Example: He Says, "I Write Poems." - He Says That He Writes English

REPORTED SPEECH: INDIRECT SPEECH.
What is reported speech?

Reported speech is when you tell somebody else what you or a person said before.
Distinction must be made between direct speech and reported speech.
Direct speech Reported speech

She says: "I like tuna fish." She says that she likes tuna fish.
She said: "I'm visiting Paris next weekend" She said that she was visiting Paris the following weekend.
Different types of sentences
When you use reported speech, you either report:
 statements (declaración o afirmación)
 questions (preguntas)
 requests / commands (requerimientos u órdenes)
 other types (otros tipos)
A. Reporting Statements
When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:
 pronouns
 tense
 place and time expression
1- Pronouns
In reported speech, you often have to change the pronoun depending on who says what.
Example:
She says, “My dad likes roast chicken.” – She says that her dad likes roast chicken.
2- Tenses
 If the sentence starts in the present, there is no backshift of tenses in reported speech.
 If the sentence starts in the past, there is often backshift of tenses in reported speech.
“I write poems. He says that he writes poems.

(no backshift)
”
“I write poems. He said that he wrote poems.

(backshift)
”
No backshift
Do not change the tense if the introductory clause is in a present tense (e. g. He says). Note, however, that you
might have to change the form of the present tense verb (3rd person singular).
Example: He says, “I write poems.” – He says that he writes English.
Backshift
You must change the tense if the introductory clause is in a past tense (e. g. He said).
Example: He said, “I am happy.” – He said that he was happy.
 The modal verbs could, should, would, might, needn't, ought to, used to do not normally change.
Example: He said, "She might be right." – He said that she might be right.
Other modal verbs may change:
Moda
l
can "I can do it." He said he could do it.

will "They will call He told her that they would call her.
you."
Examples of the main changes in tense:
Direct Speech Reported Speech
Simple Present Simple Past

He said: "I am happy" He said that he was happy
Present Continuous Past Continuous

He said: "I'm looking for my keys" He said that he was looking for his keys
Simple Past Past Perfect Simple

He said: "I visited New York last year" He said that he had visited New York the previous year.
Present Perfect Past Perfect

He said: " I've lived here for a long time " He said that he had lived there for a long time
Past Perfect Past Perfect

He said: "They had finished the work He said that they had finished the work when he had
when I arrived" arrived"
Past Continuous Past Perfect Continuous

He said: "I was playing football when the He said that he had been playing football when the
accident occurred" accident had occurred
Future Simple (will+verb) Conditional (would+verb)

He said: "I will open the door." He said that he would open the door.
3- Place, demonstratives and time expressions

Place, demonstratives and time expressions change if the context of the reported statement (i.e. the location
and/or the period of time) is different from that of the direct speech. In the following table, you will find the
different changes of place; demonstratives and time expressions.
Direct
Reported Speech
Speech
Time Expressions
today that day
now then
yesterday the day before
… days ago … days before
last week the week before
next year the following year
tomorrow the next day / the following day
Place
here there
Demonstratives
this that
these those
B. Reporting Questions
When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:
 pronouns
 place and time expressions
 tenses (backshift)
Also note that you have to:
 transform the question into an indirect question
 use the question word (where, when, what, how) or if / whether
Types of questions Direct speech Reported speech

With question word (what, why, "Why" don’t you speak He asked me why I didn’t speak
where, how...) English?” English.
Without question word (yes or no “Do you speak English?” He asked me whether / if I spoke
questions) English.
j
C. Reporting requests / commands

When transforming requests and commands, check whether you have to change:
 pronouns
 place and time expressions
“Nancy, do the exercise “ He told Nancy to do the exercise.
"Nancy, give me your pen, please." He asked Nancy to give him her pen.
Tenses are not relevant for requests – simply use to / not to + verb (infinitive without
"to")
Example:
She said, “Sit down." - She asked me to sit down.
She said, "don't be lazy" - She asked me not to be lazy
For affirmative use to + infinitive (without to)

For negative requests, use not to + infinitive (without to).
-
D. Other transformations
 Expressions of advice with must, should and ought to are usually reported using advise / urge.
Example:
"You must read this book."
He advised / urged me to read that book.
 The expression let’s is usually reported using suggest. In this case, there are two possibilities for
reported speech: gerund or statement with should.
Example:
"Let’s go to the cinema."
1. He suggested going to the cinema.
2. He suggested that we should go to the cinema.
Sentence transformation. Rewrite these sentences using the words given, so that both sentences have the
same meaning.
1) John said, "I love this town." (LOVED)
John said _____________________________________________________________________that town.
2) "Do you like soccer?" He asked me. (if)
He asked me ___________________________________________________________________ soccer.
3) "I can't drive a lorry," he said. (DRIVE)

He said that _____________________________________________________________________a lorry.
4) "Be nice to your brother," he said. (BE)

He asked me to ______________________________________________________________ my brother.
5) "Don't be nasty," he said. (NOT)

He urged me _____________________________________________________________________ nasty.
6) "Don't waste your money" she said. (THEIR)

She told the boys not _____________________________________________________________ money.
7) "What have you decided to do?" she asked him. (HAD)

She asked him ___________________________________________________________________ to do.
8) "I always wake up early," he said. (ALWAYS)

He said that he __________________________________________________________________ early.
9) "You should revise your lessons," he said. (TO)

He advised the students __________________________________________________________ lessons.
10) "Where have you been?" he asked me. (WHERE)

He wanted to know ________________________________________________________________ been.
11) Mary suggested having a pizza. (HAVE)

Mary said: ______________________________________________________________________a pizza.
12) My mother told me not to burn the rice. (NOT)

My mother said: _________________________________________________________________the rice.

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REPORTED SPEECH: INDIRECT SPEECH.

What is reported speech?

Direct speech Reported speech

Direct speech Reported speech

“I write poems. He says that he writes poems.

“I write poems. He said that he wrote poems.

can "I can do it." He said he could do it.

Direct Speech Reported Speech

Simple Present Simple Past

Present Continuous Past Continuous

Simple Past Past Perfect Simple

Present Perfect Past Perfect

Past Perfect Past Perfect

Past Continuous Past Perfect Continuous

Future Simple (will+verb) Conditional (would+verb)

3- Place, demonstratives and time expressions

Types of questions Direct speech Reported speech

C. Reporting requests / commands

Direct speech Reported speech

“Nancy, do the exercise “ He told Nancy to do the exercise.

For affirmative use to + infinitive (without to)

3) "I can't drive a lorry," he said. (DRIVE)

4) "Be nice to your brother," he said. (BE)

5) "Don't be nasty," he said. (NOT)

6) "Don't waste your money" she said. (THEIR)

7) "What have you decided to do?" she asked him. (HAD)

8) "I always wake up early," he said. (ALWAYS)

9) "You should revise your lessons," he said. (TO)

10) "Where have you been?" he asked me. (WHERE)

11) Mary suggested having a pizza. (HAVE)

12) My mother told me not to burn the rice. (NOT)

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