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Gramática Inglesa II
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REPORTED SPEECH
47 REPORTED STATEMENTS
In Reported Speech (also known as Indirect Speech), the tense used in the
speaker's original words is usually (but not always) moved back a tense when the reporting
verb (said, told, etc.) is in the past. The tense does not change if the reporting verb is in the
present, present perfect or future.
TENSE CHANGES
Speaker's
Words
Present Simple
Present Continuous
Present Perfect Simple
Present Perfect Continuous
Past Simple
Past Continuous
Past Perfect
Going To Future
Shall/Will
Shall in Offers and Suggestions
Must
Can
Reported
Speech
Past Simple
Past Continuous
Past Perfect Simple
Past Perfect Continuous
Past Perfect Simple
Past Perfect Continuous
Past Perfect
Was Going To
Would
Should
Had To
Could

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Gramática Inglesa II
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EXAMPLE:
Note: It is possible to omit THAT.
WHEN THE TENSE DOESN'T CHANGE
The past simple and continuous often remain unchanged in reported speech, in both
written and spoken English, if this can be done without causing any confusion about the
time of the actions.
It is also possible for other tenses to remain unchanged in reported speech in spoken
English.
Past Continuous
The Past Continuous usually remains unchanged in reported speech:
Where the Past Continuous is used to refer to an activity that was completed
before an event in the past simple or present perfect, we are more likely to
change the past continuous to the past perfect continuous:
• A representative said (that) sales had dropped
dramatically in the last (or previous) year.
“Sales have dropped dramatically in
the last year.”
• He said that when they arrived, he was still
cooking the dinner.
'When they arrived, I was still cooking
the dinner.'
• She said that she was working until ten o'clock
last night/the previous night.
'I was working until ten o'clock last
night.'

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Gramática Inglesa II
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Past Simple
When the Past Simple is used in a time clause, it does not generally change.
When there is a time clause, the verb in the main clause can remain in the
past simple or change to the past perfect:
When the past simple is used to refer to a situation that still exists in the
present, it does not generally change:
In other circumstances it is better to change the past simple to the past perfect
in written reporting. However, in oral reporting, it is becoming increasingly
common to leave the past simple unchanged:
• 'She said that they had been planning to go out
but then Joe started/had started feeling sick.
'We were planning to go out but then
Joe started feeling sick.'
• She said that when she got there, the place
was/had been almost empty.
'When I got there the place was
almost empty.'
• She said that they hadn't stayed in the hotel
because it was too expensive.
'We didn't stay in the hotel because it
was too expensive.'
(And presumably the hotel is still expensive now.)

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PROFESORADO EN INGLÉS
Gramática Inglesa II
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Present Tenses
In oral reporting, it is becoming increasingly common not to change the
present tenses if the activity is still going on or the situation still exists at the
time of reporting:
However, if the party is now finished and he is no longer doing his homework, then
we change the tense in reported speech:
'I enjoyed
myself last
night.'
Oral
reporting:
Clare said that
she enjoyed
(had enjoyed)
herself last
night/on
Saturday night.
Written
reporting:
Clare said that
she had
enjoyed herself
last night/the
previous
night/on
Saturday night.
• Jo told me that Alison is living (was living)
with her parents now.
'Alison's living with her parents
now.'
• He said that he can't (couldn't) come to the
party because he was doing his
homework.
'I can't come to the party because
I'm doing my homework.'
• He said that he couldn't come to the party because he was
doing his homework.
'I can't come to the party because I'm doing my
homework.'

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PROFESORADO EN INGLÉS
Gramática Inglesa II
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Assuming that this situation still exists, the verb can stay in the present simple or
change to the past simple in oral reporting:
The Future
In oral reporting, the future tenses can remain unchanged if the event is still in the
future:
'The school takes on new students
every month.'
The receptionist told me that the
school takes on / took on new
students every month.
• Sheila said that she is meeting/was meeting
John tonight.
(Tonight is still in the future.)
• Sheila said that she was meeting John last
night.
(Tonight is now in the past.)
'I'm meeting John tonight.'
• The police said that they are going to/were
going to launch a thorough investigation.
'We're going to launch a thorough
investigation.'

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PROFESORADO EN INGLÉS
Gramática Inglesa II
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TIME AND PLACE CHANGES
It is often necessary to change time, place and other references in reported speech,
depending on when and where the reporting takes place in relation to the actual words.
Some common changes:
• The Prime Minister said that there will/would be
no increase in taxes.
“There will be no increase in taxes.”
• They announced that the plane will/would be
leaving in thirty-five minutes.
“The plane will be leaving in thirty-
five minutes.”
now
tonight
yesteday
tomorrow
this morning
last week
next...
ago
here
then
that night
the day before / on...
the following day / the next day / on...
that morning
the previous week
the following...
before
there

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Gramática Inglesa II
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PRACTICE
Note: In the following exercises, you should make the tense changes as for written
reporting
47 IN YOUR NOTEBOOK, REWRITE THE SENTENCES IN REPORTED SPEECH.
1. “I'll come and see you on Friday if that's all right.” (She said)
She said (that) she would come and see us on Friday if that was all right.
2. “It's pouring with rain down here.” (She told me)
___________________________________________________________________
3. “The shop's closing in half an hour.”(She explained)
___________________________________________________________________
4. “It will be a very difficult time for all of us.” (He agreed)
___________________________________________________________________
5. “He's planning to set up his own business.” (Gareth tells me)
___________________________________________________________________
6. “The club lost quite a lot of money last month.” (The treasurer told the meeting)
___________________________________________________________________
7. “You work too hard. You should take more time off.” (He told me)
___________________________________________________________________
8. “We're going to have to make quite a few cutbacks.” (The managing director said)
___________________________________________________________________
9. “My new computer has made a lot of difference to me.” (She says)
___________________________________________________________________
10.“I'll have finished writing the report by the time you get here.” (She promised me)
___________________________________________________________________

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PROFESORADO EN INGLÉS
Gramática Inglesa II
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11. “When the project first started, there was a lot of interest in it.” (She explained)
___________________________________________________________________
12.“The police have been investigating new allegations of fraud.” (A spokesperson
said)
___________________________________________________________________
13.“When we were setting up the organisation, we had very little money.” (They told
me)
___________________________________________________________________
14.“The 8.45 train from Waterloo will be arriving in approximately five minutes.” (The
station announcer has just said)
___________________________________________________________________
15.“The conference will be spending a considerable time discussing the world debt
crisis.' (The statement said)
___________________________________________________________________
48 REPORTED QUESTIONS
The rules about tense changes apply to questions in the same way as they apply to
statements.
Wh Questions
The subject and verb are NOT inverted in reported speech:
“Why didn't you tell me the truth?”
• Inversion
She asked me why I hadn't told her the truth.
• subject + verb

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Yes/no Questions
Put if or whether before the subject + verb:
To-Infinitive in Reported Speech
In reported requests, advice, commands, etc., use to-infinitive:
When reporting shall/should questions, we can use to-infinitive after the
question word:
• She asked me if she had seen me before.
'Have I seen you before?'
• She asked me to help her write her speech.
'Can you help me write my speech?'
• She told me not to stay out too late.
'Don't stay out too late.'
• He wanted to know how much to give them.
'How much should we give them?'
• She asked me what to buy for Peter.
'What should I buy for Peter?'
• He wanted to know whether to tell her what had
happened.
'Should I tell her what happened?'

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PROFESORADO EN INGLÉS
Gramática Inglesa II
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Note: We do not use the to-infinitive after why or if.
PRACTICE
48 Write the following in reported speech.
1. 'Where do you think we should advertise? (He asked me)
He asked me where I thought we should advertise.
2. 'Are you going to audition for the play?' (Emma asked me)
___________________________________________________________________
3. 'Give me a ring if you need any help: (She told me)
___________________________________________________________________
4. 'How is Laura getting on?' (She often asks me ... you ... )
___________________________________________________________________
5. 'Shall I ask her out for a meal?' (He's been wondering)
___________________________________________________________________
6. 'Why did Matthew look so embarrassed when he saw Carole?' (He asked)
___________________________________________________________________
7. 'Must we stay here all evening?' (He asked)
___________________________________________________________________
8. 'What are they doing about publicity for the event?' (She wondered)
___________________________________________________________________
9. 'Will you send me the report when it's finished?' (He asked me)
___________________________________________________________________
10.'What have you done with the student records?' (She asked me)
___________________________________________________________________

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Gramática Inglesa II
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11.'Do you think you could keep your voices down a bit?' (She asked us)
___________________________________________________________________
12.'Where did you buy that hat?' (He wanted to know)
___________________________________________________________________
13.'Have you been eating properly?' (The doctor asked me)
___________________________________________________________________
14.'Were you still teaching music when you met Oliver?' (Mike asked me)
___________________________________________________________________
15.'Don't make any noise during the performance: (They asked us)
___________________________________________________________________
SOURCE
 Elanie WALKER & Steve ELSWORTH: Grammar Practice for Upper-Intermediate
Students – with Key. Pearson Education Limited, England - 2000. pp. 128 - 133