Direct/ Reported Speech
Direct Speech : She said, “I am tired”.
Indirect Speech (or Reported Speech) : She said that she was tired.
A. Tense changes when using reported speech.
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Simple Present Simple Past
“I always drink coffee”, she said. She said that she always drank coffee.
Present Continuous Past Continuous
“I am reading a book,” he explained.
Simple Past Past Perfect
“Bill arrived on Saturday”, he said.
Present Perfect Past Perfect
“I have been to Spain”, he told me.
Past Perfect Past Perfect
“I had just turned out the light”, he explained.
Present Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous
They complained, “We have been waiting for hours”.
Past Continuous Past Perfect Continuous
“We were living in Paris”, they told me.
Future Present Conditional
“I will be in Geneva on Monday”, he said.
Future Continuous Conditional Continuous
She said, “I’ll be using the car next Friday”.
Note:
No need to change if the reporting verb is in the present or if the original statement was about
something that is still true, eg.
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
He says, “I have missed the train and I will catch the
next one”.
“It is very difficult to find our house”, we explained.
These modals do not change in reported speech: - might, could, would, should, ought to, need to.
B. Time/place references change when using reported speech
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
today that day
“I saw him today”, she said. She said that she had seen him that day.
yesterday
“I saw him yesterday”, she said.
the day before yesterday
“I met her the day before yesterday”, he said.
tomorrow
“I’ll see you tomorrow”, he said.
the day after tomorrow
“We’ll come the day after tomorrow”, they said.
next week / month / year
“I have an appointment next week,” she said.
last week / month / year
“I was on holiday last week”, he told us.
ago
“I saw her a week ago”, he said.
this (for time)
“I’m getting a new car this week”, she said.
this / that (adjective)
“Do you like this shirt?” he asked.
here
He said, “I live here”.
C. Personal pronoun changes
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
I/me/my/mine/you/your/yours
we/us/our/ours/you/your/yours
D. Question forms
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
“Where does Peter live?” She asked. She asked him where Peter lived.
“What is your name?” he asked her.
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Yes/No Questions “Do you speak English?” He asked me if I spoke English.
Use: “Is it raining?”
‘ask’ + if/whether + clause “Did you come by train?”
Question words “How old is your mother?” he asked. He asked how old her mother was.
Use: “When can we have dinner?” she asked.
‘ask’ + question word +clause Peter said to John, “Why are you so late?”
E. Reported Speech – orders, requests and suggestions
ORDER OR REQUEST = Verb + Indirect object + to-clause
Verbs used to report orders and requests = command, order, warn, ask, advise, invite, beg, teach,
forbid.
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
The doctor said to me, “Stop smoking!” The doctor told me to stop smoking.
“Get out of the car!” said the policeman.
“Could you please be quiet,” she said.
The man with the gun said to us, “Don’t move!”
REQUESTS FOR OBJECTS = ask + for + object
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
“Can I have an apple?” she asked. She asked for an apple.
“May I have a glass of water?” he said.
“Could I have three kilos of onions?” he said.
“Sugar, please.”
SUGGESTIONS = reported with a ‘That’ clause or followed by a gerund.
Other reporting verbs used = insist, recommend, demand, request, propose
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
She said, “Why don’t you get a mechanic to look at 1. She suggested that I should get a mechanic to look
the car?” at the car.
2. She suggested I get a mechanic to look at the car.
3. She suggested getting a mechanic to look at the car.
“It would be a good idea to see the dentist”, said my
mother.
My manager said, “I think you should examine the
budget carefully at this meeting.”
“Why don’t you sleep overnight at my house?” she
said.
