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Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== Reported Speech ====== {{:en:grammar:reported_speech:live-london.jpg?nolink&200|}}She said (that) she <color blue>lived</color> in London. ===== Definition and use ===== When we tell someone what another person said earlier, we don’t usually repeat the direct speech that we heard. * She said, “I live in London.” {{:en:grammar:reported_speech:n.png?nolink&20|}} * She said (that) she <color blue>lived</color> in London. {{:en:grammar:reported_speech:y.png?nolink&20|}} ===== Construction ===== In reported speech, we use one tense back in time from the tense in the direct speech. ^ Direct speech ^^ Reported [indirect] speech ^ |Present simple\\ I prefer coffee.|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|Past simple\\ She said she <color blue>preferred</color> coffee.| |Present continuous\\ I’m reading a great book.|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|Past continuous\\ He told me he <color blue>was reading</color> a great book.| |Past simple\\ I went to Japan.|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|Past perfect simple\\ She said she <color blue>had been/had gone</color> to Japan.| |Past continuous\\ We were watching TV.|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|Past perfect continuous\\ She said they’<color blue>d been watching</color> TV.| |Present perfect simple\\ I’ve finished the report.|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|Past perfect simple\\ He told me he’<color blue>d finished</color> the report.| |Present perfect continuous\\ I’ve been writing a report.|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|Past perfect continuous\\ He said he’<color blue>d been writing</color> a report.| |Past perfect simple\\ I’d always wanted to go to Italy.|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|Past perfect simple (no change)\\ She said she’<color blue>d</color> always <color blue>wanted</color> to go to Italy.| |Past perfect continuous\\ I’d been discussing it with my boss.|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|Past perfect continuous (no change)\\ He said he’<color blue>d been discussing</color> it with his boss.| |Future simple\\ I’ll email you.|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|Would <color violet>+ bare infinitive</color>\\ He told me he’<color blue>d email</color> me.| |Future continuous\\ We’ll be visiting the new plant.|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|Would be <color violet>+ present participle</color>\\ She said they’<color blue>d be visiting</color> the new plant.| |Going to\\ I’m going to buy a new car.|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|Was going to <color violet>+ bare infinitive</color>\\ He said he <color blue>was going to buy</color> a new car.| |Present continuous for future\\ I’m having lunch with friends.|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|Past continuous\\ She said <color blue>she was having</color> lunch with friends.| |Future perfect simple\\ I’ll have finished it by 4 o’clock.|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|Would have + past participle\\ She said she’<color blue>d have finished</color> it by 4 o’clock.| |Future perfect continuous\\ By May, I’ll have been working here for two years.|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|Would have been <color violet>+ present participle</color>\\ He said that by May, he’<color blue>d have been working</color> here for two years.| ===== Examples ===== | {{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:bored.jpg?nolink&100 |}} | "I’m bored today." | Jenny said she <color blue>was</color> bored yesterday. | | {{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:increasing.jpg?nolink&100 |}}| "Sales figures are increasing." | She told us that sales figures <color blue>were</color> increas<color blue>ing</color>. | | {{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:forgot.jpg?nolink&100 |}} | "Oh no! I forgot about the meeting!" | He told me he’<color blue>d forgotten</color> about the meeting. | | {{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:bob.jpg?nolink&100 |}} | "I was discussing this with Bob yesterday and we were thinking about making some changes." | She told us she’<color blue>d been discussing</color> it with Bob the day before and they’d <color blue>been thinking</color> about making some changes. | ===== Note that ===== 1) It isn’t necessary to change the tense if something is still true or relevant. {{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:hungry.png?nolink&200 |}} * We’re having lunch early today because Philippe said he’<color blue>s</color> hungry. [still true] * But * We went to lunch early yesterday because Philippe said he <color blue>was</color> hungry. [no longer true] {{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:paris.png?nolink&300 |}} * They visited Paris and said it <color blue>is</color> a beautiful city. {{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:meeting.png?nolink&400 |}} * She said the next meeting <color blue>will</color> be on Thursday. [Before Thursday, this is still true.] * She said the next meeting <color blue>would</color> be on Thursday. [After Thursday] {{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:isabelle.png?nolink&400 |}} * Thierry phoned and told me that he'<color blue>ll be</color> at the meeting this afternoon. He said he’<color blue>s</color> just <color blue>landed</color> and he’<color blue>s getting</color> a taxi straight here. **<color red>But you should always change the tense if you are taking an English test or exam.</color>** 2) In most cases, we can omit ‘that’.// He told me (that) he <color blue>was going</color> to Korea.// However, with some verbs, it is better to use ‘that’. For example: //announce | doubt | imply |add | estimate | argue | point out | complain | mention.// * “The meeting will start at 10:00, and I expect everyone to be there.” * He announced __that__ the meeting <color blue>would</color> start at 10 and added __that__ he <color blue>expected</color> everyone to be there. * “Let’s wait until December. That’s always the best time to launch this kind of product.” * “No. This time, we should do it in the summer.” * He pointed out __that__ December <color blue>was</color> always the best time to launch that kind of product, but she argued __that__ it <color blue>would</color> be better to do it in the summer. * “I don’t think it will work.” * He doubted __that__ it <color blue>would</color> work. * “There were about 200 people at the conference.” * She estimated that there <color blue>had been</color> about 200 people at the conference. * “The coffee is terrible here!” * She complained __that__ the coffee <color blue>was</color> terrible there. ===== Other changes ===== __Sometimes__ we need to make other changes. For example: “We have to do it <color blue>now</color>.” **-->** They said they had to do it <color blue>immediately</color>. But __not always__: * 28th September: “We‘ll meet again <color blue>next month.</color>” * 29th September: Louise said that we’ll/we’d meet again <color blue>next month</color>. * 1st October: Louise said we’ll/we’d meet again <color blue>this month</color>. * November: Louise said we’d meet again <color blue>last month</color>. * Later than October: Louise said that we’d meet again <color blue>the following month</color>. ^ Direct speech ^^ Reported speech ^ |now|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|immediately| |today|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|that day| |yesterday|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|the day before/the previous day| |the day before yesterday|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|two days before| |last week/month/year|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|the week/month/year before or the previous week/month/year| |tomorrow|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|the next/following day| |the day after tomorrow|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|in two days’ time/two days later| |next week/month/year|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|the following week/month/year| |ago|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|before| |this week/month/year|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|that week/month/year| |this/these (adjective)|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|the/a/this/these/that/those – depending on the situation| |here|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|here/there – depending on the situation | |It is for <color blue>me</color>.\\ It is <color blue>my</color> pen.\\ It is <color blue>mine</color>.|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|He/she said it was for <color blue>him/her</color>.\\ He/she said it was <color blue>his/her</color> pen.\\ He/she said it was <color blue>his/hers</color>.| |It is for <color blue>you</color>.\\ It is <color blue>your</color> pen.\\ It is <color blue>yours</color>.|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|He/she said it was for <color blue>me</color>.\\ He/she said it was <color blue>my</color> pen.\\ He/she said it was <color blue>mine</color>.| |It is for <color blue>us</color>.\\ It is <color blue>our</color> car.\\ It is <color blue>ours</color>|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|They said it was for <color blue>them</color>.\\ They said it was <color blue>their</color> car.\\ They said it was <color blue>theirs</color>.| ===== Modals ===== We also need to change some modal verbs. ^Direct speech^Reported speech^ |I <color blue>can</color> swim.|He said he <color blue>could</color> swim.| |All visitors <color blue>must</color> go to reception.|They told us that all visitors <color blue>had to</color> go to reception.| |You <color blue>mustn’t</color> smoke in here.|We were told that we <color blue>couldn’t/weren’t allowed to</color> smoke in there| |What <color blue>shall</color> we do tonight?|She asked what we <color blue>should</color> do last night.| But some modals do not need to be changed – could, might, would, should, ought to, had better. “I <color blue>might</color> go to the party.” She said she <color blue>might</color> go to the party. ===== Other reporting verbs ===== Usually we use ‘said’ or ‘told’ to report speech but lots of other reporting verbs are possible. It is often better to use these, especially if you are reporting a long conversation, because it becomes boring if you continue to repeat ‘said’ or ‘told’ together with all the words spoken. **Note that** we need to use the correct form of the verb that follows the reporting verb. There are several possibilities. Here are some examples: |accuse someone|...of doing something| |admit, deny|...doing something| |admit, agree, explain, imply, mention|...that someone had done something| |apologise, blame someone, forgive someone|...for doing something| |agree, decide, pretend, promise, refuse, threaten|...(not) to do something| |decide, explain, remember, wonder|...how/when/where/what/which to do (it)| |advise, ask, allow, expect, forbid, persuade, remind, tell|...someone to do something| |suggest|...I/we etc. do it| ^Direct speech^^Reported speech^ |It was Anne who ate the last biscuit!|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|She <color blue>accused</color> Anne <color blue>of eating</color> the last biscuit.| |Yes, it’s true. I ate it!|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|Anne <color blue>admitted</color> eat<color blue>ing</color> it.\\ Anne <color blue>admitted</color> that she’<color blue>d eaten</color> it.\\ Anne <color blue>didn’t deny</color> eat<color blue>ing</color> it.| |I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|She <color blue>apologised</color> (<color blue>for</color> do<color blue>ing</color> it) and <color blue>promised not to</color> do it again.| |That’s OK; don’t worry.|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|They forgave her (<color blue>for</color> eat<color blue>ing</color> the biscuit).| |You should go to the doctor.|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|He <color blue>advised</color> me <color blue>to</color> go to the doctor.| |OK. We’ll have the meeting today.|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|They <color blue>agreed to</color> have the meeting that day.| |It’s your fault we missed the flight!|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|He <color blue>blamed</color> me </color blue>for</color> miss<color blue>ing</color> the flight.| |First you attach these two parts and then you press this button.|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|He <color blue>explained how to</color> do it.| |If you apply for this job, you’ll earn more money and you’ll be happier.|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|She <color blue>persuaded me to</color> apply for the job.\\ [But – she <color blue>dissuaded me from</color> apply<color blue>ing</color>...]| |I’m not working on Saturday!|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|He <color blue>refused to</color> work on Saturday.| |Don’t forget to make that phone call. |{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|She <color blue>reminded me to</color> make the phone call.| |Why don’t you phone him?\\ Shall we go to the cinema?|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|She <color blue>suggested I</color> phone him.\\ She <color blue>suggested</color> (go<color blue>ing</color> to) the cinema.| |If you don’t move your car, I’ll call the police!|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|He <color blue>threatened to</color> call the police if I didn’t move my car.| |Make sure you don’t fall asleep in the meeting again!|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|She <color blue>warned me not to</color> fall asleep in the meeting again.| ===== Examples ===== |{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:advise.jpg?nolink&200 |}}|_"I don’t think you should buy that one – it’s not a good colour for you."|My friend <color blue>advised me not to</color> buy the red dress that I liked.| |{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:threatened.png?nolink&200 |}}|_"If your grades don’t improve in the next few weeks, I will have to speak to speak to your parents."|Her teacher <color blue>threatened to</color> talk to her parents if her grades <color blue>didn’t</color> improve in the following few weeks.| |{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:phone.jpg?nolink&200 |}}|_"Let’s have lunch on Monday."|Malcolm <color blue>suggested</color> hav<color blue>ing</color> lunch on Monday.| |{{ :undefined:burger-jpg.jpg?nolink&200 |}}|_"We have to eat burgers because you burned the steak!"\\ _"It wasn’t me. It was Steve."|James <color blue>accused</color> Dave <color blue>of</color> burn<color blue>ing</color> the steaks but Dave <color blue>denied</color> it and <color blue>blamed</color> Steve.| ===== Questions and requests ===== When reporting questions and requests, we use the verb ‘ask’. For yes/no questions, we need to add ‘if/whether’. ^^^^ |What do you want for lunch?|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|She asked me what I wanted for lunch.| |Can I have a cheese sandwich, please? |{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|He asked for a cheese sandwich.| |Where are you going on holiday?|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|He asked us where we were going on holiday.| |Do you like tea?|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|He asked me if I liked tea.| |Will you marry me?|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|He asked her to marry him.| |Please don’t eat all the chocolate!|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|She asked me not to eat all the chocolate.| |Are you going to the party?|{{ :en:grammar:reported_speech:fleche.jpg?nolink&40 |}}|He asked whether I was going to the party.|