Reported Speech

1. REPORTED SPEECH

2. WHAT IS “REPORTED SPEECH”?: To report what a person
has said.
In questions, we ask with a question word. For YES/NO questions, we use
WHETHER/IF
Where are you fromShe ASKED
me WHERE I WAS FROM
Do you want to dance? I ASKED
her IF SHE WANTED TO DANCE.
To report statements, we use SAY and
TELL.
The doctor TOLD ME I WAS
STRESSED.
I SAID I KNEW THAT.
The verb goes one tense back.
I like ice creamShe said she
liked ice cream.
“I like Sarah”He said he liked
Sarah.

3. REPORTED SPEECH CHARTTense Direct Speech Go back
one tense
Reported Speech
Present simple I like ice cream” Past simple She said (that) she liked ice
cream.
Present continuous I am living in London” Past
continuous
She said she was living in
London.
Past simple I bought a car” Past
perfect
She said she had bought a car
Present perfect I haven't seen Julie” Past
perfect
She said she hadn't seen Julie.
Past perfect I had taken English
lessons before”
Past
perfect
She said she had taken English
lessons before.
Will I'll see you later” Would She said she would see me later.
Would I would help, but… Would She said she would help but...
Can I can speak perfect
English”
Could She said she could speak perfect
English.
Could I could swim when I was
four”
Could She said she could swim when
she was four.