Reported Speech
we use when we want to tell another person about a
conversation that took place in the past.
We often use reported speech to . . .
1. Give someone a telephone message
2. Tell someone news that we heard from
someone else:
3. To report something that happened:

How to use reported speech:
When we use reported speech, we are usually
talking about the past.
Therefore, verbs usually change to the past
tense in reported speech.

am / is was
are were
have / has had
can / can’t
could
couldn’t
will / won’t
would
wouldn’t

Reported speech typically uses the following structure:
Someone said (that) she was very happy
OR
Someone told me (that) they were talking on the
phone

SIMPLE PRESENT----SIMPLE PAST
Shawn said:
“I want to buy a new
dress”
Reported speech:
Shawn said that she
wanted to buy a
new dress.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS--PAST CONTINUOUS
Tina said:
“My sister is
coming to visit
me soon.”
Reported speech:
Tina told me that
her sister was
coming to visit
her soon.

Simple Past--Past Perfect
Tina said:
“I saw a movie.”
Reported speech:
Tina told me that
she had seen a
movie

Present perfect -- Past Perfect
Edu said:
“I’ve read
interesting books” Reported speech:
Edu said that he
had read
interesting books

Will ---- Would
Carla said:
“The new computer
will help you” Reported speech:
Carla told me
that the new
computer would
help me.

CAN--COULD
Susan said:
“They can learn a lot”
Reported speech:
Susan said that
they could learn a
lot.

REPORTED INSTRUCTIONS
 The nurse said: be
quiet!
Reported speech:
 The nurse told me
to be quiet!

REPORTED QUESTIONS
 André asked : Where
are you?
 He asked me where I
was.

Rewrite the sentences in
Reported Speech
1- ‘I want a bite of your sandwich!’ she said.
2- ‘They are waiting outside the museum for hours’ she said.
3- ‘A florist prepares the bouquets,’ she said.
She said that she wanted a bit of my sandwich
She said that they were waiting outside the museum for hours.
She said that a florist prepared the bouquets

4- I’ve been to the theatre five times’ he told them.
He told them he had been to the theatre five times
5- ‘They will get into trouble’ he said.
He said that they would get in trouble.
6- ‘I’m studying martial arts,’ she said.
She said that she was studying martial arts

7- “Leave the building!’ he ordered.
He ordered them to leave the building.
8- “Don’t cross the road there!’ she said to us.
She said to us not to cross the road on that place.
9- ‘ Close the windows immediately!’ she ordered.
She ordered to us to close the windows immediately
10- He asked: Who is that girl?
He asked me which girl was that

Correção p. 95 n 4
• 1 The tests with dolphins didn't teach us
anything. (Dr. Henry Smith)
He said the tests with dolphins hadn’t taught them anything
• 2 My work has been very useful. (Professor Silvia Black)
She said her work had been very useful.
• 3 Humans.will never be able to talk to animals.
(Dr. HemySmith).
He said humans would never be able to talk to animals.

• 4 In the future, I will learn to understand all animals.
(Professor Silvia Black)
She said that in the future she would learn to understand all
animals.
• 5 I can copy bird song, but I can’ t communicate with
birds. (Dr. Henry Smith)
He said that he could copy bird songs, but he couldn’t
communicate with birds.

Correção p. 95 n 6
• 1 Give the bananas to me.
She told him to give the bananas to her.
• 2 Don’t eat the flowers.
She told him not to eat the flowers.
• 3 Show your picture to me.
She told him to show his pictures to her.
• 4 Don’ t bite me.
She told him not to bite her.

• 5 Don’t climb on the table.
She told him not to climb on the table.
• 6 Put me down!
She told him to put her down.