Reported Speech Grammar Guide mgr Anna Waligórska – Kotfas PWSZ Konin

Introduction When we report what we or other people have said or thought, we can use: direct speech (saying the exact words): ‘I love you’ he said. but we usually use indirect speech or reported speech: He said he loved me.

When reporting speech in literature, authors often use direct speech – the exact words are between inverted commas. The reporting verb (said, replied, etc.) can go before the speech in inverted commas, after the speech, or in the middle of it: Lovett said, ‘Houston, we have a problem.’ ‘Houston, we have a problem,’ Lovett said. ‘Houston,’ Lovett said, ‘we have a problem.’

Reporting Verbs There are a number of common introductory verbs used to report statements, which are often followed by that: say, tell, add, continue, answer, reply, mention, remark For the third time that day, the minister replied that it was out of the question.

Reporting Verbs: say vs. tell say sth (to sb) He said that he had been here before. He said to us that his mobile phone had been out of action all day. tell sb sth He told us that his mobile phone had been out of action all day.

Changes: 1. Pronouns When we report another person’s words in indirect speech, we often have to change: the pronouns used in the direct speech James added ‘I really don’t understand the problem.’ James added that he really didn’t understand the problem.

Changes: 2. Time and Place adverbs of time and place here  there now  then this (evening) → that (evening) today  that day tomorrow  the next day next (week)  the following (week) yesterday  the day before last Monday  the last / previous Monday (a week) ago  (a week) before these (days)  those (days)

Changes: 3. Tenses When we use indirect speech after a past tense reporting verb, we usually change the tense in the sentences we are reporting. We use a tense one step further in the past (‘backshift’): PRESENT  PAST ‘I am from Poland,’ she said.  She said she was from Poland.

Changes: 3. Tenses Present Simple  Past Simple ‘I live in a small flat,’ he said.  He said he lived in a small flat. Present Continuous  Past Continuous ‘I’m leaving in ten minutes,’ she said.  She decided she was leaving in ten minutes.

Changes: 3. Tenses Present Perfect  Past Perfect ‘Mr Jackson has left,’ she said.  She said that Mr Jackson had left. Past Simple  Past Perfect ‘I learnt a lot,’ he said.  He said that he had learnt a lot.

Changes: 3. Tenses Future  Future in the Past ‘I’ll help you,’ she said.  She said that she would help me. can  could ‘I can’t find my money,’ she shouted.  She shouted that she couldn’t find her money.

REMEMBER! We do not change the tense of the original words in reported speech when the reporting verb is in a present tense: ‘Intelligent life in the universe does not exist’, he says.  He says that intelligent life in the universe does not exist.

Indirect Questions: Reporting Verbs The most common verbs for reporting questions are: ask, want to know: The assistant asked what type of printer we had, but I don’t know. Laura wanted to know if anybody had reported the missing person.

Indirect Questions: Reporting Verbs We also use enquire for formal questions and wonder for ‘ask ourselves’: He inquired politely where they were going. The party was boring and John wondered when he could leave. We report negative questions which express surprise or criticism with a ‘functional’ verb like complain: 'Isn't that stupid?‘ he asked. → He complained that it was stupid.

Indirect Questions: Close Questions Patterns When we report questions, we use the word order of an affirmative statement: the subject usually comes before the verb, and the auxiliary do / does / did is not used. Tense, pronouns and time / place expression changes are the same as for other types of reported speech. We introduce yes/no questions with if or whether: ‘Do you like apples?’ she asked me.  She asked me if I liked apples.

Indirect Questions: Close Questions Patterns ‘Is there a lift in the apartment block?’ Deborah asked.  Deborah asked if there was a lift in the apartment block. ‘Did Marama's horse win a prize?’ Owen asked. → Owen asked whether Marama's horse had won a prize. Are you going to the film tomorrow? → She asked if we were going to the film the next day.

Indirect Questions: Open Questions Patterns In indirect open questions we use a question word and the word order of an affirmative statement: ‘What do you like doing in your free time?’ → He asked me what I liked doing in my free time.

Indirect Questions: Open Questions Patterns Dave asked, ‘Where did you go last weekend?’ → Dave asked me where I had gone the previous weekend. He asked, ‘Why are you studying English?’ → She asked me why I was studying English. ‘Why won't you marry me?’ asked Donald. → Donald asked her why she wouldn't marry him.

REMEMBER! We do not change the tense when the reporting phrase is in a present tense: ‘Is she coming with us?’ → Do you know if she is coming with us? ‘When does the film begin?’ → Could you tell me when the film begins?

Indirect Commands and Requests: Reporting Verbs Verbs used to report commands are tell, order, command and forbid (negative): When the vet had finished, he told them to let the animal sleep. He forbade us to pass on any of the information to the authorities. We use ask for reporting requests, and beg or urge with urgent requests: His secretary asked me to come back later.

Indirect Commands and Requests: Patterns To report orders, requests and suggestions, we use: a reporting verb + object + (not) + to + verb. ‘Be careful,’ I told him. → I told him to be careful. ‘Go away,’ he said. → He told me to go away.

Indirect Commands and Requests: Patterns ‘Call the first witness,’ said the judge. → The judge ordered them to call the first witness. She told him, ‘Please wait here till I return.’ → She requested him to wait there till she returned. ‘Stop smoking,’ the doctor said. → The doctor told me to stop smoking.

Indirect Commands and Requests: Patterns The teacher said to the students, ‘Work hard.’ → The teacher advised the students to work hard. I said to the child, ‘Do not look down into the well. → I warned the child not to look down into the well. The man with the gun said to us, ‘Don't move!’ → The man with the gun warned us not to move.

if you keep practising it! Reported Speech is not difficult if you keep practising it! 

Changes: Tenses Present  Past: am / is / are  was / were Present Simple  Past Simple come  came Present Continuous  Past Continuous am / is / are living  was / were living Present Perfect  Past Perfect has left  had left Past Simple  Past Perfect: sang  had sung will help  would help can  could

Bibliography Bourke K.: Verbs and Tenses: Intermediate. Test it, Fix it. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006. Leech G., Cruickshank B., Ivanic R.: An A-Z of English Grammar & Usage. Harlow: Longman, 2004. Murphy R.: English Grammar in Use. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Swan M.: Practical English Usage. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005. Thomas A. J., Martinet A. V.: A practical English Grammar. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986. Vince M.: Intermediate Language Practice (New Edition) . Oxford: Macmillan Education 2010.