The document discusses how to report speech in indirect or reported speech. It provides examples of changing direct speech into reported speech by modifying verb tenses and pronouns based on the tense used in the original direct speech. It also discusses how to report different types of speech like questions, commands, requests, and suggestions.

1. Reported Speech Based on a presentation by Carmen Torres

2. DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH ' I know quite a lot of people here .' Robert said. Present Simple Simple Past He said that he knew quite a lot of people there 'John is feeling much better ' Paul said. Present Continuous Past Continuous He said that John was feeling much better ' I enjoyed my holiday in the States' David said. Simple Past Past Perfect He said that he had enjoyed his holiday in the States 'Jackie wasn´t feeling very well ‘, the teacher said. Past Continuous Past Perfect Continuous He said that Jackie hadn’t been feeling very well ' They've seen the Eiffel Tower ‘ John said. Present Perfect Past Perfect He said that they had seen the Eiffel Tower ' I have been waiting for ages ‘ my father said. Present Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous He said that he had been waiting for ages ' Nobody had warned them about the storm ' the politician said. Past Perfect Past Perfect He said that nobody had warned them about the storm ' She had been reading all day ‘ Brenda said. Past Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous She said that she had been reading all day

3. REPORTED SPEECH ' I will be here with you.' Robert promised me. Future Simple Conditional Present Robert promised that he would be there with me 'John is going to study French ‘ Paul said. Be going to Was/Were going to Paul said that John was going to study French ' We can start the lesson' David said. Can Could David said that we could start the lesson ' They may come home ' My husband said. May Might My husband said that they might come home ' You must be quiet in class ' the teacher said. Must Had to The teacher said that we had to be quiet in class

4. REPORTING STATEMENTS Useful introductory verbs. ACCUSE sb of ADMIT to + ing ARGUE ASSURE BOAST about COMPLAIN about CONGRATULATE sb on DENY + ing EXPLAIN OBJECT to + ing POINT OUT PROMISE PROTEST against /about REMARK REMIND someone of… REPLY THREATEN SAY & TELL

5. agree, refuse, offer, promise, threaten + infinitive Ann: Would you wait half an hour’ Tom: All right Chris: Would you lend me another €50? David: No, I won´t lend you any more money accuse of, admit, apologize for, deny, insist on + gerund You took me the money! I stole/ didn´t steal it! I am sorry I’m late Let me pay, please, let me REPORTING STATEMENTS

6. YES / NO QUESTIONS There is no inversion (subject/verb) If or whether after the reporting verb “ Are you working these days?” he said. He inquired if/whether I was working those days “ Did you speak to John last night?” she asked She wanted to know if I had spoken to J. the night before. REPORTING QUESTIONS

7. WH- QUESTIONS When Who or What are subjects of the sentence we don’t change the word order “ Who told you this story?” He asked me who had told that story “ What happens?” He wanted to know what happened. The word order is a positive one, without inversion (subject/verb) “ Where did you go last summer?”. He asked me where I had gone the previous summer. Some verbs we can use as reporting verbs: ask, enquire, wonder, would like to know, want to know REPORTING QUESTIONS

8. The imperative changes into infinitive He said to us: “Stay here” He told us to stay here The reporting verb must indicate “order” He said: “Be quiet” He told me to be quiet Apart from Tell other verbs can be used: ask, beg, invite, warn, order, command, instruct,... “ Say that again”, he said to me He asked me to say that again REPORTING COMMANDS

9. The verbs used are : beg, ask, demand & request and they are situated before the requested person. The word “please” is omitted When let is used in direct speech it must appear in the reported too but omitting the modal verb. When let is not used the modal is not omitted . “ John, don’t open the window, please” I said I asked /requested/begged John not to open the window. “ Can you let me use your phone, please?” I asked my neighbour I asked my neighbour to let me use her phone “ Can I use your phone?” I asked my neighbour I asked my neighbour if I could use her phone. REPORTING REQUESTS

10. We normally use suggest + gerund to report them Also suggest that + subordinate sentence The suggestions : Let’s, why don’t we, shall we, why not… are omitted “ Let’s go to the theatre” she said. “ Why don’t we go to the theatre?” “ Shall we go to the theatre?” She suggested going to the theatre She suggested that we could go to the theatre “ Let’s not argue again,” he said. He suggested not arguing again He suggested that they should not argue again. REPORTING SUGGESTIONS