REPORTED SPEECH

If we report what another person has said, we usually do not use the speaker’s exact words (direct speech), but reported speech . Podemos contar lo que alguien ha dicho de dos maneras: 1- Repitiendo sus palabras exactas –Direct speech 2- Contando lo que ha dicho pero no las palabras exactas- Indirect or Reported speech.

REPORTED SPEECH Cuando vamos a contar lo que alguien ha dicho, reported speech, tenemos en cuenta tres tipos de oraciones: 1- Oraciones enunciativas- Statements 2- Oraciones interrogativas- Questions 3- Oraciones imperativas, órdenes, peticiones y sugerencias – commands, orders, requests and suggestions

This is how we report statements. “I am doing my homework now,” said Tom. Tom said that he was doing his homework then. We need to change references to times. Now let’s take a look at some of these changes in more detail. Again references to people change because the point of view changed. “My” refers to Tom’s, so we change it to “his”. Finally don’t forget to remove the speech marks (inverted commas) around the spoken words. The use of “that” is optional in English. Speakers are always mentioned at the beginning of the sentence in the reported speech. Reporting verbs like “say, tell, explain…” are used in the Past Simple and placed after the subject. References to people change because the point of view changes. “I” refers to Tom, so we change it to “he”. Tenses move back into the past. In this case the Present Continuous becomes Past Continuous.

REPORTED SPEECH When the introductory verb (say, tell, inform, state, claim…) is in the present, present perfect or future tense, no change in tense or adverbs of time and place is necessary Direct speech: He says: “I don’t understand this question”. Reported speech: He says that he doesn’t understand this question.

REPORTED SPEECH When the introductory verb is in the Past Tense, there is a change of tense and adverbs of time and place. Direct speech: He said: “I don’t understand this question”. Reported speech: He said that he didn’t understand that question.

REPORTED SPEECH SAY and TELL If you say who you are talking to, use tell: Sonia told me that you were ill. (not “Sonia said me”) What did you tell the police? (not “say the police”) Otherwise use say: Sonia said that you were ill. (not “Sonia told that..”) What did you say? But you can “say something to somebody”: Ann said goodbye to me and left. (not “Ann said me goodbye.”) What did you say to the police?

REPORTED SPEECH PAY ATTENTION TO CHANGES: - Verbal tenses. - Personal pronouns, possessives, demonstratives. - Time, place adverbs.

BACKSHIFT OF TENSES

Note that we only change the first verb from present into past. TENSE CHANGES: present make/makes made am/is/are making was/weremaking has/have made had made don’t/doesn’t make didn’t make Note that we only change the first verb from present into past.

TENSE CHANGES: past had + past participle went had gone didn’t go hadn’t gone was/were going had been going When the tense is past we need to add had + past participle Verbs already in the past perfect do not change.

TENSE CHANGES: modal verbs can could will would may might must must or had to The past modals could, would, should and might do not change.

CHANGES in PLACE & TIME here there this that/the these those now then today that day

the next day / the following day the day before/ the previous day CHANGES in PLACE & TIME tonight that night tomorrow the next day / the following day next week the following week yesterday the day before/ the previous day last month the previous month

This is how we report questions. REPORTED SPEECH This is how we report questions. When transforming questions note that you have to transform the question into an indirect question There are two types of questions: WH-questions: WH-word stays as conjunction YES-NO-questions: we introduce conjunction if or whether Important: Word order changes into that of a statement.

REPORTED SPEECH Reporting Questions *Order of Reported Question: A) YES / NO QUESTIONS: *Order of Reported Question: Subject + Verb - as in Statements No question mark Ex: “Are you working these days?” he said. He asked if/whether I was working those days. Ex: “Did you speak to John last night?” she asked She wanted to know if I had spoken to John, the night before.

REPORTED SPEECH Reporting Questions: B) WH- QUESTIONS Reporting Verb + Question Word (s) + Subject + Verb (The Word Order is again the same as in Statements) Ex: “Where did you go last summer?”. He asked me where I had gone the previous summer. Ex: “How long were you waiting for us?” She wanted to know how long I had been waiting for them.

REPORTED SPEECH Reporting Verbs: Verb + “that clause”: Admit, declare, explain, insist, recommend, reply, reveal, say, suggest… Ex: “We took the wrong way” she said She explained that they had taken the wrong way. 2) Verb + Indirect Object + (not) to infinitive: ask, advise, invite, order, remind, tell… Ex: “Would you like to come to my party?” she said. She invited me to go to her party. Ex: “Don’t do that” He told me not to do that.

REPORTED SPEECH Reporting Verbs: 3) Verb + to infinitive: agree, decide, offer, promise, refuse, threaten… Ex: “I’ll do it” she said. She offered to do it. 4) Verb + (preposition) + verb(-ing): accuse, apologise, recommend, suggest, … Ex: “Let’s go to the theatre” She suggested going to the theatre. Ex: “I’m sorry I’m late” He apologised for being late

Ex: He said: “Don’t mention that”  He told me not to REPORTED SPEECH This is how we report commands The Imperative changes into (Not) To Infinitive: Ex: He said to us: “Stay here” He told us to stay there The Reporting Verb must indicate “order”: Ex: He said: “Don’t mention that”  He told me not to mention that. Ex: “Say that again”, he said to me  He ordered me to say that again

REPORTING SUGGESTIONS: REPORTED SPEECH REPORTING SUGGESTIONS: normally use suggest + gerund OR suggest that + Clause Let’s, why don’t we, shall we, why not… are omitted: “Let’s go to the theatre” “Why don’t we go to the theatre?” “Shall we go to the theatre?” She suggested going to the theatre She suggested that we (should) go to the theatre “Let’s not argue again,” he said. He suggested not arguing again He suggested that they should not argue again.

beg, ask, demand, request + (not) to REPORTED SPEECH REPORTING REQUESTS We use these Reporting Verbs: beg, ask, demand, request + (not) to (The word “please” is omitted) “Can I go out tonight, mum, please?” The boy begged. The boy begged to go out that night. “John, don’t open the window, please” I said I asked /requested/begged John not to open the window. “Can I use your phone?” I asked my neighbour I asked my neighbour to use her phone OR (as a question) I asked my neighbour if I could use her phone