REPORTED SPEECHSWOOSH 9

Cláudia Regina Abreu | Cidália Sousa | Vanessa Reis Esteves

Anne said: “Jack wrote a great story.”

What’s the difference?

Anne said that Jack had written a great story.

The first sentence is in direct speech.

The second sentence is in reported speech.

What’s the difference?

DIRECT SPEECHThe exact words someone said.

Jack wrote a great story.

REPORTED SPEECHWe use the reported speech when we are telling someone what another person said or thought, but do not use their exact words.

I want to be a writer when I grow up.

Jack said that he wanted to be a writer when he grew up.

REPORTED SPEECH

Remember that:

When we report a statement, we use reporting verbs such as say, tell, explain, inform, etc. often followed by that.

Sarah said “I’m happy.”

Sarah said that she was happy.

REPORTED SPEECH

Remember that:

Quotation marks are not used.

Sarah said “I’m happy.”

Sarah said that she was happy.

REPORTED SPEECHRemember that:

Verb tenses, pronouns and some “time” and “place” expressions may change because the time, place and speaker may be different in reported speech.

Sarah said “I’m happy.”

Sarah said that she was happy.

REPORTED SPEECHRemember that:If the time, place and speaker are different, some changes need to be made.

• Verb tenses• Subject pronouns• Object pronouns• Possessive determiners• Expressions of time• Expressions of place

REPORTED SPEECHVerb Tenses

Present simple

Direct speech Reported speech

Past simple

Present continuous Past continuous

I love reading novels. She said that she loved reading novels.

He is reading a novel. He said that he was reading a novel.

REPORTED SPEECHVerb Tenses

Past simple

Direct speech Reported speech

Past perfect

Present perfect Past perfect

I read an interesting book. She said that she had read an interesting book.

She has read an interesting book. She said that she had read an interesting book.

Future Conditional

I’ll call you. He said that he would call me.

REPORTED SPEECHPersonal pronouns

Direct speech Reported speech

I he / she

you I / we / he / she / they

we they

me him / her

you me / us / her / him / them

us them

OBJECT

SUBJECT

REPORTED SPEECHPersonal pronouns

I love my mother’s work.

Lucy said that her mother was a famous author.

Lucy said that…she loved her mother’s work.

My mother is a famous author.

REPORTED SPEECHPossessives

Direct speech Reported speech

my his / her

your my / our / his / her / their

our their

mine his / hers

yours mine / ours / his / hers / theirs

ours theirs

PRONOUNS

ADJECTIVES

REPORTED SPEECHTime expressions

Direct speech Reported speech

now then

today / tonight that day / that night

this morning that morning

yesterday the day before/ the previous night

tomorrow the next / following day

last month the previous month

REPORTED SPEECH

Today I am very happy.

My best friend and I are going

on a school trip.

Which words need to be changed?

REPORTED SPEECH

My best friend and I are writing a story

for school.

Lucy said (that)…that day she was very happy.

Lucy said that…she and her best friend were writing a story for school.

Today I am very happy.

REPORTED SPEECHOther expressions

Direct speech Reported speech

here there

this place that place

these those

REPORTED SPEECHRemember that:

When we report a statement, we use reporting verbs such as say, tell, explain, inform, …

• SAY + something

• TELL + someone + something

REPORTED SPEECHSAY + something

TELL + someone + something

Jack said that he wanted to be a writer.

Jack told me that he wanted to be a writer.

I want to be a writer.

REPORTED SPEECHSAY + something

TELL + someone + something

Tricia told her mum that she loved her.?

I love you, mum.

REPORTED SPEECH

Time to PRACTISE

Choose the best option.

REPORTED SPEECH

I like my school.

Mary said that she liked her school.

REPORTED SPEECH

I spend a lot of time reading at night.

Mary said that she spent a lot of time reading at night.

REPORTED SPEECH

My favourite book genre is science fiction.

Mary said that her favourite book genre was science fiction.

REPORTED SPEECH

My brother doesn’t like reading.

Mary said that her brother didn’t like reading.

REPORTED SPEECH

Today I’m buying a new book.

Mary said that that day she was buying a new book.

REPORTED SPEECH

I’ve finished writing a story for the school competition.

Mary said that she had finished writing a story for the school competition.

REPORTED SPEECH

To PRACTISEsome more…

Open your book on

page 147.