Reported Speech

Reported Speech

1. Reported speech, or indirect speech, is used to tell what someone has said without using the exact words uttered by that person. / We use reported speech to say what someone said.

   • The most common verbs that we use to report statements are say and tell.
     • When we use say, we don't usually specify the person who was spoken to. Example: "He said that he was Spanish"
       • When we use tell, we always specify the person who was spoken to. Example: "He told me that he was Spanish"
         • We often use that after said and told but it isn't essential.
           • In reported speech, we change pronouns and words referring to time and place if the sentence is reported on a different day or in a different place.
             • Example: "I'm coming tomorrow." → She said she was coming the next day.

2. EXAMPLES

   • I am correcting exams now --- She said (that) she was correcting exams then.
     • I can't understand these old books --- She said (that) she couldn't understand those old books
       • I won't work here next year --- She said that she wouldn't work there the next year.
         • Don't speak during the exam --- She told me not to speak during the exam
           • I work in a supermarket --- He said (that) he worked in a supermarket
             • I go to church every Sunday --- He said (that) he went to church every Sunday
               • I lost my glasses last week. --- He said (that) he had lost his glasses the previous week.
                 • My cousin may visit me this month --- He said (that) his cousin might visit him that month.
                   • I can speak English --- He said (that) he could speak English
                     • I don't remember your name --- He said (that) he didn't remember my name.
                       • I left my husband yesterday --- She said (that) she had left her husbamd the day before
                         • I haven´t seen you before --- He said (that) he hadn´t seen me before
                           • I will travel to Mars next month --- She said (that) she would travel to Mars the next month
                             • It may rain this week --- She said (that) it migth rain that week
                               • You can call me tomorrow --- She said (that) I could call her the next day

3. BASIC TENSE CHANGES

   • PRESENT SIMPLE → PAST SIMPLE
     • PRESENT CONTINUOUS → PAST CONTINUOUS
       • PAST SIMPLE → PAST PERFECT
         • PRESENT PERFECT → PAST PERFECT
   • WILL → WOULD
     • CAN → COULD
       • MAY → MIGHT
         • MUST → HAD TO
           • HAVE TO → HAD TO

4. OTHER CHANGES

   • NOW → THEN
     • TODAY → THAT DAY
       • YESTERDAY → THE DAY BEFORE
         • LAST MONTH,WEEK... → THE PREVIOUS MONTH, WEEK..
           • AGO → BEFORE
             • TOMORROW → THE NEXT DAY
               • NEXT WEEK → THE NEXT WEEK
                 • THIS → THAT
                   • THESE → THOSE
                     • HERE → THERE
                       • Aldair Moreno Segura / LGCH02-M

5. When we report wh- questions, we include the question word(s) instead of if.

   • Example: Why did you call me?" → She asked (me) why I had called her.
     • We report a Yes/No question with the following structure: subject + asked + (object) + if + subject + affirmative verb form + rest of sentence.
       • Example: "Do you want Pizza?" → She asked (me) if I wanted Pizza

6. The following modal verbs don't change in reported speech: WOULD , COULD, MIGTH, SHOULD

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