Reported SpeechReported Speech

GrammarGrammar Guide Guide

mgr Anna Waligórska – Kotfas mgr Anna Waligórska – Kotfas PWSZ KoninPWSZ Konin

IntroductionIntroduction

When we report what we or other peopleWhen we report what we or other people have have said or thought, we can usesaid or thought, we can use::

direct speechdirect speech ( (saying saying the exact words)the exact words): :

‘‘I love you’ he said.I love you’ he said.

but we usually use but we usually use indirect speechindirect speech or reported or reported speechspeech: :

He said he loved me.He said he loved me.

When reporting speech in literature, authors When reporting speech in literature, authors often use direct speech – the exact words are often use direct speech – the exact words are between inverted commas. between inverted commas.

The reporting verb (The reporting verb (saidsaid, , repliedreplied,, etc.) can go etc.) can go before the speech in inverted commas, after the before the speech in inverted commas, after the speech, or in the middle of it:speech, or in the middle of it:

Lovett said, ‘Houston, we have a problem.’Lovett said, ‘Houston, we have a problem.’‘‘Houston, we have a problem,’ Lovett said.Houston, we have a problem,’ Lovett said.‘‘Houston,’ Lovett said, ‘we have a problem.’Houston,’ Lovett said, ‘we have a problem.’

Reporting VerbsReporting Verbs

There are a number of common introductory There are a number of common introductory verbs used to report statements, which are often verbs used to report statements, which are often followed byfollowed by thatthat:: saysay, , telltell, , addadd, , continuecontinue, , answeranswer, , replyreply, , mentionmention, , remarkremark

For the third time that day, the minister For the third time that day, the minister replied thatreplied that it was out of the question. it was out of the question.

Reporting Verbs: Reporting Verbs: saysay vs. vs. telltell

say sth (to sb)say sth (to sb)He He said thatsaid that he had been here before. he had been here before.He He said to us thatsaid to us that his mobile phone had his mobile phone had been out of action all day.been out of action all day.

tell sb sthtell sb sth He He told us thattold us that his mobile phone had his mobile phone had

been out of action all day.been out of action all day.

Changes: 1. PronounsChanges: 1. Pronouns

When we report another person’s words in When we report another person’s words in indirect speech, we often have to changeindirect speech, we often have to change::

the pronouns used in the direct speechthe pronouns used in the direct speech

James added ‘James added ‘II really don’t understand the really don’t understand the problem.’problem.’

James added that James added that hehe really didn’t really didn’t understand the problem.understand the problem.

Changes: 2. Time and PlaceChanges: 2. Time and Place adverbs of adverbs of timetime and and placeplace

here here there there nownow then then this (evening) this (evening) →→ that (evening) that (evening) today today that day that day tomorrow tomorrow the next day the next day next (week) next (week) the following (week) the following (week) yesterday yesterday the day beforethe day beforelast Monday last Monday the last the last // previous Mondayprevious Monday(a week) ago (a week) ago (a week) before(a week) beforethese (days) these (days) those (days)those (days)

Changes: 3. TensesChanges: 3. Tenses When we use indirect speech When we use indirect speech after a past after a past

tense reporting verbtense reporting verb, we usually change , we usually change the tense in the sentences we are the tense in the sentences we are reporting. We reporting. We use a tense one step further use a tense one step further in the pastin the past (‘backshift’) (‘backshift’)::

PRESENT PRESENT PAST PAST‘‘I I amam from Poland,’ she said. from Poland,’ she said. She said she She said she waswas from Poland. from Poland.

Changes: 3. TensesChanges: 3. Tenses Present Simple Present Simple Past Simple Past Simple

‘‘I I livelive in a small flat,’ he said in a small flat,’ he said.. He said he He said he livedlived in a small flat. in a small flat.

Present Continuous Present Continuous Past Continuous Past Continuous‘‘II’m leaving’m leaving in ten minutes,’ she said. in ten minutes,’ she said. She decided she She decided she was leavingwas leaving in ten in ten minutes.minutes.

Changes: 3. TensesChanges: 3. Tenses Present Perfect Present Perfect Past Perfect Past Perfect

‘‘Mr Jackson Mr Jackson has lefthas left,’ she said.,’ she said.

She said that Mr Jackson She said that Mr Jackson had lefthad left..

Past Simple Past Simple Past Perfect Past Perfect

‘‘I I learntlearnt a lot,’ he said. a lot,’ he said.

He said that he He said that he had learnthad learnt a lot. a lot.

Changes: 3. TensesChanges: 3. Tenses

Future Future Future in the Past Future in the Past

‘‘II’ll help’ll help you,’ she said. you,’ she said.

She said that she She said that she would helpwould help me. me.

can can could could

‘‘I I can’t findcan’t find my money,’ she shouted. my money,’ she shouted.

She shouted that she She shouted that she couldn’t findcouldn’t find her her money.money.

REMEMBER!REMEMBER!

We We do not change the tensedo not change the tense of the original of the original words in reported speech words in reported speech when the when the reporting verb is in a present tensereporting verb is in a present tense::

‘‘Intelligent life in the universe Intelligent life in the universe does not does not existexist’, he ’, he says.says.

He says that intelligent life in the He says that intelligent life in the universe universe does not existdoes not exist..

Indirect Questions: Reporting VerbsIndirect Questions: Reporting Verbs

The most common verbs for reporting The most common verbs for reporting questions arequestions are:: askask,, want to knowwant to know::

The assistant The assistant askedasked what type of printer what type of printer we had, but I don’t know.we had, but I don’t know.

Laura Laura wanted to knowwanted to know if anybody had if anybody had reported the missing person.reported the missing person.

Indirect Questions: Reporting VerbsIndirect Questions: Reporting Verbs

We also use We also use enquireenquire for formal questions and for formal questions and wonderwonder for ‘ask ourselves’: for ‘ask ourselves’:He He inquiredinquired politely where they were going. politely where they were going. The party was boring and John The party was boring and John wonderedwondered when when he could leave.he could leave.

We report negative questions which express We report negative questions which express surprise or criticism with a ‘functional’ verb like surprise or criticism with a ‘functional’ verb like complaincomplain::'Isn't that stupid?‘ he asked.'Isn't that stupid?‘ he asked.→ → He He complainedcomplained that it was stupid. that it was stupid.

Indirect Questions: Close QuestionsIndirect Questions: Close Questions PatternsPatterns

When we report questions, we use the word order of an When we report questions, we use the word order of an affirmative statement: affirmative statement: the subject usually comes before the subject usually comes before the verb, and the auxiliary the verb, and the auxiliary dodo // does / does / diddid is not usedis not used. . Tense, pronouns and time / place expression changes Tense, pronouns and time / place expression changes are the same as for other types of reported speech.are the same as for other types of reported speech.

We introduce yes/no questions withWe introduce yes/no questions with ifif or or whetherwhether::

‘‘Do you like apples?’ she asked me.Do you like apples?’ she asked me.

She asked me She asked me if I likedif I liked apples apples..

Indirect Questions: Close QuestionsIndirect Questions: Close Questions PatternsPatterns

‘‘Is there a lift in the apartment block?’ Deborah Is there a lift in the apartment block?’ Deborah asked.asked. Deborah asked Deborah asked if there wasif there was a lift in the apartment a lift in the apartment block.block.

‘‘Did Marama's horse win a prize?’ Owen asked.Did Marama's horse win a prize?’ Owen asked. → → Owen asked Owen asked whether Marama's horse had wonwhether Marama's horse had won a prize.a prize.

Are you going to the film tomorrow?Are you going to the film tomorrow? → → She asked She asked if we were goingif we were going to the film the next to the film the next day.day.

Indirect Questions: Open Questions Indirect Questions: Open Questions PatternsPatterns

In indirect open questions we use In indirect open questions we use a a question wordquestion word and and the word order of an the word order of an affirmative statementaffirmative statement::

‘‘What do you like doing in your free time?What do you like doing in your free time?’’

→ → He asked me He asked me what I likedwhat I liked doing in my doing in my free time.free time.

Indirect Questions: Open Questions Indirect Questions: Open Questions PatternsPatterns

Dave asked, Dave asked, ‘‘Where did you go last weekend?Where did you go last weekend?’’→→ Dave asked me Dave asked me where I had gonewhere I had gone the the previous weekend.previous weekend.

He asked, He asked, ‘‘Why are you studying English?Why are you studying English?’’→ → She asked me She asked me why I was studyingwhy I was studying English. English.

‘‘Why won't you marry me?Why won't you marry me?’’ asked Donald. asked Donald. →→  Donald asked her Donald asked her why she wouldn't marrywhy she wouldn't marry

him.him.

REMEMBER!REMEMBER!

We We do not change the tensedo not change the tense when the reporting when the reporting phrase is in phrase is in a present tensea present tense::

‘‘Is she coming with us?’Is she coming with us?’

→ → Do you know Do you know if she is comingif she is coming with us? with us?

‘‘When does the film begin?’When does the film begin?’

→ → Could you tell me Could you tell me when the film beginswhen the film begins??

Indirect Commands and RequestsIndirect Commands and Requests: : Reporting VerbsReporting Verbs

Verbs used to report commands are Verbs used to report commands are telltell, , orderorder, , commandcommand andand forbidforbid (negative): (negative):When the vet had finished, he When the vet had finished, he toldtold them to let them to let the animal sleep.the animal sleep.He He forbadeforbade us to pass on any of the information us to pass on any of the information to the authorities.to the authorities.

We use We use askask for reporting requests, and for reporting requests, and begbeg or or urgeurge with urgent requests: with urgent requests:His secretary His secretary askedasked me to come back later. me to come back later.

Indirect Commands and RequestsIndirect Commands and Requests: : PatternsPatterns

To report orders, requests and suggestions, we To report orders, requests and suggestions, we useuse::

a reporting verba reporting verb + + object + object + (not) + (not) + to to + + veverbrb..

‘‘Be careful,Be careful,’’ I told him. I told him.

→→ I I told told himhim to be to be careful careful..

‘‘Go away,Go away,’’ he said. he said. →→ He He told told meme to go to go away.away.

Indirect Commands and RequestsIndirect Commands and Requests: : PatternsPatterns

‘‘Call the first witness,Call the first witness,’’ said the judge. said the judge. → → The judge The judge ordered ordered themthem to call to call the first the first witness.witness.

She told him, She told him, ‘‘Please wait here till I return.Please wait here till I return.’’ → → She She requested requested himhim to wait to wait there till she there till she returned.returned.

‘‘Stop smoking,Stop smoking,’’ the doctor said. the doctor said. →→ The doctor The doctor told told meme to stop to stop smoking.smoking.

Indirect Commands and RequestsIndirect Commands and Requests: : PatternsPatterns

The teacher said to the students, The teacher said to the students, ‘‘Work hard.Work hard.’’ → → The teacher The teacher advised advised the studentsthe students to work to work hard.hard.

I said to the child, I said to the child, ‘‘Do not look down into the well.Do not look down into the well. → → I I warnedwarned the child the child not to looknot to look down into the down into the well.well.

The man with the gun said to us, The man with the gun said to us, ‘‘Don't move!Don't move!’’ →→ The man with the gun The man with the gun warned warned usus not to not to movemove..

Reported Speech Reported Speech

is not difficult is not difficult

if you keep if you keep practisingpractising it! it!

Changes: TensesChanges: Tenses

Present Present Past: Past: amam / / isis / / areare waswas / / werewere Present Simple Present Simple Past Simple Past Simple comecome camecame Present Continuous Present Continuous Past Continuous Past Continuous

am / is / are livingam / is / are living was / were livingwas / were living Present Perfect Present Perfect Past Perfect Past Perfect

has lefthas left had lefthad left Past Simple Past Simple Past Perfect Past Perfect: : sangsang had sunghad sung wiwill help ll help would help would help cancan couldcould

BibliographyBibliography

1.1. Bourke K.: Bourke K.: Verbs and Tenses: Intermediate. Test it, Fix Verbs and Tenses: Intermediate. Test it, Fix it.it. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006.

2.2. Leech G., Cruickshank B., Ivanic R.Leech G., Cruickshank B., Ivanic R.:: An A-Z of English An A-Z of English Grammar & Usage.Grammar & Usage. Harlow: Longman, 2004. Harlow: Longman, 2004.

3.3. Murphy R.: Murphy R.: English Grammar in UseEnglish Grammar in Use. Cambridge: . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006.Cambridge University Press, 2006.

4.4. Swan M.: Swan M.: Practical English UsagePractical English Usage. Oxford: Oxford . Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.University Press, 2005.

5.5. Thomas A. J., Martinet A. V.: Thomas A. J., Martinet A. V.: A practical English A practical English GrammarGrammar. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986.. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986.

6.6. Vince M.: Vince M.: Intermediate Language Practice (New Edition)Intermediate Language Practice (New Edition) . Oxford: Macmillan Education 2010. . Oxford: Macmillan Education 2010.