Reported speech

wow

Introduction to reported speech

We stopped following fashion!

For some people, being fashionable is a way of life. But have you ever thought how trying to be trendy is affecting you? MyBigTalk thinks it can be a good idea to "unfollow" fashion.Trends don't last"If you buy something this week, there's a good chance it won't be stylish next week," said fashion expert Stacey Janser. According to Stacey, fast fashion has completely changed the fashion trade. Since companies make clothing very quickly, fashions change nearly every week! Reduce stressFacebook user Holly Worsin told MyBigTalk that being stylish all the time could be stressful. That's why she stopped following all fashion influencers. She said that as a result, she was feeling much calmer. "I wear what I want now, not what someone tells me I should wear!" Develop your own styleIf you stop following fashion, you'll have the freedom to be yourself. Bran Williams decided to avoid following fashion, and instead, to concentrate on what clothes suited him. He explained that he used second-hand shops to find interesting, inexpensive clothing and he also swapped clothing with his friends. Save moneyClothing today is often cheap, but if you aren't careful, the cost will add up. Scarlett Appleben used her parents' credit card and spent hundreds of pounds on clothes last year. "Fashion companies encourage young people to spend more money than they can afford," she said. Comfort firstDanielle, a fashion blogger, once bought a fabulous pair of high heels. Later, she realised that the shoes were really uncomfortable. Danielle said that she felt better in a warm hoodie and trainers than in tight jeans and high heels. "Get away from fashion," she advised her readers.

Can you spot any similarities and differences between the sentences which have words in bold and the sentences which have words underlined?

"If you buy something this week, there's a good chance it won't be stylish next week," said fashion expert Stacey Janser.

Holly Worsin told MyBigTalk that being stylish all the time could be stressful

She said that as a result, she was feeling much calmer

He explained that he used second-hand shops to find interesting, inexpensive clothing

"Fashion companies encourage young people to spend more money than they can afford," she said.

Danielle said that she felt better in a warm hoodie and trainers

"Get away from fashion," she advised her readers.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

SOLUTION

Reported speech

We use reported speech when we want to tell someone what another person said.

Direct speech repeats the exact words spoken.

When we use direct speech in writing, we place the words spoken between quotation marks (" ") and there is no change in these words.

• "If you buy something this week, there's a good chance it won't be stylish next week," said fashion expert Stacey Janser.

• "Fashion companies encourage young people to spend more money than they can afford," she said.

• "Get away from fashion," she advised her readers.

Reported speech reports what someone said.

Because we report the words at a later time, we change the verb tense, the pronouns and the possessive adjectives.

• Holly Worsin told MyBigTalk that being stylish all the time could be stressful

• She said that as a result, she was feeling much calmer

• He explained that he used second-hand shops to find interesting, inexpensive clothing

• Danielle said that she felt better in a warm hoodie and trainers

Backshift: when we use reported speech we change the verb tense backwards in time

Direct speech

Reported speech

Exception!

If what the speaker said is still true or relevant, it's not always necessary to change the tense.

• "I have three children", said Marta.
• Marta said that she has three children.
• "I love eating ice cream", said Laura.
• Laura said that she loves eating ice cream.
• "I go to the gym next to your house".
• Jenny told me that she goes to the gym next to my house.

Other changes

Time expressions

Place expressions

Demonstratives

TIME EXPRESSIONS

EXPRESSIONS OF PLACE

DEMONSTRATIVES

Now... let's do some practice!

Workbook page 59: 2 and 3

When we finish:

Similarities

• All the sentences tell someone what another person said.
• They all use reporting verbs such as: say, tell, explain...

Differences

• Sentences with quotation marks ("...") mention the exact words that someone said.
• Sentences without quotation marks report the words that someone said using the structure:

reporting verb + that