1. Reported Speech
UNIT 3
2 BTO

2. Tense changes (“backshifting”)
Direct speech
Reported speech
Present simple / continuous
“I haven’t got time to finish the report now”, said Jack.
Past simple / continuous
Jack said (that) he didn’t have time to finish the report immediately.
“I worked there for ten years”, said Kate
Past simple / continuous OR past perfect simple / continuous
Kate said (that) she had worked there for ten years.
Present perfect simple / continuous
“I’ve decided to apply for a new job”, Helen told me.
Past perfect simple / continuous
Helen told me (that) she had decided to apply for a new job.

3. Tense changes (“backshifting”)
Direct speech
Reported speech
Will
”I’ll show you where the manager’s office is”, she said.
Would
She said (that) she would show me where the manager’s office was.
Must (obligation)
“You must have a permit”, he said.
Had to
He said (that) we had to have a permit.
Can
“I can play the violin quite well”, said Ian.
Could
Ian said (that) he could paly the violin quite well.

4. No need to change when The information being reported is unchanged.
“ Sea temperatures are rising.” The lecturer told us (that) sea temperatures are rising.
The information being reported happened recently.
“I’ll tell you about it tomorrow.” She said (that) she’ll tell me about it tomorrow. (It’s still the same day).

5. No need to change when
The information being reported contains the modals would, could, might, ought to and should or must for logical deduction.
”I think he must be late”, she said She said (that) she thought he must be late.
The information being reported contains the past perfect.
“He had already been invited to the reception”, she said She said (that) he had already been invited to the reception.

6. Time and place references
Direct speech
Reported speech
tomorrow
The next day, the day after, the following day
now
At that time, immediately, then
yesterday
The day before, the previous day
Last week
The week before, the previous week
This morning
there
here
That morning
today
That day
Next Friday
The following Friday, the Friday after
(two hours) ago
(two hours) before/ earlier

7. Reported questions
Yes / No questions: we use IF or WHETHER and same word order as in the statement (subject + verb).
“Could I borrow your notes?”, she asked.
She asked if/whether she could borrow my notes.
Wh- questions: Wh- word is followed by statement word order (subject + verb).
”Why did you leave that job?” she asked him.
She asked him why he had left that job.

8. Reported requests and commands
’reporting verb + (me) + to + infinitive'
Direct Request
Reported Request
Please help me.
She asked me to help her.
Please don't smoke.
She asked me not to smoke.
Could you bring my book tonight?
She asked me to bring her book that night.
Go to bed!
He told the child to go to bed.
Don't worry!
He told her not to worry.