Circle the correct word or phrase. If both are correct, circle both.

a. When I told Mr Peters that the dog has/ had eaten my homework, he didn't believe me.
b. Adam told me that his girlfriend doesn't/ didn't eat meat at all.
c. When I saw Ed yesterday morning, he told me that he is/ was going to look at a flat in the
afternoon.
d. Roger told me about the pop quiz. He said his team were/ had been doing well in the first few
rounds, but that it all went/ had all gone wrong with the round about dance music.
e. When we watched Death Watch III, Paul said he has/ had never seen a worse movie in his life!
f. Did Galileo say that the Earth goes/ went round the sun?
g. Phil told me on Friday that he has/ had just bumped into Wally Deacon!
h. Barbs announced to us all last night that she is/ was finally giving up smoking.
i. Did you say that you do/ did want sugar in your coffee or not?
 Lengua extranjera. Inglés C1
E.U. DE EDUCACIÓN DE SORIA

j. I told Brian last week that the office isn't/ wasn't opening on Tuesday so I don't know why he
showed up yesterday morning.
3/ If the word or phrase in bold is correct, put a tick. If it is incorrect, rewrite it correctly.

a. Bob did tell me that he probably wouldn't be coming in today.

b. Last week he told us that we don't have to do that exercise and then yesterday he said he'd
made a mistake.
c. Did you say these bills had to be paid before tomorrow?
d. Steve said he could play guitar when he was two years old. Do you believe that?
e. Pauline told my mum that she'd had better get a lawyer. I think she's right.
f. When we went to the party, Claudia told me that I must be on my best behaviour all evening. It
was very rude of her, I thought.
g. Darren said that Mr Taylor was to have forgotten about the meeting, but I'm not so sure. I think
he just didn't want to come.
h. When I was a teenager, my dad always told me that I'm not to stay out later than ten o'clock.
i. I was pleased when Jilly told us that she can help us paint the flat. If only I'd known then what
that meant!
j. When I was at school, my English teacher always told us that we don't have to pay attention but
we do have to be quiet.
k. The letter they sent six months ago said that they shall be in touch again soon. Well, I haven't
heard anything since!
l. Seven years ago, the Prime Minister stated that his government will be corruption-free. It
doesn't look that way now, does it?
4/ Write one word in each gap.

a. 'Oh no! These shoes don't go with that suit at all!' I actually really liked the shoes but Maureen
told me __________ didn't go with the suit I was planning to wear.

b. 'This play is rubbish!' Susan told us in no uncertain terms that __________ play was rubbish.

c. 'My sister Chloe's coming to stay for a few days.' Why did Derek say that __________ sister's
called Chloe? She's called Clarissa, isn't she?

d. 'This is not what I ordered!' Mike told the waiter - quite rudely in my opinion - that __________
wasn't what he'd ordered.

e. 'These trainers are far too expensive!' My mum said that __________ trainers were too
expensive so I didn't get them in the end.

f. 'My number's easy. It's 123456.' You don't know Sindy's phone number, do you? She did actually
tell me __________ number but I stupidly forgot to write it down.

g. 'Could you put these on the table?' Mum asked me to put __________ on the table.
 Lengua extranjera. Inglés C1
E.U. DE EDUCACIÓN DE SORIA

h. 'You won't believe what happened to us last night.' Angus and James told me that __________
house was broken into last night.

5/ Complete each second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence.

a. 'Carol and I went to a great museum when we were in Italy last month', said Shirley.

Shirley told her friends that

b. 'I only washed these trousers yesterday, Tony!' said his mum.

Tony's mum told

c. 'You have to get all the letters sent off by tomorrow,' said Jake to his secretary as he was
leaving.

As he was leaving, Jake told

d. 'We shall meet you all back here in exactly half an hour from now.'

Mum told me that

e. 'Luckily I don't have to go into the office this Saturday,' said Olivia.

Olivia said happily that

f. 'It can't be very nice having all these cars going by all the time.'

Alan commented to Ross that

g. 'I'll put these in water right now.'

Daniel's mum said that

h. 'I told Dan two days ago that this report would have to be rewritten,' said Greg.

Greg told Jeanne that

6/ Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word
given. Do not change the word given. You must use between three and eight words, including the
word given.

a. 'Will you come with me to the concert next Thursday?' Andrea asked Gareth. go

Andrea asked Gareth if _____________________________________________.

b. 'Does the train get in at four o'clock?' asked Pete. whether

Pete asked _____________________________________________at four o'clock.

c. 'Have you been talking on the phone all evening, Tim?' asked his dad. if
 Lengua extranjera. Inglés C1
E.U. DE EDUCACIÓN DE SORIA

Tim's dad asked _____________________________________________on the phone all

evening.

d. 'Are you all coming tomorrow?' Fiona asked us. whether

Fiona asked _____________________________________________day.

e. 'Doesn't Jerry live near you anymore?' asked Dominic. me

Dominic asked whether _____________________________________________any more.

f. 'Shall I send you an e-mail about it, Trevor?' asked Kevin. him

Kevin asked _____________________________________________an e-mail about it.

g. 'Shall I help you do the dishes, Carlo? ' said Robert. offered

Robert _____________________________________________the dishes.

h. 'Do we really have to go to bed right now?' Toby asked his parents. did

Toby asked his parents _____________________________________________go to bed right

then.

7/ Write a verb from the box in the correct form in each gap.

attack do get like make pass take talk turn use want work

a. You'd better ask the security guard how __________ into the building at the weekend.

b. That was so nice of them to ask whether I __________ to stay the night.

c. I know you asked me __________ the washing-up now but it'll only take a minute, I promise.

d. Why did the officer order his men __________ when he knew they were outnumbered?

e. I would ask you __________ judgment until you know all the facts.

f. I couldn't believe it when Sandy came out and asked me if I __________ drugs before.

g. I don't like asking you __________ on a Saturday, but I'm afraid there's no alternative.

h. You should have asked your mother which cloth __________. She'd know.

i. It was funny when you were asked by the technician how __________ the computer on.

j. She very kindly asked me if I __________ fruit cake and said there was a fruit salad if I preferred.

k. Go and ask your dad __________ us a coffee, would you?

l. I'm sorry, but we've been instructed __________ to reporters under any circumstances.