REPORTED SPEECH
In reported speech, we paraphrase what is given between inverted commas (“…”) in direct speech.
Examples: Peter: “I’m going home.” → Peter said he was going home.
“I’ve never been to Italy.” → I told them I had never been to Italy.
We usually use reporting verbs such as say*, tell*, ask, but we can also use others, i.e. promise, think, believe,
swear, etc.
Examples: The applicant thought he would be accepted for the job.
The suspect swore he’d never had any problems with the law before.
* say + something; tell + someone + something
Pay attention to deictics (i.e. words that are dependent upon the context)! Very often they must be changed.
Examples: Jack: “Come see me tomorrow.” → Jack said to come see him the next day.
Anna: “I’m meeting my friend here.” → Anna said she was meeting her friend there.
REPORTED STATEMENTS
If the verb in the main clause is in the present, the tense in the subordinate clause doesn’t change.
Examples: Sarah: “I’m staying in tonight.” → Sarah says she’s staying in tonight.
Present Cont. Present Cont.
If the verb in the main clause is in the past, the tense in the subordinate ‘moves back’:
Direct Speech Reported Speech
Future > Future in the past
Present (Simple / Continuous / Perfect) > Past (Simple / Continuous / Perfect)*
Past (Simple / Continuous / Perfect) > Past (Simple / Continuous / Perfect)
Examples:
Direct Speech Reported Speech
The President swore he would do
President: “I will do everything in my
everything in his power to protect his
power to protect my people.”
people.
Jake said he didn’t like tea.
Jake: “I don’t like tea.”
Susan told us they were driving to see
Susan: “We’re driving to see Mum.”
their mother.
“The party ended by 3 a.m.” They said the party had ended by 3
a.m.
Witness: “I was on my way home The witness said he was on his way
when I saw this man snatch the home when he saw the man snatch the
woman’s handbag.” woman’s handbag.
* Sometimes, when we report things that are still true now, we can keep the same tense as in the Direct Speech.
Examples: The boy said the population of London is 9 million.
The teacher told us that water dilates when it freezes.
REPORTED QUESTIONS
Direct questions become statements in reported speech, i.e. there is no inversion or auxiliary used.
Examples: Bill: “How old are you?” → Bill asked me how old I was.
The boss: “What are you doing here?” → Our boss wanted to know what we were doing there.
If the question is not a Wh- question, we can use if or whether to link the subordinate to the main clause.
Examples: Dr Lawrence: “Have you been ill?” → Dr Lawrence asked if I’d been ill.
Man to woman: “Can you speak English?” → He asked whether she could speak English.
REPORTED SPEECH AND USE OF THE INFINITIVE
We can report orders, requests, advice, invitations and warnings using the construction Verb + Object +
Infinitive.
Examples: “Would you like to go on a trip with us?” → She invited me to go on a trip with them.
“Shut up, will you?” → He told us to shut up.
“It’s not wise to give up now.” → He warned us not to give up at that moment.
We can also report offers, promises and threats using the construction Verb + Infinitive.
Examples: “May I help you with your bags?” → I offered to help them with their bags.
“I promise I will come to your birthday.” → She promised to come to my birthday.
