1. Reported Speech
Indirect Speech

2. Indirect Speech
Reported speech reports what a speaker said without using his or her exact words.
Reporting verbs are used such as said, told, indicated, mentioned, reported.
Reported Speech: The professor told me that he had written a book about his research.

3. “Backshifting” Verbs Verbs in reported speech shift back in time.
Ex. Original: “We are conducting some research with crows.”
Reported Speech: The scientist explained that she was conducting some research with crows.

4. “Backshifting” Verbs Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Present tense to Past Tense
“Many animals are very intelligent.”
The zoologist said (that)many animals were very intelligent.
Present Progressive Tense to Past Progressive Tense
“I’m conducting an experiment on crows”
She said (that) she was conducting an experiment on crows.
Past tense and Present Perfect Tense to Past Perfect tense
“The crows made a hook to get food from a tree”
“We have never studied this behavior before”
The researcher reported (that)the crows had made a hook to get food from a tree.
She said (that) they had never studied this behavior before.

5. Take turns changing the direct speech to indirect or reported speech.
Indirect Speech
“I am studying bonobos.”
The researcher……
“The older chimp helped the new chimp to find food.”
The scientist…….
“None of the chimps has helped another chimp before.”
The lab worker…….
“Susan won’t be in class because she is sick.”
The teacher.……

6. Changing Modals Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Modals will, can, and may change form in reported speech.
“I won’t be at the meeting.”
“I can ask my colleague to take notes.”
“I may be able to send my secretary.”
She explained (that) she wouldn’t be at the m
meeting.
She said (that) she could ask her colleague to take notes.
She mentioned (that) she might be able to send her secretary.
Change must to had to.
Do not change the modals should, could, might or ought to.
“I must find a way to repeat my experiment.”
She said (that) she had to find a way to repeat her experiment.

7. Take turns changing the direct speech to indirect or reported speech.
Indirect Speech
“I should publish my results.”
“I may be able to publish them in June.
“The results must be published soon.”
“They won’t be published until the research is complete.”
The scientist……
She……
Her boss…..
He……

8. Other Changes Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Change the pronouns, possessives, and time words to keep the original meanings.
“I can’t access my computer because it broke down yesterday.”
The student claimed (that) she couldn’t access her computer because it had broken down the day before.

9. Take turns changing the direct speech to indirect or reported speech.
Indirect Speech
“You were cheating on your test yesterday.”
“I didn’t cheat on the test.”
The teacher……
The student……..