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.
Mohammed Hamdi Senhaji
Direct speech vs. Reported speech:
Direct speech Reported speech
She says:" she likes tuna She says that she likes tuna fish.
fish."
She said: "I'm visiting She said that she was visiting
Paris next weekend" Paris the following weekend.
Different types of sentences
When you use reported speech, you either report:
 Statements
 questions
 requests / commands
 other types Mohammed Hamdi Senhaji
I. 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.
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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.
Reported speech
Direct speech
“I write poems.” He says that
(no backshift)
he writes poems.
“I write poems.” He said that
(backshift)
he wrote poems.
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 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.
Examples of the main changes in tense:
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 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 He said that he was
keys" looking for his keys
Simple Past Past Perfect Simple
He said: "I visited New York last He said that he had
year" visited New York the previous
year. Mohammed Hamdi Senhaji
 Imperative Infinitive
He said: " come in" He asked me to come in
Past Perfect
Past Perfect
He said: "They had finished the He said that they had finished the
work when I arrived" work when he had arrived"
Past Continuous Past Perfect continuous
He said: "I was playing football He said that he had been
playing football when the
when the accident occured"
accident had occured
Present Perfect continuous Past Perfect continuous
He said:"I have been
He said that he had been
playing football for two hours."
playing football for two hours
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 Past Perfect continuous Past Perfect continuous
He said: "I had been reading a He said that he had been reading a
newspaper when the light went newspaper when the light had gone
off" off
Future Simple (will+verb) Conditional (would+verb)
He said: "I will open the door." He said that he would open the door.

Conditional (would+verb) Conditional (would+verb)

He said: "I would buy Mercedes if He said that he would buy Mercedes
I were rich" if he had been rich"

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The verbs could, should, would, might, must, needn’t, ought to,
used to do not normally change.
Example:
He said, “She might be right.” – He said that she might be right.

3-Place and time expressions

Place and time expressions change if the context of the reported
statement (ie the location and/or the period of time) is
different from that of the direct speech.
In the following table, you will find ways of transforming place and
time expressions into reported speech.
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3-Place and time expressions

Direct Speech Reported Speech

today that day
now then
yesterday the day before/the previous day
… days ago … days before
last week the week before/ the previous week
next year the following year
tomorrow the next day / the following day
here there
this that
these those Mohammed Hamdi Senhaji
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
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Types of Direct
Reported speech
questions speech
With question word "Why" don’t He asked me why I didn’t speak
(what, why, where, you speak English.
how...) English?”
Without question “Do you speak He asked me whether / if I
word (yes or no English?” spoke English.
questions)
C. Reporting requests / commands
When transforming requests and commands, check whether you
have to change:
 pronouns
 place and time expressions
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 Direct speech Reported speech
“Nancy, do the exercise.“ He told Nancy to do the exercise.
"Nancy, give me your pen, He asked Nancy to give him her pen.
please."

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).
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D. Other transformations
Expressions of advice with must, should and ought 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.
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Main clauses connected with and/but
If two complete main clauses are connected with ‚and‘ or ‚but‘,
put ‚that‘ after the conjunction.
Example:
He said, "I saw her but she didn’t see me.“ – He said that he had
seen her but that she hadn’t seen him.“
If the subject is dropped in the second main clause (the conjunction is
followed by a verb), do not use ‚that‘.
Example:
She said, "I am a nurse and work in a hospital.“ – He said that she
was a nurse and worked in a hospital.“

Mohammed Hamdi Senhaji

Grammar Exercise - Reported Speech
Complete the sentences in reported speech.
1. John said, "I love this town."
John said………………………………
that he loved that town.
2. "Do you like soccer ?" He asked me.
He asked me…………………………………
if / whether I liked soccer.
3. "I can't drive a lorry," he said.
He said…………………………………………
that he couldn't drive a lorry.
4. "Be nice to your brother," he said.
He asked me………………………………
to be nice to my brother.
5. "Don't be nasty," he said.
He urged me …………………………………
not to be nasty. ….
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6. "Don't waste your money" she said.
She told the boys……………………………..
not to waste their money.
7. "What have you decided to do?" she asked him.
She asked him ……………………………..
what he had decided to do.
8. "I always wake up early," he said.
He said………………………………
that he always woke up early.
9. "You should revise your lessons," he said.
He advised the students………………
to revise their lessons.
10. "Where were you born ,"he asked me.
He wanted to know…………………….
where I was born.

Mohammed Hamdi Senhaji

 Reported Speech
Reported commands, affirmative sentences
Exercise 1
Finish the sentences using Reported
speech. Always change the tense, although it is
sometimes not necessary.
Example: Peter: "Clean the black shoes!"
Peter told me _________________________
Answer: Peter told me to clean the black shoes.

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1) Andrew: "Clean the blue bike!"
to clean the blue bike
Andrew told me…………………………
2) Jessica: "Write a text message!"
Jessica told me……………………..
to write a text message
3) Nelly: "Help Peter's sister!"
Nelly told me……………………
to help Peter’s sister.
4) Fred: "Wash your hands!"
Fred told me………………………….
to wash my hands
5) Anna: "Open the window!"
Anna told me……………………………
to open the window
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6) Tom: "Come at 8!"
to come at 8
Tom told me………………………
7) Teacher: "Do your homework!"
The teacher told me………… to do my homework
8) Leila: "Dance with me!"
to dance with her.
Leila told me……………………
9) Aicha : "Meet Khadija at the station!"
to meet Khadija at the station
Aicha told me………………………
10) Victoria: "Check your e-mails!"
Victoria told me…………………………
to check my e-mails

Mohammed Hamdi Senhaji

Exercise 2:
Reported commands, negations
Finish the sentences using Reported
speech. Always change the tense, although it is
sometimes not necessary.

Example: Peter: "Don't clean the black shoes!"

Peter told me _________________________
Answer: Peter told me not to clean the black
shoes. Mohammed Hamdi Senhaji
1) Karen: "Don't play football in the garden!"
not to play football in the garden
Karen told me……………………………
2) Teacher: "Don't forget your homework!"
The teacher reminded me…………………
not to forget my homework
3) Mike: "Don't shout at Peter!"
not to shout at Peter
Mike told me…………………………
4) Youness: "Don't talk to your neighbour!"
Youness told me…………………..
not to talk to my neighbour
5) Denise: "Don't open the door!"
not to open the window
Denise told me…………………………

Mohammed Hamdi Senhaji

6) Marcel: "Don't sing that song!"
not to sing that song
Marcel reminded me………………………………………….
7) Jane: "Don't watch the new film!"
not to watch the new film
Jane advised me……………………………………………..
8) Walter: "Don't ring Roomy on Sunday!"
not to ring Roomy on Sunday
Walter told me…………………………………………………
9) Lisa: "Don't fly via Paris!"
not to fly via Paris
Lisa advised me……………………………………………..
10) Jamie: "Don't eat so much junk food!"
not to eat so much junk food
Jamie reminded me……………………………..

Mohammed Hamdi Senhaji

Exercise 3:
Finish the sentences using Reported
speech. Always change the tense,
although it is sometimes not necessary.

Example: Peter: "I clean the black shoes."

Peter told me that
____________________________
Answer: Peter told me that he cleaned the
black shoes.
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1) John: "Mandy is at home."
John said that……………..…….
Mandy was at home
2) Max: "Frank often reads a book."
He often read a book.
Max told me that…………………………
3) Susan: "I'm watching TV."
She was watching TV
Susan said to me that………………
4) Simon: "David was ill."
Simon said that………………..
David had been ill
5) Peggy: "The girls helped in the house."
The girls had helped in the house
Peggy told me that...............................

Mohammed Hamdi Senhaji

6) Richard: "I am going to ride a skateboard."
Richard said to me that…………………..
He was going to ride a skateboard
7) Stephen and Claire: "We have cleaned the windows."
Stephen and Claire told me that……………… They had cleaned the windows.
8) Ali : "I didn't have time to do my homework."
he hadn’t had time to do his homework
Ali remarked that………………….
9) Mrs. Jones: "My mother will be 50 years old."
Mrs. Jones told me that………………..
her mother would be 50 years old
10) Jean: "The boss must sign the letter."
Jean said that………………….
the boss had to sign the letter

Mohammed Hamdi Senhaji

Finish the sentences using Reported
speech. Always change the tense, although it is
sometimes not necessary.

Example: Peter: "I cleaned the black shoes

yesterday."
Peter told me that
_________________________________

Answer: Peter told me that he had cleaned the

black shoes the day before.
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1) Latifa : "Our teacher will go to Fez tomorrow."
Latifa said that…………………………..
our teacher would go to Fez the following day
2) Helen: "I was writing a letter yesterday."
Helen told me that……………………..
she had been writing a letter the previous day
3) Robert: "My father flew to Dallas last year."
Robert told me that...........................……………
his father had flown to Dallas the year before
4) Lisa: "Tim went to the stadium an hour ago."
Tim had gone to the stadium an hour before
Lisa said that………………………
5) Patricia: "My mother will celebrate her birthday next
weekend."
Patricia said that………………………
her mother would celebrate her birthday the following
weekend
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6) Michael: "I am going to read a book this week."
Michael said to me that…………………
he was going to read a book that week
7) Jason and Victoria: "We will do our best in the
exams tomorrow."
they would do their best in the exams the next day
Jason and Victoria told me that………………….
8) Andrew: "We didn't eat fish two days ago."
Andrew remarked that………………..
they hadn’t eaten fish two days before
9) Alice: "I spent all my pocket money on Monday."
Alice complained that…………………..
she has spent all her pocket money on Monday

10) David: "John had already gone at six."

David said that ………………
John had already gone at six
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Exercise 5:
Finish the sentences using Reported
speech. Always change the tense, although it is
sometimes not necessary.

Example: Peter: "Did John clean the black

shoes?"
Peter asked me
_________________________________

Answer: Peter asked me if John had cleaned the

black shoes.
Mohammed Hamdi Senhaji
1) Christopher: "Do you want to dance?"
whether I wanted to dance
Christopher asked me……..
2) Betty: "When did you come?"
Betty wanted to know…………………
when I had come
3) Mark: "Has John arrived?"
Mark asked me…………………………………
whether John had arrived
4) Ronald: "Where does Maria park her car?"
Ronald asked me…………………………
where Maria parked her car
5) Elisabeth: "Did you watch the latest film?"
Elisabeth asked me………………………………………
Whether I had watched the lastest film.
6) Mandy: "Can I help you?"
Mandy wanted to know……………………
whether she could help me Mohammed Hamdi Senhaji
7) Andrew: "Will Mandy have lunch with Sue?"
Andrew asked me……………………………
whether Mandy would have lunch with Sue
8) Badr : "What are you doing?"
Badr asked me……………………………………
what I was doing
9) Frank: "How much pocket money does Lisa
get?"
Frank wanted to know……………………………
how much pocket money Lisa got
10) Anne: "Must I do the shopping?"
whether she had to do the shopping
Anne asked…………………………………

Mohammed Hamdi Senhaji

Exercise 6:
Finish the sentences using Reported
speech. Always change the tense, although it is
sometimes not necessary.

Example: Peter: "Did John clean the black shoes

yesterday?"
Peter asked me
______________________________________
Answer: Peter asked me if John had cleaned the
black shoes the day before. Mohammed Hamdi Senhaji
1) Mandy: "Are the boys reading the book?"
Yesterday Mandy asked me………………….
whether the boys were reading the book.
2) Jason: "Who gave you the laptop?"
Yesterday Jason wanted to know……………… who had given me the laptop
3) Robert: "Is Tim leaving on Friday?"
Yesterday Robert asked me……………… Whether Tim was leaving on Friday.
4) Daniel: "Will it rain tomorrow?"
Yesterday Daniel asked me…………………….
whether it would rain the next day
5) Jennifer: "Where do you play football today?"
Yesterday Jennifer wanted to know……………………
where I played football the other day

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6) Nancy: "Why didn't Nick go to New York last summer?"
Yesterday Nancy wanted to know……………………
why Nick hadn’t gone to New York the previous summer
7) Barbara: "Must I do my homework this afternoon?"
Yesterday Barbara asked me……………………….
whether she had to do her homework that afternoon.
8) Linda: "Did Max fly to London two weeks ago?"
Yesterday Linda wanted to know …………………….
whether Max had flown to London two weeks before.
9) Grandmother: "Where are my glasses?"
where her glasses were
Yesterday Grandmother asked me……………………
10) A man: "When does the train to Liverpool leave?"
Yesterday a man asked me……………………….
when the train to Liverpool left

Mohammed Hamdi Senhaji