Reported speech is a way of relaying what someone said without using their exact words. When using reported speech, verb tenses, pronouns, and other elements may change compared to direct speech. For example, present tense verbs become past tense, and pronouns like "I" change based on the new subject. Key reporting verbs include "say," "tell," and "ask." Time and place references also usually shift to reflect when the reported speech is being conveyed rather than when the original statement was made. Maintaining accuracy while adjusting grammar is important for credible news reporting using reported speech.

1. Reported Speech
Unit 9 Lesson 2

2. Reported speech.
• Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is a way of
expressing what someone said without quoting their exact
words. It is commonly used when we want to report or relay
information that was spoken by someone else. In reported
speech, the tense, pronouns, and other elements may change
to reflect the shift from direct speech (quoting the exact words)
to indirect speech.

3. Example
• Here's an example to illustrate the difference between direct
and reported speech:
Direct speech: Sarah said, "I am going to the movies tonight."
Reported speech: Sarah said that she was going to the movies
that night.
• In the reported speech example, the verb tense ("am") in the
original sentence changes to "was" because the reporting is
happening in the past. Additionally, the pronoun "I" changes to
"she" to reflect the shift in perspective.

4. Key points.
1.Verb tense changes: When reporting statements or questions, the verb
tense usually shifts back one tense (e.g., present simple becomes past
simple, present continuous becomes past continuous, etc.).
2.Pronoun changes: Pronouns often change based on the subject of the
reported speech. For example, "I" becomes "he" or "she," "we" becomes
"they," etc.
3.Reporting verbs: Verbs such as "say," "tell," "ask," or "explain" are
commonly used to introduce reported speech. These verbs are often
followed by the conjunction "that," although it can be omitted in some
cases.
4.Time and place references: Time and place references usually change to
reflect the moment when the reported speech is being relayed. For
example, "tomorrow" may become "the next day," and "here" may become
"there."

5. Keep in mind.
• It's important to note that reported speech does not require
quotation marks as direct speech does. Instead, the reported
speech is integrated into the overall narrative or conversation.
• Overall, reported speech allows us to convey what someone
said in our own words while maintaining the meaning and
intention of the original speaker's message.

6. Tense conversation rules
1.Present Simple ➜ Past Simple: When reporting something that
was said regularly or as a general truth, the Present Simple
tense in direct speech changes to the Past Simple tense in
reported speech.
Direct speech: Mary says, "I work at a bank." Reported speech:
Mary said that she worked at a bank.
2.Present Continuous ➜ Past Continuous: When reporting an
ongoing action or situation in the present, the Present
Continuous tense in direct speech changes to the Past
Continuous tense in reported speech.
Direct speech: John says, "I am studying for my exams."
Reported speech: John said that he was studying for his exams.

7. 1. Create each group with a current news article or headline. It can be from a newspaper, magazine, or an online source.
2. Explain that the reporters' task is to interview the witnesses about the events described in the news article. The
witnesses will provide the information using reported speech.
3. Give the participants a few minutes to read and familiarize themselves with the news article.
4. The reporters should then ask questions about the events in the article to the witnesses, who will respond using reported
speech. For example: Reporter: "What did the mayor say about the new policy?" Witness: "The mayor said that the new
policy would be implemented immediately."
5. Encourage the participants to be creative and add their own details and quotes while maintaining the accuracy of the
information from the news article.
6. After each interview, rotate the roles so that each participant gets a chance to be the reporter and the witness.
7. Once all the pairs/groups have completed their interviews, reconvene as a whole group and allow a few pairs/groups to
share their interviews with the class.
8. Facilitate a discussion by asking questions such as:
● How did you find using reported speech in a news reporting context?
● What challenges did you encounter while conducting the interviews?
● Did you feel confident in accurately reporting the information?
● How important is it to maintain accuracy and credibility in news reporting?
Variations:
● You can provide different news articles to each pair/group to add variety and encourage different discussions.
● Instead of using news articles, you can create fictional scenarios or historical events for the participants to report on.
● To add an element of competition, you can set a time limit for the interviews and award points to the pairs/groups based
on accuracy, creativity, and effective use of reported speech.

8. Tenses.
3.Present Perfect ➜ Past Perfect: When reporting a completed
action or event in the past with a present relevance, the Present
Perfect tense in direct speech changes to the Past Perfect tense
in reported speech.
Direct speech: Sarah says, "I have visited Paris before."
Reported speech: Sarah said that she had visited Paris before.
4.Past Simple ➜ Past Perfect: When reporting a past event that
was mentioned in the conversation, the Past Simple tense in
direct speech changes to the Past Perfect tense in reported
speech.
Direct speech: Mark says, "I went to the concert last night."
Reported speech: Mark said that he had gone to the concert the

9. Tenses
5.Can ➜ Could: When reporting a possibility or ability in the
present, the modal verb "can" in direct speech changes to "could"
in reported speech.
Direct speech: Lisa says, "I can help you with your project."
Reported speech: Lisa said that she could help me with my
project.