Grammar: Reported Speech

1. Reporting statements

2. Daisy Zoe
I want to be a
photographer.
• ‘I want to be a photographer,’ Daisy told
Zoe.
• Daisy told Zoe that she wanted to be a
photographer.

3. What are the differences between the
following sentences?
• ‘I want to be a photographer,’ Daisy
told Zoe.
• Daisy told Zoe (that) she wanted to be
a photographer.
‘ ’
she
want
wanted
I
We use reported speech
when we are telling
someone what another
person said or thought.

4. When we report statements in simple
present tense, follow these rules:
1. We DO NOT use quotation marks.
‘I want to be a photographer,’ Daisy told
Zoe.
Daisy told Zoe that she wanted to be a
photographer.

5. 2. We use a reporting verb, e.g. said,
told, added, explained, etc.
There’s a huge
exhibition in the
City Hall.
Zoe said (that) there was a huge
exhibition in the City Hall.
The word that after the reporting verb can
be omitted.

6. Your turn….
• ‘I like watching films,’ Rachel said.
• Rachel (that) she liked watching
films.
• ‘I love ballet,’ said Bella. ‘I want to be a
ballet dancer,’ she added.
• Bella (that) she loved ballet. She
(that) she wanted to be a ballet
dancer.
said
said
added

7. 3. We change the verb tense from the
simple present to the simple past.
I have two tickets
of the exhibition.
Zoe told Daisy that she had two tickets
of the exhibition.

8. Your turn….
• ‘You have my ticket,’ said Jenny.
• Jenny said that I her ticket.
• ‘I plan to take you to a painting exhibition
next week,’ our Art teacher told us.
• Our Art teacher us that she
to take us to a painting exhibition.
had
told planned

9. 4. We change pronouns and possessive
adjectives, e.g. I he/she, your my/our.
I want to join the
art club.
Daisy told Zoe (that) she wanted to
join the art club.

10. Personal pronouns changes
I / you he / she
we / you they
me / you him / her
us / you them

11. Possessive adjectives changes
My / your his / her
Our / your their
Mine / yours his / hers
Ours / yours theirs

12. Your turn….
• ‘I finish my drawing,’ Candy told Michelle.
• Candy Michelle (that) finished
drawing.
• ‘My brother is the chairperson of the
school Drama Club,’ Luke told Eric.
• Luke Eric (that) brother
the chairperson of the school
Drama Club.
told she
her
told his
was

13. 5. We change the time words,
e.g. now then, tomorrow the next day.
The exhibition
opens today.
Daisy said that the exhibition opened
that day.

14. Change the time words
now then
today that day
this afternoon that afternoon
this evening that evening
tonight that night
tomorrow the following/next day
yesterday the day before

15. Your turn….
• ‘The art festival opens next month,’ said the
manager.
• The manager said the art festival
.
• ‘I plan to take some of you to a painting
exhibition this weekend,’ our Art teacher
told us.
• Our Art teacher us
to take some of to a painting
exhibition .
opened
the following month
told she planned
us
that weekend