1.
Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)
NOTES ON REPORTED SPEECH:

2.
REPORTING QUESTIONS:
• Reporting “Wh-” questions:
When we report questions, the reported speech is introduced by verbs such as “ask” and “inquire”. Note that in
reported questions the subject normally comes before the verb, and auxiliary “do” is not used. Question marks are not
used in reported questions.
Direct speech:He said to me, ‘Where are you going?’
Indirect speech:He asked me where I was going. (NOT He asked me where was I going.)
Direct speech:‘Where do you live?’ asked the stranger.
Indirect speech:The stranger asked where I lived. (NOT The stranger asked where did I live.)
Direct speech:The policeman said to us, ‘What are you doing?’
Indirect speech:The policeman enquired what we were doing.
Direct speech:‘When are you leaving?’ he asked.
Indirect speech:He wanted to know when I was leaving.
• Reporting yes/no questions:
When the question is not introduced by an interrogative word (wh- word), the reporting verb is followed by whether
or if.
Direct speech:‘Will you help me?’ the young girl asked.
Indirect speech:The young girl asked if / whether I would help her.
Direct speech:‘Do you think you know better than your Dad?’ the angry mother asked.
Indirect speech:The angry mother asked her son if he thought that he knew better than his Dad.
References:Murphy, Raymond. EnglishGrammar inUse, Cambridge UniversityPress, 2009.
http://www.englishgrammar.org/reporting-questions/
http://www.grammaring.com/changes-in-place-time-and-person-in-indirect-speech

3.
CHANGESIN PLACE, TIME AND PERSON IN REPORTED SPEECH:
 No changes are made to words referring to place, time or person if we report something at the same place, around
the same time, or involving the same people:
John: I'll meet you here.
John said he would meet me here. (reported at the same place)
Alison: My train leaves at 9.30 tomorrow.
Alison says her train leaves at 9.30 tomorrow. (reported on the same day)
Richard: I can help you, Stephanie.
I told you I could help you. (reported by Richard to Stephanie)
I told Stephanie I could help her. (reported by Richard to a third person)
 Changes are made if there are changes in place, time or people:
John: I'll meet you here.
John said he would meet me there. (reported at a different place)
Alison: My train leaves at 9.30 tomorrow.
Alison said her train leaves at 9.30 today. (reported on the next day)
Richard: I can help you, Stephanie.
Richard told me he could help me. (reported by Stephanie)
Richard told Stephanie he could help her. (reported by a third person)
I told Stephanie I could help her. (reported by Richard to a third person)
The following table shows some typical changes of time expressions in reported speech. Remember that the changes
are not automatic, but they depend on the context:
direct speech indirect speech
now then / at that time
tonight last night, that night, on Monday night
today yesterday, that day, on Monday
yesterday the day before / the previous day, on Sunday
last night the previous night / the night before, on Sunday night
tomorrow today, the following day, on Tuesday
this week last week,that week
last month the previous month / the month before, in June
next year this year,the following year / the year after,in 1996
five minutes ago five minutes before
in two hours' time two hours later

4.
NOTE TO THE TEACHER:
 If you want, you could also explain how simple past and present perfect sentences are reported. You could
explain the structure briefly without explaining the past perfect tense in detail. The exercises may include
such questions. You may skip them if you desire.
 You may
also go over
“reporting verbs”
towards the end
of the week.
 Here is another activity from Ninova which you might want to use if you have time: (You can also find the
same activity on ppt on Ninova)
Put this example on the board, and act it out with a St:
A: “I’m married.”
B: “What?! You told me you were single! You told me that you had never dated anyone
before me!”
After everyone has written their responses,give the students the opportunity to say theirs out loud. If you want to
extend the activity, you could ask them to write a short skit about one of the situations and then act it out for the class.
(This could take a long time.)
Imagine a situation when someone might say these,and you are shocked! Write a reply using reported speech.
1. “He can’t speak English.” “What!? … “
2. “I can’t come to your party.”
3. “I’m 25 years old.”
4. “The exam is tomorrow.”
5. “There’s no tea.”
6. “That will be 500 lira please.”
7. “I’ve decided to marry Yasemin.”
EXERCISE 3 : Report these statements and questions using the following verbs:
said – told – asked – advised – suggested
1. 'Where do you live?'
She asked me ____________________________________________________________.
2. 'Who is your favorite singer?
He asked Mary _____________________________________________________________.
3. 'Are you married?
He asked Susan ____________________________________________________________.
4. 'Has your father retired yet? '
She asked James ___________________________________________________________.
5. 'We've lived here for six years'.
He told me that ____________________________________________________________.
6. 'Why didn't you finish your studies?
She asked Merriam _________________________________________________________.
7. 'I saw this film two weeks ago.

5.
He said that _______________________________________________________________.
8. 'You should have a rest.
The doctor advises the patient _________________________________________________.
9. 'What about going to the beach?
She suggested ____________________________________________________________.
10. 'Don't switch on TV!’
The mother told her son _____________________________________________________.
EXERCISE 4: Change the following sentences from direct speech to reported speech:
Example:
Direct Speech: Jane: "I play tennis every Saturday."
Reported Speech: Jane said she played tennis every Saturday.
1. Direct speech: David: "There is an excellent band playing later on."
Reported Speech: David said...
2. Direct speech: The driver: "I'm going to turn right at the traffic lights."
Reported Speech: The driver said...
3. Direct speech: Jonathan: "I've returned the dictionary to the library".
Reported Speech: Jonathan said…
4. Direct speech: The doctor: "I'll send you the results as soon as they arrive."
Reported Speech: The doctor said...
5. Direct speech: Caroline: "Will you come to my party on Saturday?"
Reported Speech: Caroline...
6. Direct speech: Shop assistant: "Are you looking for something special?"
Reported Speech: The shop assistant...
7. Direct speech: Jack: "I'll lend you my grammar book if you think it will help.
Reported Speech: Jack said...
Source: http://www.learn-english-today.com/lessons/lesson_contents/exercises/reported-speech-ex-answers.htm

6.
ANSWER KEY:
EXERCISE 3:
1. She asked me where I lived.
2. He asked Mary who her favorite singer was.
3. He asked Susan if she was married.
4. She asked James if his father had retired.
5. He told me that they had lived there for six years.
6. She asked Merriam why she hadn’t finished her studies.
7. He said that he had seen that film two weeks before.
8. The doctor advises the patient to have a rest.
9. She suggested going to the beach.
10. The mother told her son not to switch on the TV.
EXERCISE 4:
1. David saidtherewas an excellentbank playing later on.
2. Christinesaid shehad seen Amy at thebankon Monday.
3. The driver saidhe was going to turn right at the traffic lights.
4. Jonathansaid hehad returned the dictionary tothelibrary.
5. The doctor saidhe wouldsendme/us theresults as soon as they
arrived.
6. Carolineasked (me) ifI wouldcome toherparty onSaturday.
7. The shop assistantasked ifI was looking for something special.
8. Jack saidhewould lendmehis grammarbookifI thought it wouldhelp.
(photocopy)
EXERCISE30: SAYvs. TELL vs. ASK
1. told
2. said
3. asked
4. said
5. told
6. asked
7. told / said / asked / told/ said
8. said / asked / told / asked / said
EXERCISE27: REPORTED SPEECH PRONOUN USAGE
1. she / her
2. they / their
3. he / me
4. he / me / my / he / his / his
3. READ THE HISTORIC PREDICTIONS BELOW. REWRITEEACH ONEAS DIRECTSPEECH, THEN MATCH ITTO THEPERSON WHO SAID IT
FROMTHE LIST.
a. “Aeroplanes areinteresting toys, but do not haveany military value.” / 8
b. “Whatever young Einstein does, hewill amount to nothing.” / 4
c.“It willbe years, and not inmy lifetime,before a womanwill becomeBritish primeminister.”/ 5
d. “I think thereis a worldmarket for perhaps five computers.” / 7
e. “Televisionwon’t stay popular for more than six months becausepeople will soonget tired ofstaring ata wooden box every night.”/ 2
f. “We don’t like your sound,andguitar music is onthewayout”. / 3
g. “The telephone has too many shortcomings andis ofno valueto us.”/ 6
h. “The horseis here tostay, butthecar is only a novelty.”/ 1
EXERCISE4:
a. pointed outthat
b. of failing
c. situation ona
d. √
e. that highbodyblood pressure
f. that they shouldmake / to make
g. √
h. added thatsmoking
i. concludedthat
j. √
EXERCISE5:
a. invited
b. announced
c. thanked
d. begged
e. reminded
f. agreed
g. pointed out
h. persuaded
i. volunteered
j. swore
k. decided
l. ordered
TIM BURTON
1. Burton stressed thatit was a movie about texture.
2. Burton believed that having realsets was really important.
3. Burton admitted that they hadgot lots ofproblems
4. Burton agreed thatcooperationofthe Dahl family and his widow Felicityhadbeenvery important.
5. Burton disagreedthatJohnny’s WillyWonka borea resemblancetoMichaelJackson.
6. Burton suggested using computer animationto createOompa-Loompas.
7. He addedthatit had seemedto fit withtheRoaldDahluniverse.
8. He explained thereason why his films seemed tohave becomeless dark.