REPORTED SPEECH

Direct speech Indirect speech

Present simpleShe said, "It's cold."

Past simpleShe said it was cold.

Present continuousShe said, "I'm teaching English online."

Past continuousShe said she was teaching English online.

Present perfectShe said, "I've been on the web since 1999."

Past perfectShe said she had been on the web since 1999.

Past simpleShe said, "I taught online yesterday."

Past perfectShe said she had taught online the day before.

Past continuousShe said, "I was teaching earlier."

Past perfect continuousShe said she had been teaching earlier.

Past perfectShe said, "The lesson had already startedwhen he arrived."

Past perfect NO CHANGE -She said the lesson had already started whenhe arrived.

Future simpleMike said “The train will arrive at 3:00”

Conditional simpleMike said that the train would arrive at 3:00

Can – may– shall - must Could – might - should - had to

Would, could, might, should, ought to NO CHANGE

1.REPORTING VERBS

SAY+TO+OBJECT TELL+OBJECT “Ann: I am arriving at about 6.00.” Brenda said

Brenda said to Ann she was arriving at about 6.00.

Brenda told Ann she was arriving at about 6.00.

2.TIME EXPRESSIONS

today /tonighttomorrowyesterdayagonowherelast Mondaynext Mondaythis / these

 That day / that nightthe next day / the following daythe day before /the previous daybeforethentherethe previous Monday / the Mondaybeforethe next Monday/ the followingMondaythat/ those

3. REPORTED QUESTIONS

a. Yes – No questions:S + asked/ wanted to know/ wondered … + IF / WHETHER + S + V

Ex: “Do you see new friend?” he said →He asked me if I saw newfriends.b. Wh –questions:

S + asked/ wanted to know/ wondered … + WH-WORD + S + V

Ex: “Who is going for a walk?” he asked them. → He asked them who wasgoing for a walk.

 4. COMMANDS, REQUESTS, SUGGESTIONS AND ADVICE IN REPORTED

SPEECH

* Commands/Requests in reported speech:

 

V + O S + told / asked somebody + TOinfinitive + ……….

Don’t + V + O S + told / ordered somebody + NOT TOinfinitive + ……….

Ex: “Turn off the light before going to bed,” my mother said to me.

→My mother told me to turn off the light before going to bed..

Ex: “Please don’t make noise here”, They said →They asked us not tomake noise there.

* Advice in reported speech:- S + should / ought to / had better + V + ….- If I were you, I would (not ) + V + …..

→ S + ADVISED + O + ( not ) TO infinitive + …..Ex: “You’d better study hard for exam,” Jack said to his brother.

→ Jack advised his brother to study hard for the exam.Ex: “If I were you, I would not see him,” Maggie said to Ian.

→Maggie advised Ian not to see him.

* Suggestions in reported speech:- Let’s+ V+ ……- Why don’t + we + V + ……?- What about+- ing..?-How about+- ing…?-Sahll we+ V….?

→ S + SUGGESTED + V- ing..

→ S + SUGGESTED + (that)+ S+ SHOULD+ V..Ex: “Let’s build a fire here,” Tom said.

→Tom suggested building a fire there.Ex: “Why don’t we clean the garage this weekend?,” Molly said to her son .

→Molly suggested that they should clean the garage that weekendExercise

1. You must go to school on time”.

 Miss Holden told her students……………………………………….

2. “Are you fond of collecting stamps?”

 She asked me……………………………………………………….

3. “Can you write a letter in English?”

 He asked me…………………………………………………………

4. “Do you often write to your grandma?”

 I asked the boy……………………………………………………….

5. “Will you stay here for three weeks?”

 She asked me………………………………………………………..

6. “Does this house belong to you?”

 She asked me………………………………………………………..

7. “Do your parents enjoy watching TV?”

 She asked me………………………………………………………

8. “I don’t want to go fishing.”

Andrew said ………………………………………………………..

9. “I’m living in London now.”

 

 Charles said ……………………………………………………….

10. “I can fix the faucets today.”

 He said …………………………………………………………..

11. “Don’t throw things away”, Miss Linda said to the students.

Miss Linda asked ………………………………………………………

12. “Open your mouth, please”, the dentist asked Tom.

The dentist asked Tom ………………………………………………..

13. “You should study harder”, my mother said to me.

My mother told me …………………………………………………….

14. Christopher:"Do you want to dance?"

Christopher asked me ……………………………………………

15. Betty asked me: "When did you come?"

Betty wanted to know ……………………………………………….

16. Frank:"How much money does Lisa get?"

Frank wanted to know ………………………………………………

17. "What's the time?" he asked

→ He wanted to know ..................................................................

18. "When will we meet again?" she asked me

→ She asked me ..................................................................

19. "Are you crazy?" she asked him.

→ She asked him .........................................................................

20. "Where did they live?" he asked.

→ He wanted to know .....................................................................