This document provides examples of reported speech and the use of reporting verbs. It explains how to change direct speech into reported speech by modifying the tense and sometimes the wording. Common reporting verbs like "say" and "tell" are discussed as well as more precise verbs like "ask", "offer", "promise", and "apologize". Examples are given of how direct speech can be reported using different verbs.

1. REPORTED SPEECH

2. REPORTED SPEECH
& REPORTING VERBS
THE POLITE ROBBER

3. Gregory John
What did Gregory ask John?
He asked him if he could do him a favour.
Can you do
me a favour?

4. Gregory John
What did John say?
He said yes.
Yes.

5. Gregory John
What did Gregory tell John to do?
He told him to empty the till for him and put it
right there.
Empty the till for
me, please. Put it
right here.

6. Gregory John
What did John ask Gregory?
He asked him what he meant.
What do you
mean?

7. Gregory John
What did Gregory tell John to do?
He told him to empty the till and put it right
there, because he was robbing him.
Empty the till and put
it right here, because
I'm robbing you, sir.

8. Gregory John
What did John ask Gregory?
He asked him if he was sure.
Are you sure?

9. Gregory John
What did Gregory say?
He said that he was sure.
I'm sure.

10. Gregory John
What did John ask Gregory?
He asked him why he wanted to do that.
Why do you
want to do that?

11. Gregory John
What did Gregory say?
He said that he needed the money, and that he had kids
that needed to be fed.
Because I need the
money. I have kids that
need to be fed, sir.
I'm really sorry that I
have to do this.
He said that he was really sorry that he had to do that.

12. Gregory John
What did John offer Gregory?
He asked him if he accepted $40 dollars.
Do you accept $40
dollars?

13. Gregory John
What did Gregory say?
He said that he was sorry, he couldn't do that.
I'm sorry, I can't do
that, sir.
I've got rent to pay,
I've got bills, and my
kids need to eat.
He said that he had rent to pay, he had bills, and his kids
needed to eat.

14. Gregory John
What did Gregory say?
He said thank you and that he appreciated it, and he was
really sorry.
Thank you very much.
I appreciate it, and I
am really sorry.
If I ever get back on
my feet again sir, I'll
bring it back.
He said that if he ever got back on his feet again he would
bring it back.

15. REPORTED SPEECH
This is how we report what people said:
a. Direct Speech:
Gregory: “I have kids that need to be
fed, sir.”
b. Reported Speech:
Gregory said
Subject + Reporting Verb
He had children that needed to be fed.
Tense
Change
Tenses are moved into the past.
+ PAST

16. REPORTED SPEECH
Direct Speech Reported Speech
Present Simple Past Simple
Present Continuous Past Continuous
Past Simple Past Perfect
Present Perfect Past Perfect
Am / is / are going to Was / were going to
Must Had to
Will Would
* Modal Verbs (could, should, would and might ) do not change

17. REPORTED SPEECH
Direct Speech Reported Speech
I am ill She said she was ill.
They are studying Maths She said they were studying Maths.
She phoned me yesterday. She said that she had phoned the day before.
Simon has come back from Paris. He said that Simon had come back from Paris.
He is going to prepare dinner. She said that he was going to prepare dinner.
You must finish before 9. He said that I had to finish before 9.
I will bring you a blanket. He said he would bring me a blanket.

18. REPORTING VERBS
The most common reporting verbs are say, tell
and ask.
However, there are many others that can help
us be more precise in the information we
want to report.

19. REPORTING VERBS
Gregory said: “Empty the till for me, please”
Gregory asked John to empty the till
Gregory said: “Empty the till, I’m robbing you, sir”
Gregory insisted that John emptied the till and admitted robbing him.
John said: “Do you accept $40?”
John offered to give him $40.
Gregory said: “I can’t do that, sir”
He refused to accept the money.
Gregory said: “Thank you very much, and I’m really sorry, sir”
Gregory thanked John and apologised for doing it.
Gregory said: “If I ever get back on my feet again, I’ll bring it back, sir”
Gregory promised to bring the money back

20. REPORTING VERBS
Verb+ object
+infinitive
verb + infinitive
verb (that)+
sentence
verb + gerund
verb object +
Preposition+
gerund
Verb +
Preposition
+
gerund
advise
encourage
invite
remind
warn
agree
decide
offer
promise
refuse
threaten
admit
agree
decide
deny
explain
insist
promise
recommend
suggest
deny
recommend
suggest
accuse
blame
congratulate
apologize
insist
Jack encouraged me
to look for a new
job.
They invited all
their friends to
attend the
presentation.
She offered to
give him a lift to
work.
My brother
refused to take no
for an answer.
Tom admitted (that)
he had tried to leave
early.
She agreed (that) we
needed to reconsider
our plans.
He denied having
anything to do with
her.
Ken suggested
studying early in
the morning.
They accused the
boys of cheating on
the exam.
She blamed her
husband for missing
the train.
He apologized
for being late.
She insisted on
doing the
washing up.