134 Reported speech: the tense change 1 When do we change the tense? After a past-tense verb (e.g. said), there is often a tense change. ‘It really is cold today.’ —» Vicky said it was cold. If the statement is still up to date when we report it, then we have a choice. ‘We can either leave the tense the same, or we can change it. You said you likefliked chocolate. Claire told me her father owns/owned a racehorse. Sarah said she’s going/she was going to Rome in April We can say that Sarah is going to Rome because itis still true that she will go there. If the statement is no longer up to date, then we change the tense. Claire once told me that her father owned a racehorse. (He may no longer own one.) Sarah said she was going to Rome in April. (Now it is May.) Now Sarah's trip is over, so it is no longer truc that she is going to Rome. We usually change the tense if we think the statement is untrue or may be untrue. You said you Hked chocolare, but you aren’ earing any. The Prime Minister claimed that the government had made the right decision. 2 Is — was, like — liked, etc. Look at these examples of the tense change. DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH ‘Andrew is working? . Jessica said Andrew was working. “The windows aren't locked.’ + Mark told me the windows weren't lacked ‘Pre fixed the shelves + Trevor said he'd fixed the shelves. “Its been raining? + We noticed ithad been raining. ‘We've got plenty of time? —* Rachel insisted they had plenty of time. “We like the flat + ‘The couple said they ttked the flat. If the verb phrase is more than one word (e.g. is working), then the first word changes, is working -» was working, have fixed ~» had fixed, don’t know ~» didn’t know. If the verb is already in the past tense, then it can stay the same or change to the Past Perfect. ‘We came by car’ + They said they came/they had come by car. ‘Sorry. I wasn’t listening? + Ladmitted Iwasn’t listening/hadm’t been listening. If the verb is Past Perfect, it stays the same. “My money had run out.’ > Dameel said his money had run out. 3° Modal verbs: can — could, etc. Can, may and will change to could, might and would. ‘You can sit over there.” + — The steward said we could sit here. ‘Tmay go ta Rali again? —+ Claire said she might go to Bali again. “PU help if you like? + Tom said he would help. Could, might, ought to, should and would stay the same. But must can change to have to. ‘Sarah would love a holiday’ © —* — Mark thought Sarah would love a holiday. “L must finish ths report: + Sarah said she must fintsh/had to finish the report. PAGE 322. © REPORTED SPEECHPractice A When do we change the tense? (1) Put in is or was. Sometimes both are possible. > heard today that the house .. if _ for sale. | wonder who will buy il. > | saw David yesterday. He said he 4s on his way to visit his sister. 1. This wallet is made of plastic not leather. Why did you tell me it leather? 2 We had to hurry yesterday morning. Just as we arrived at the station, we heard an announcement that the train about to leave. 3 | saw Emma just now. She said her tooth still aching 4 I'm surprised Matthew lost. | thought he much better at tennis than Daniel. 5 When he spnke to rennrtars yesterday, Mr Douglas said that Zodco now in a much better financial position, B The tense change (2) Complete the replies. The second speaker is surprised at what he or she hears. > Matthew: Emma and | are getting married. t Rachel: Really? BUT you sald last week yO". weren't getting married. ® Rita: | like pop music more than classical musiv. Laura: I'm sure you told me you liked. classical music best. 1 Vicky: | haven't finished my project. Emma: Haven't you? I thought you said 2 I'm on a diet. But you told me | enjoy parties. Daniel: Surely | remember you saying 4 Matthew: I'm applying for the job. Rachel: | thought you told me C The tense change (2-3) ‘A comedy show called ‘Don't Look Now! has just closed after five years in London's West End. Here's what the critics said when it opened five years ago. > ‘t's a marvellous show.’ The Daily Mail 4 "You must see il. The Evening Standard > ‘You'll love it’ The Guariian 5 ‘twill bo a groat cusses.’ The Telegraph 1 ‘The production is brillant’ The Sunday Times 6 ‘You might die laughing. The Exoress 2 ‘lcan’t remember a funnier show,’ Edward Devine 7 ‘It's the funniest show I've ever seen.’ Susan Proctor 3 ‘It made me laugh.’ Robert Walsh 8 ‘You shouldn't miss it.’ Time Out Now roport what the critics said. > The Daily. Mail. aid. it wae, «. marvalleue. chow. > The. Guardian said people would love it. ernarens REPORTED SPEECH * PAGE 323135 Reported questions 1 Wh-questions We can report questions with verbs like ask, wonder or want to know. Look first at these wh-questions. DIRECT QUESTION REPORTED QUESTION ‘When did you start acting, Melissa?” Guy asked Melissa when she started acting. “What's the tire?” J ‘I just asked what the time is. ‘Which way is the post office?” + Someone wants to know which way the post office is. ‘How can we find out?” + Iwas wondering how we can find out. “Where can we eat?” + They're asking where they can eat, ‘Whr-questions Ihave a word like when, what, which or how both in direct speech and in reported speech. 2. Yes/no questions DIRECT QUESTION REPORTED QUESTION ‘Has the taxi arrived yet?” ~ + Someone was wondering iffwhether the taxi has "No, not yet” arrived yet. ‘Can we take photos? ~ » The visitors want to know iffwhether they can take "Yes, of course’ photos. ‘Is there a café nearby? ~ § -+ Daniel asked iffwhether there was a café nearby. Reported yes/no questions have if or whether. 3 Word order Ina reported question the subject comes before the verb, as in a statement, Guy acked Molisca when she started acting. Not Guy asked Melissa when-did-she-startacting, Someone was wondering if the taxi has arrived yet. NO} Someone wae wondering shies the-textarrived yet 4 Asking for information fo ask politely for information, we sometimes use a reported question after a phrase hike Could you tell me ...? or Do you know ...2 Could you tell me what time the concert starts? Do you know if there's a public phone in the building? Have you any idea how much a taxi would cost? Note the word order a taxi would cost (sce 3). 5 The tense change: is + was, etc. In reported speech there are often changes to the tense, to pronouns and so on. This depends on changes to the situation since the words were spoken, For details see Tinite 133 and 134. Here are some examples of the tense change. “Whats the problem? + Weasked what the problem was. ‘How much money have you got, Vicky?” —* Iwas wondering how much money Vicky had. ‘Does Nick need a lift?” + Tom asked if Nick needed a li ‘Can you type? + They asked me if I could type. PAGE 324. REPORTED SPEECHPractice A Reported questions (1-3) These people are at the tourist information centre. What do they want to know? © What are tha Have you ae) ¢ = S here can“ What shows) ( most interesting) a town plan? Cede | Yo a a tours? we stay? 7 are there? 7 Sigs 7 ares i, DB She uate to varus whet the mock interacting. cighte are. Dm He wants to know if the contre has. get town plan. 1 BON B Asking for information (4) You need information. Ask for it using Could you tell me ...? or Do you know ...? Where are the toilets? (tell) Could you tell me where the toilets are? Can | park here? (know) How lona does the film last? (tell) How often do the buses run? (know) Are we allowed to smoke? (know) What time is the tlight? (tell) How much does a ticket cost? (tell) oareon+7 C The tense change (5) Barry Douglas, Zedco Chief Executive, is talking to a reporter about his business career, He can still remember his first job interview after leaving school. Interviewer: Barry: > ‘Where do you live?” The interviewer asked me . where, | lived. > ‘Have you worked betore?” She asked me if. had worked before. 1 ‘Why do you want the job?’ She wanted to know 2 ‘How did you hear about it?’ I remember she asked 3 ‘Are you fit?” She wondered 4 ‘Can you work on Saturdays?” Then she asked me 5 ‘How will you travel to work?* She wanted to know 6 ‘Have you got a bicycle?” ‘And she asked me 7 ‘How much do you hope to earn?’ She also asked 8 ‘When can you start?’ And finally she asked REPORTED SPEECH + PAG: 325,