REPORTED SPEECH

E N G L I S H  G R A M M A R 

The Reported speech is used to reflect what someone else is saying or asking.

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Formation:

- You need an introductory verb ( to say, to tell, to mention, to ask, to think,..)

- The pronouns change, in certain cases also the tenses, dates and times

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Changed pronouns: 

Direct speech ->        Nia says to Lea: ''I like you.''

Reported speech ->   Lea tells Hanna: ''Nia says that she likes me.''

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Changed Tenses:

 

- No change if the introductory verb is in the simple present or in the present perfect

Direct Speech -> Lea says, ''I love dancing.'' 

Reported Speech -> Lea says (that) she loves dancing.

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- In the following cases, the time of Direct Speech in the Reported Speech is reset by one time level when the introductory verb is in the simple past:

 

 

                          Direct Speech                                                                       Reported Speech

Simple Present

She always wears a bow at games.                          ->

Present Progressive

I'm looking for my pompoms.                                    ->

Present Perfect

He has finished his workout.                                     ->       

Simple Past

I didn't see the game yesterday.                               ->

 

Future Tense

I will go to the gym.                                                   ->

Past Progressive

I was waiting at the stadium.                                    ->

Present Perfect Progressive

I have been dancing for hours.                                 ->

Simple past

He said (that) she always  wore a bow at games.

Past Progressive

She said (that) she was looking for her pompoms.

Past Perfect

He said (that) he had finished his workout

 

Past Perfet

He said (that) he had not seen the game the day before.

Conditional

He said (that) he would go to the gym.

Past Perfect Progressive

She said (that) she had been waiting at the stadium.

Past Perfect Progressive

She said (that) she had been dancing for hours.


- Times change when the report is made at a later time, e.g.:

  1. now ->                                  at that time, then
  2. today ->                                that day, yesterday
  3. yesterday ->                          the day before
  4.  the day before yesterday -> two days before
  5. tomorrow ->                           the following day
  6. next week ->                         the following week
  7. here ->                                  there

- The location used depends on where the speaker is at the moment.

Reported Questions:

 

- Introductory verbs: to ask, to wonder, to want to know,..

 

- Question words are retained in the Reported Speech. The paraphrase with do/does/did are omitted in the    

  Reported   Question: 

  Direct Question-> Tom: ''When did they arrive?''

  Reported Question -> Tom asked when they had arrived.

 

-If the Direct Question does not contain a question word, the Reported Question is initiated with whether or if:

  Direct Question: Tom: ''Are they watching the game?''

  Reported Question: Tom asked, if/ wheater they were watching the game. 

Reported Commands/ Requests:

 

 

- Introductory verbs: to tell, to order, to ask,..

 

- Formation: Introductory verb + Object + (not) to + Infinitive

  Direct Command -> Nicole: ''Leave the field.''

  Reported Command -> Nicole told me to leave the field.