Reported Speech

Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)

If we report what another person has said, we usually do not use the speaker’s exact words (direct speech), but reported (indirect) speech. Therefore, you need to learn how to transform direct speech into reported speech. The structure is a little different depending on whether you want to transform a statement, question or request.

A. Statements

When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:

1. pronouns
2. present tense verbs (3rd person singular)
3. place and time expressions
4. tenses (backshift)

Type Example
direct speech “I speak English.”
reported speech
(no backshift) He says that he speaks English.
reported speech
(backshift) He said that he spoke English.

→ more on statements in reported speech HERE

B. Questions

When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:

pronouns
present tense verbs (3rd person singular)
place and time expressions
tenses (backshift)

Also note that you have to:

transform the question into an indirect question
use the interrogative or if / whether

Type Example
with interrogative direct speech “Why don’t you speak English?”
reported speech He asked me why I didn’t speak English.
without interrogative direct speech “Do you speak English?”
reported speech He asked me whether / if I spoke English.

→ more on questions in reported speech HERE

C. Requests / Commands

When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:

pronouns
place and time expressions

Type Example
direct speech “Carol, speak English.“
reported speech He told Carol to speak English.

→ more on requests in reported speech HERE

ACTIVITIES.
STATEMENTS:
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/exercises?03
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/exercises?04

QUESTIONS:
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/exercises?05
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/exercises?06

REQUESTS:
A) AFFIRMATIVE: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/exercises?07
B) NEGATIVE: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/exercises?08

MIXED TYPES:
Exercise 1
Exercise 2

Words often confused
1.They look so alike it’s difficult to (say/tell/speak/talk) the difference between them.
2.Come on, (say/tell/speak/talk) your mind. I want your honest opinion.
3.Its a surprise, so don’t (say/tell/speak/talk) a word.
4.He’s such a chatter-box! He (says/tells/speaks/talks) non-stop.
5.She’s terribly bossy. She loves (saying/telling/speaking/talking) people what to do.
6.I’m meeting Jim tonight to (say/tell/speak/talk) business

WORD CHOICE:

say, tell

You use say when you are mentioning someone’s exact words
• ‘Hello,’ she said.
• Someone said, ‘Let’s go!’
Say can be followed by ‘that’
• He said that he was tired.
In speech people often leave out ‘that’
• They said there had been a mistake.
Say can be followed by ‘something’, ‘anything’, ‘nothing’, or ‘so’
• Did you say something?
• Nobody dared to say anything.
It can also be followed by ‘goodbye’ or ‘hello’
• I’ll just go and say hello to David.
Apart from these uses, say is not normally followed by an object. For example, it cannot be followed by ‘a story’, ‘a lie’, ‘some information’, or ‘an answer’. You tell a story, a joke, a lie, or the truth
• They told a funny story about their trip.
You do not say a question. You ask a question
• Can I ask a question?
You can say something to someone
• Has he said something to you?
When talking about giving information, it is more usual to say that you tell someone something
• Clare told us something interesting (NOT said us something…).
• Can anyone tell me what time it is? (NOT say to me what…)
You can tell someone about something
• Did you tell Lucy about the party? (NOT say to Lucy about…)
You can say to do something, but it is more usual to tell someone to do something
• The teacher told us to open our books (NOT said us/said to us to…).

speak, talk

When one person is saying things, you can use talk or speak, but talk is more usual and speak slightly literary
• She talked about her job.
• He spoke longingly of his home country.
• Don’t interrupt me when I’m talking/speaking.
If people are having a conversation, always use talk
• We talked about our relationship.
• They talked for hours.
If you say that two people are not speaking, you mean they are not willing to talk to each other
• They’ve had a row and they’re not speaking.
Someone who can talk has learned to use language
• She could talk before she was two.
If you can speak, you are able to say something on a particular occasion
• I was too scared to speak.!!
When you mention what language someone uses, always use speak
• She speaks (=knows how to use) French and Spanish.
• We spoke in German at first, then English.!!
When you ask for someone on the telephone, use speak
• Can I speak to Clare?!!
You can speak words. Do not use talk
• I spoke the words as clearly as I could.!!
You can talk sense or talk nonsense. Do not use speak
• I think she talks a lot of sense.

Fill in the missing words (say, tell, speak, talk)

1.I had _____________ with other newspaper executives, too, on that day.
2.James wrote to the bank and ________ we needed a loan.
3.A sign ______ us it was the highest village in England.
4.Most modern art doesn’t _________ much to me.
5.So what you’re ______________, Mr President, is that you don’t have a policy on this issue.
6.Violence is avoided and __________ down whenever possible Speaking to Congress, the President appealed for cooperation in dealing with the sagging economy.
7.Don’t interrupt me when I’m ________________.
8.I ________ him about my dream for a course there.
9.He doesn’t ______________ a word of French.
10.How old are babies when they learn to __________?
11.Remember you promised me you would never __________ anybody.
12.The suspect was questioned for two hours, but refused to _________.
13.She mumbled something and Dove asked her to __________ up.
14.Danny was _________________ to a girl he’d just met at the bar.
15.Sean didn’t ________________ the whole time we were in the car.
16.Julie’s clothes and her whole attitude just __________ “New York”.
17.There’s a man from the Times on the phone who wants to ___________ to you.
18.When both parties cease to ____________ you have hit deadlock – wrong!
19.”Can you ____________ what this is with your eyes shut?” “It tastes of strawberry, but I’m not sure.”
20.Can you ________ me how to log on to the Internet?
21.Don’t __________ me how to behave in public!
22.I’m in charge here, and I’m not going to have anyone ____________ me what to do.
23.I think we need to _________.
24.If you’re having trouble at school, let’s sit down and _________ about it.
25.It’s been nice ______________ to you.