REPORTED SPEECHREPORTED SPEECH

Developed byIvan Seneviratne

Reporting SpeechReporting Speech

When we want to tell someone else When we want to tell someone else what we or someone else has said what we or someone else has said we can use either direct or reported we can use either direct or reported speech. speech.

There are two ways of reporting There are two ways of reporting what somebody says;what somebody says;

• Direct speech Direct speech • Indirect or reportedIndirect or reported

speechspeech..

DDirect Speechirect Speech

Direct Direct Speech purports to preserve the Speech purports to preserve the exact wordsexact words..

ExExampleample::

He said, "I live in Paris."He said, "I live in Paris."

Using PunctuationsUsing Punctuations

The first word of the speech must begin The first word of the speech must begin with a with a capital lettercapital letter..

ExExampleample:: He said, "He said, "II live in Paris." live in Paris."

Exact words spoken must be Exact words spoken must be enclosed in enclosed in speech marks or quotation marksspeech marks or quotation marks..

ExExampleample: : He said, He said, ""I live in Paris.I live in Paris.""

The words in the speech marks must be The words in the speech marks must be separated from the rest of the sentence separated from the rest of the sentence by a by a commcommaa..

ExExampleample: : He saidHe said,, ""I live in Paris.I live in Paris.""

""I live in ParisI live in Paris,,"" said Hendry. said Hendry.

Indirect SpeechIndirect Speech

Indirect SpeechIndirect Speech, , also referred to as 'reported also referred to as 'reported speechspeech,’ ,’ refers to a sentence reporting what refers to a sentence reporting what someone has said. It is almost always used in someone has said. It is almost always used in spoken English. You can leave out “that” in spoken English. You can leave out “that” in reported speech:reported speech:

ExExampleample::He says he lives in Paris.He says he lives in Paris.

He said he lived in Paris. He said he lived in Paris.

Change in VerbsChange in Verbs

IIn Reported Speechn Reported Speech, , verbs in the Present usually change to a verbs in the Present usually change to a

form of the Pastform of the Past

Verbs in the Simple Past usually change to Verbs in the Simple Past usually change to the Past Perfect. the Past Perfect.

However, if the reporting verb is in the However, if the reporting verb is in the present tense, it isn't changed in reported present tense, it isn't changed in reported speech. speech.

ExExampleample:: Michal says "I want to make Michal says "I want to make pudding." pudding."

He says he wants to make pudding.He says he wants to make pudding.

ExamplesExamples

Direct Statement Reported Statement

Mandy says, “I want to go home.”

Mandy says that she wants to go home.

Randy said, “I’m thirty-five.” Randy said that he was thirty-five.

“I’m working this afternoon,” said Mr. Brown.

Mr. Brown said that he was working this afternoon.

“I’ve been here before,” exclaimed Sally.

Sally exclaimed that she had been there before.

“I met him a year ago.” She said that she had met him a year ago.

Changing PronounsChanging Pronouns

When changing from direct speech to When changing from direct speech to indirect speech, it is often necessary to indirect speech, it is often necessary to change the change the PronounsPronouns to match the subject to match the subject of the sentence. of the sentence.

ExExampleample:: Hendry said, Hendry said, ““II’’m thirty-five.”m thirty-five.”

HendryHendry said that said that hehe was thirty- was thirty-five.five.

Changing Time Signifiers Changing Time Signifiers

It is also important to change It is also important to change timetime wordswords when referring to present, past or when referring to present, past or future time to match the moment of future time to match the moment of speaking.speaking.

ExExampleample:: ““Did the bus stop here yesterday?” asked Sara.Did the bus stop here yesterday?” asked Sara.

Sara asked if the bus stopped there the day before.Sara asked if the bus stopped there the day before.

todaytoday ------ the following daythe following day

tomorrowtomorrow ------ the next daythe next day

herehere ------ therethere

UsUsee Reported Speech Reported Speech to Complete to Complete

1. 1. John: "Mandy is at home." John: "Mandy is at home." John said John said that...that...  

  

2. 2. Max: "I often read a book."Max: "I often read a book."Max told me thatMax told me that......    

  

3. 3. Susan: "I'm watching TV." Susan: "I'm watching TV." Susan said thatSusan said that......

5. 5. Stephen and Claire: "We have cleaned theStephen and Claire: "We have cleaned the windows." windows."

Stephen and Claire told me thatStephen and Claire told me that......

6. 6. Charles: "I didn't have time to do myCharles: "I didn't have time to do my homework."homework."Charles remarked thatCharles remarked that......

Reported Affirmative Reported Affirmative SentencesSentences

Example:Example:Peter: "Clean the black shoes.Peter: "Clean the black shoes.””

__________________________________________________Answer:Answer:

Peter told me to clean the black Peter told me to clean the black shoes.shoes.

1.1. Teacher: "Do your homework." Teacher: "Do your homework." The teacher told meThe teacher told me......      

2.2. Andrew: "Clean the blue bike." Andrew: "Clean the blue bike." Andrew told meAndrew told me......      

3.3. Jessica: "Write a letter." Jessica: "Write a letter." Jessica told meJessica told me......

4.4. Nelly: "Help Peter's sister." Nelly: "Help Peter's sister." Nelly told meNelly told me......

5.5. Anna: "Open the window."Anna: "Open the window."Anna told meAnna told me......

6.6. Ben: "Come home at 8." Ben: "Come home at 8." Ben told meBen told me......

UsUsee Reported Speech Reported Speech to Complete to Complete

Reported Speech - QuestionsReported Speech - Questions

When reporting questions, it is especially When reporting questions, it is especially importantimportant to pay attention to sentence to pay attention to sentence order. order.

• When reporting yes/When reporting yes/ no questions connect no questions connect the reported question using the reported question using ““ifif or whether or whether..””

• When reporting questions using why, When reporting questions using why, where, when, etc.where, when, etc. use the use the same same question question word. word.

Your TurnYour Turn

Write these sentences as reported questions. Write these sentences as reported questions. Begin your answer as suggestedBegin your answer as suggested::

1.1. When does the train leave? When does the train leave? (I asked(I asked......))

2.2. Who did you see at the meeting? Who did you see at the meeting? (My mother asked(My mother asked......))

3.3. Why did you take my wallet? Why did you take my wallet? (He asked(He asked......))

4.4. How did you get to school? How did you get to school? (He asked(He asked......))

5.5. Where do you live? Where do you live? (The boy asked(The boy asked......))

6.6. Do you like Marlon Brandon? Do you like Marlon Brandon? (She asked(She asked......))

7.7. Are you enjoying yourselfAre you enjoying yourself? ? (He asked(He asked......))

This presentation is developed by Ivan Seneviratne © 2007 This presentation is developed by Ivan Seneviratne © 2007 purely for personal use.purely for personal use.ivanthexplorer@yahoo.co.uk