THE REPORTED SPEECH

THE REPORTED SPEECH What is it? How do we use it?

We use the Reported Speech: • To report what another person has said, but not using the speaker’s exact words; To give someone a telephone message; or to tell something you have read in a newspaper... • The structure is a little different depending on whether we want to transform a statement, question or request. Ex: Mark said that he wanted to live in London.

Please, note that: • Quotation/speech marks are not used in reported speech. • Verb tenses, pronouns and some “time” and “place” words may change because the time, place and speaker may be different. • When we report a statement, we use reported verbs such as say, tell, explain, inform, answer, decide, etc. often followed by that. When we use reported speech we are usually talking about the past. Therefore, verbs in reported speech usually change to the past. • Reported speech usually uses the following structure: • Someone said that…. • -Someone told me that… • However, in English you can never say: Someone said me…

Verb tense changes: Ex: “I prefer my own friends”, said Paul. Paul said (that) he preferred his own friends.

Verb tense changes: Ex: “They will go to the concert”, said John John said (that) they would go to the concert. “I must go to the doctor” , said Mary. Mary said (that) she had to go to the doctor.

PLACE CHANGES Ex: “Here is your coat”, said Mary. Mary said (that) there was my coat.

TIME CHANGES Ex: “Yesterday we went to the beach”, they said. They said (that) the day before they had gone to the beach.

POSSESSIVES CHANGES

PERSONAL PRONOUNS CHANGES Ex: “I am going to London”, said Peter. Peter said (that) he was going to London.

QUESTIONS • Yes/No Questions If + Subject + Verb • “Is it raining?”The old lady asked ifit was raining. • “Do you have any stamps?”I askedthem ifthey had any stamps. • “Can I borrow your pen?”He asked her if he could borrow her pen. NB: In Reported questions there is no question mark and the order of words is like in a simple statement.

2. Wh-Questions Wh-word + Subject + Verb • “Where are you going?” He asked her where she was going. • “When do you get up in the morning?” I askedhim when he got up in the morning.

REQUESTS When we put an IMPERATIVE sentence into Indirect Speech, we usually use a verb like tell, followed by a TO-INFINITIVE CLAUSE. “Give me the money.” He told /ordered me to give him the money. “Come in, please.” The manager asked me to come in.

Exercises: A – Rewrite the sentences in reported speech: • “I watch a film on Saturdays.” Caroline said… • “He is my best friend.” Fred told me… • “The scarf is in my bag.” Janice said… • “This film wasn't very interesting” Tom told me… • “This isn't my school.” Jerry said… • '”We will walk for half an hour.” Yesterday Jennifer told me… • “These T-shirts don't fit me.” Mike said… • “We are parking our car here” They said… • “It is my boyfriend's birthday party tomorrow.” Helen told me… • ”I think there will be a students' meeting very soon.” He said…

B – Put into Reported Speech: • “She’s the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.” Peter said… • “He didn’t come in for tea.” She said… • “We’ll have to wait until she comes.” They said… • “I went to the theatre with my parents yesterday night.” She said… • “I know we don’t have enough money.” He said… • “They tried to make him leave the office.” She said… • “The farmer doesn’t know why the weather is going to change.” They said… • “Carol wasn’t invited to the party.” They said… • “They divided the cake into three pieces.” She said… • “There was a terrible accident near my school two weeks ago.” She said… • “The robbery wasn’t discovered until the evening.” They said…

THE REPORTED SPEECH