reported speech

Reported speech

What is reported speech?Reported speech is when we tell someone what another person said.

Present simple to past simple

Kelly: I love Toy story films. Ana: Kelly said that she loved Toy Story Films

Diego: I need to practice here today.Ana: Diego told me that he needed to practice there that day

Present continuous to past continuous

Kelly:I am working as a chef in this restaurant Ana: Kelly told me that she was working as a chef in that restaurant

Diego: Alan is working all day since yesterdayAna: Diego said that Alan was working all day since the day before

Past simple to past perfect

Kelly:I drove home last night Ana: Kelly said that she had driven home the previous night

Diego: Carlo invited me to his weddingAna: Diego told me that Carlo had invited him to his wedding

Present perfect to past perfect

Kelly:I have done my homework Ana: Kelly told me that she had done her homework

Diego: I have been at my house all weekendAna: Diego said that he had been at his house all weekend

Present perfect continuous to past perfect continuous

Kelly:I have been living in London since last year Ana: Kelly told me that she had been living in London since the previous year.

Diego: I have been working in this company for yearsAna: Diego said that he had been working in that company for years

Can to could

Kelly:I can do my test now Ana: Kelly told me that she could do her test then

Diego: I can speak japaneseAna: Diego said that he could speak japanese

Will to would

Kelly:I will travel to Egypt next summer Ana: Kelly said that she would travel to Egypt the following summer.

Diego: I will release my new album tomorrowAna: Diego told me that he would release his new album the following day.

Must to had to

Kelly:I must investigate about this situation Ana: Kelly told me that she had to investigate about that situation.

Diego: I musn't do this kind of things hereAna: Diego said that he didn't have to do that kind of things there.

May to might

Kelly:It may rain this week Ana: Kelly told me that it might rain that week.

Diego: I may visit my grandma next summer.Ana: Diego said that he might visit his grandma the following summer.

When we have would, could, should, ought to , might and past perfect or inalterable facts there is no change on the time or modal verbs.

Kelly:I went to the doctor and doctor says that fruits and vegetables are healthy Ana: Kelly told me that she had gone to the doctor and doctor said that fruits and vegetables are healthy.

Diego: I should buy that house it might not be cheaper than now.Ana: Diego said that he should buy that house it might not be cheaper than then.

Imperatives To + infinitive Not to + infinitive

Policeman: Do not pass Ana: The officer told me not to pass.

Diego: Please stay safe and take careAna: Diego told me to stay safe and take care.

Reported speech affirmative, negative and imperative Subject + told me/said

Basic tense changes

Imperatives

• To + infinitive
• Not to + infinitive

• Present simple - past simple
• Present continuous - past continuous
• Past simple - past perfect
• Present perfect - past perfect
• Present perfect continuous - past perfect continuous

• Will-would
• Can-could
• May- Might
• Must-Had to

• Now - then
• Today - that day
• Yesterday - the previous day
• Tomorrow - the following day
• Ago - before
• This - that

• Here - there
• These - those

Other changes

Yes or no question If + yes or no question

kelly: Do you like Sci-fi movies? Ana: Kelly asked me if i liked Sci-fi movies.

Diego: Will you vote for john for president?Ana: Diego wondered if i would vote for john for president.

Question word (when, where, which, how, who, what, why, etc..)

Diego: Why did you cook last night?Ana: Diego wondered why I had cooked the previous night

kelly: How long have you been in this city? Ana: Kelly asked me how long I had been in that city.

COMPLETE USING REPORTED SPEECH

Kelly: I am not playing the guitar in this bar tonight Ana: .

Diego: Do you enjoy this food?Ana:

Kelly: You have slept in your house these days Ana:

Diego: How much money did you bring?Ana:

Kelly: I will work in this essay tomorrow Ana:

COMPLETE USING REPORTED SPEECH

Kelly: I am not playing the guitar in this bar tonight Ana: Kelly told me she was not playing the guitar in that bar that night. .

Diego: Do you enjoy this food?Ana: Diego wondered if i enjoyed that food.

Kelly: You have slept in your house these days Ana: Kelly said I had slept in my house those days.

Diego: How much money did you bring?Ana: Diego asked me how much money I had brought.

Kelly: I will work in this essay tomorrow Ana: Kelly told me she would work in that essay the following day. .

COMPLETE USING REPORTED SPEECH

Kelly: You have been training for the competition this week Ana: . .

Guard: Do not smoke here.Ana:

Kelly: The teacher says that water boils at 100° C degrees. Ana:

Guard: Do not take pictures here.Ana:

Kelly: I can't read this newspaper Ana: .

COMPLETE USING REPORTED SPEECH

Kelly: You have been training for the competition this week Ana: Kelly told me I had been training for the competition that week. .

Guard: Do not smoke here.Ana: The guard said not to smoke there

Kelly: The teacher says that water boils at 100° C degrees. Ana: Kelly told me that the teacher said the water boils at 100°C degrees.

Guard: Do not take pictures here.Ana: The guard said not to take pictures

Kelly: I can't read this newspaper Ana: Kelly told me she could not read that newspaper. .

Rewrite the following direct speech sentences into reported speech

"I love chocolate," she said. "I will visit my grandparents tomorrow," he said. "I can play the piano," Lisa said. "I saw a movie last night," he said. "I am going to the beach this weekend," she said.

Rewrite the following direct speech sentences into reported speech (ANSWERS)

She said that she loved chocolate. He said that he would visit his grandparents the next day. Lisa said that she could play the piano. He said that he had seen a movie the previous night. She said that she was going to the beach that weekend.

Convert the following statements into reported speech:

"I have finished my homework," he said. "I want to go to the party," she said. "I will call you later," he said. "I'm meeting my friends for dinner," she said. "I saw a beautiful sunset yesterday," he said.

Convert the following statements into reported speech(ANSWERS):

He said that he had finished his homework. She said that she wanted to go to the party. He said that he would call her later. She said that she was meeting her friends for dinner. He said that he had seen a beautiful sunset the day before.

Rewrite the following questions into reported speech:

"Where do you live?" she asked. "Are you coming to the party?" he asked. "Did you see the movie?" she asked. "Why are you crying?" he asked. "Will you help me with my homework?" she asked.

Rewrite the following questions into reported speech(ANSWERS):

She asked where I lived. He asked if I was coming to the party. She asked if I had seen the movie. He asked why I was crying. She asked if I would help her with her homework.

Change the following imperatives into reported speech:

"Close the door," she said. "Please, pass me the salt," he said. "Don't touch the stove," she said. "Help me with my bags," he said. "Turn off the lights," she said.

Change the following imperatives into reported speech(ANSWERS):

"She told me to close the door. He asked me to pass him the salt, please. She told me not to touch the stove. He asked me to help him with his bags. She told me to turn off the lights.