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Reported Speech 1

The document discusses the changes that occur when moving from direct to reported speech. Tenses are typically shifted back one time (e.g. present simple becomes past simple). Pronouns, adverbs, and other elements may also change to reflect the new context of reported rather than direct speech. Reporting verbs indicate whether a statement, question, command, or other element is being reported, and the structure changes accordingly (e.g. questions use if/whether, commands use the infinitive form).

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Luigi Oli
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82 views

Reported Speech 1

The document discusses the changes that occur when moving from direct to reported speech. Tenses are typically shifted back one time (e.g. present simple becomes past simple). Pronouns, adverbs, and other elements may also change to reflect the new context of reported rather than direct speech. Reporting verbs indicate whether a statement, question, command, or other element is being reported, and the structure changes accordingly (e.g. questions use if/whether, commands use the infinitive form).

Uploaded by

Luigi Oli
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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REPORTED SPEECH

I- CHANGES IN THE TENSE OF THE REPORTED VERB

DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH


Present simple Past simple
He said: “I like to dance” .......................................................
Present continuous Past continuous
He said: “ It is raining” ........................................................
Present perfect Past perfect
She said: “I have read this book” .......................................................
Present perfect continuous Past perfect continuous
“We have been working all day”, she said ........................................................
Past simple Past perfect
He said: “They went to town” ........................................................
Past continuous Past continuous or Past perfect continuous
He said: “I was listening to the radio” .......................................................
Past perfect Past perfect (no change)
“I hadn’t seen her before that day”,he said ........................................................
Past perfect continuous Past perfect continuous (no change)
She said: “I had been waiting for ages” ........................................................
Will / Shall Would / Should
They said: “We’ll be late” ........................................................
Can Could
“I can swim” ,he said. ........................................................
May Might
“We may come”, they said .......................................................
Must Had to
She said: “ I must go” ........................................................
[ Could / might / ought to/ should ....................................................(No change) ]

II- OTHER CHANGES

a. Pronouns and adjectives


I -- he/ she My -- his /her Me -- him /her Mine -- his / hers
We -- they Us -- them Our -- their Ours -- theirs

b. Adverbs and adverbial phrases


Now -- then Tomorrow ---- the following day
This /these -- that / those the next day
Here -- there the day after
Ago -- before
Today -- that day Yesterday ---- the day before
the previous day

This week/ year -------that week/ year


Next month/ week ---the following week / month
Last year / month ---- the previous year/ week The day before yesterday --- two days before
the year / week before The day after tomorrow --- in two days time

STATEMENTS

Reporting verb : SAY ,TELL, MENTION

a- Direct speech : Mary said: “ I often go to the cinema.”


Indirect (reported) speech: Mary said (that) she often went to the cinema.

b- Direct speech: John told me: “I have finished my homework.”


Indirect speech: John told me that he had finished his homework.

QUESTIONS

Reporting verb: ASK ,WANT TO KNOW, WONDER, INQUIRE

1- Questions beginning with a question word (where,when,who,how,why, etc.)

a-Direct speech: Susan asked: “Where do you live?”


Indirect speech: Susan asked me where I lived.

b-Direct speech: He asked me : “Where are you going?”


Indirect speech: He asked me where I was going

2- If (whether ) questions : ( no question words !!!)

a- Direct speech: She asked: “does your brother study science?”


Reported speech: She asked me if / whether my brother studied science

b- Direct speech: They asked me: “Did you see the accident?”
Reported speech: They asked me if / whether I had seen the accident.

IMPERATIVES

Reporting verb: ASK ,TELL, ORDER, COMMAND

Direct speech: He told me: “Go to the library”


Indirect speech: He told me to go to the library. [infinitive structure !!!]

Direct speech: They told him: “Don’t throw papers on the floor.”
Indirect speech: They told him not to throw papers on the floor. [ negative infinitive !]
SUGGESTIONS /RECOMMENDATIONS

To report suggestions with the verbs suggest and recommend two different structures can be used :
that +subject+base form of the verb or -ing

- “You should provide prisoners with a healthy diet” , Dr Gesch recommended


Dr Gesch recommended that they provide prisoners with a healthy diet.
Dr Gesch recommended providing the prisoners with a healthy diet.

- “You should try our famous Rain fragrance” suggested the shop assistant.
The shop assistant suggested that I try their famous Rain fragrance
The shop assistant suggested trying their famous Rain fragrance.

REPORTING VERBS WITH OTHER STRUCTURES

- The verbs promise, agree, refuse take the infinitive


-“I'll come to the party”, Jason promised. → Jason promised to come to the party.
- “I'll produce a an ashtray scent”, he promised. → He promised to produce an astray scent.

- The verbs deny and admit take the -ing form


- “I didn't steal the money”, Jason said. → Jason denied stealing the money.
- “ We don't take advantage of customers”, the company said.
The company denied taking advantage of customers.

- The verbs advise, remind, warn, ask take the structure object + infinitive
-“Stop giving him chocolate” , the doctor advised Nathan's parents.
The doctor advised Nathan's parents to stop giving him chocolate.
-“You should buy some chocolate for Lily”, George advised me.
George advised me to buy some chocolate for Lily.

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