This document defines reported speech and provides guidelines for changing direct speech into indirect speech. [1] When changing direct speech to reported speech, pronouns, possessives, tenses and some words change according to specific rules. [2] The type of sentence being changed - statement, question, command, or suggestion - determines the structure of the reported version. [3] Examples are given for changing each type of sentence from direct to reported speech.

1. DEFINITION:
It is used when somebody tells what another person told previously
REPORTED SPEECH

2. HOW TO CHANGE A SENTENCE FROM DIRECT SPEECH TO INDIRECT SPEECH
STATEMENTS
My brother works in a factory
YES/NO QUEST.
QUESTIONS: Do you want a coke?
It depends on the type of sentence WH-QUEST.
we have Where have you been?
COMMANDS
Don´t open the door!
*
SUGGESTIONS
Let’s have a party tonight
Let’s + infinitive verb
*Suggestions have the following forms Why don’t we + verb …?
“suggest” in a sentence

3. CHANGES (1):
When we change a sentence from direct speech to reported speech,
there are some words which change: pronouns, possessives, tenses
and some special words.
Changes in tenses and in some words are fixed:
TENSES
From Direct Speech To Indirect Speech
Simple Present Simple Past
Present Continuous Past Continuous
Present Perfect Past Perfect
Simple Past Past Perfect
Will + Verb Would + verb
Can Could
Must Had to
Have to Had to
May Might

4. WORDS
From Direct Speech To Indirect Speech
Today That day
Tomorrow The following day
Yesterday The previous day
Now Then
Here There
This / these That / those
Next (year/day…) The following (year/day …)
Last (year/day…) The previous (year/day…)
Tonight That night
Ago Before
* Normally 1st person pronouns and possessives change to 3rd person
pronouns and possessives
CHANGES (2):

5. STATEMENTS:
Introductory part
Structure: Subject + said/told + that + direct sentence with changes
For instance:
“My brother will meet his girlfriend tomorrow”, Andy told Susan
Andy told Susan that his brother would meet his girlfriend the following day
Introductory part Sentence with changes
Exercises

6. YES / NO QUESTIONS
Structure: Subject + asked + if + sentence with changes
Introductory part
Q For instance: “Have you ever traveled abroad?”, Mary asked me
U
E Mary asked me if I had ever traveled abroad
S
T Introductory part Sentence with changes in statement order
I
WH-QUESTIONS
O
Structure: Subject + asked +wh+ sentence with changes
N
S Introductory part
For instance: “When have you traveled abroad?”, Mary asked me
Mary asked me when I had traveled abroad Exercise
Introductory part Sentence with changes in statement order

7. COMMANDS
Structure: Subject + ordered / told + I.O. + (not)to+ Infinitive verb + changes
Introductory part
For instance: “Close the window now, Peter”, the teacher said
The teacher told Peter to close the window then
“Don’t cheat during your test!”, the instructor said
The instructor ordered us not to cheat during our test
Exercises

8. SUGGESTIONS
Structure: Subject + suggested + Verb-ing + changes
Introductory Part
For instance: “Why don´t we prepare Sam a surprise party?”, Liam said
Liam suggested preparing Sam a surprise party