3. Reported speech
• To report what someone said
“I like travelling” – she said (that) she liked travelling
“I’m leaving tomorrow” – He told her (that) he was leaving the next day
“I’ll always love you” – He said (that) he would always love me
“I passed the exam” – She told me (that) she had passed the exam
“I’ve forgotten my keys” – She said (that) she had forgotten her keys
“I can’t come” – He said (that) he couldn’t come
“I may be late” – She said (that) she might be late
“I must go” – She said (that) she had to go.
4. Changes in verb tenses
• When the reporting verb is in the past tense:
Present > past
Present continuous > past continuous
Will> would
Present perfect > past perfect
Can > could
May > might
Must > had to
5. Other changes
• Pronouns often change
Jane: “I like jazz” – Jane said (that) she liked jazz
• Time and place expressions can also change
Tomorrow > the next/following day
Yesterday > the day before
Last week > the week before
Now > then
Here > there
This > that; these > those
6. Verb tenses often do not change
• When what is being reported happened soon
before:
Adam: “I can’t come tonight” – I’ve just spoken
to Adam and he said he can’t come tonight.
• Some modal verbs do not change
Could > could
Should > should
Might > might
8. Reported questions
• “Ask” is often used as the reporting verb
• Verb tenses change as in reported statements
• Do not use do/does/did
• Yes/no questions – use if/whether (whether cannot be
used for conditionals!)
“Are you married?” – She asked (me) if/whether I was
married
“Did she phone?” – He asked (me) if/whether she had phoned
“Must we do the exercise?”- They asked (me/us) if/whether
they had to do the exercise.
“Do you speak English?” – She (me) if/whether I spoke English
(not: She asked (me) if/whether I did speak English)
9. Reported questions
• Wh-questions – change the word order as in
statements. Do not use do/does/did
“What is your name?” – He asked (me) what my name
was
“How many students are there in the class?” – the
inspector asked (__ ) how many students there were in
the class
“Where do you live?” – He asked (me) where I lived.
(not: He asked (me) where did I live)
11. Reported Imperatives and requests
• The verb tell can mean give information or give
an instruction.
He told me (that) his name was Rob (information)
He told me to close the door (instruction)
• The verb ask can mean ask a question or make a
request.
He asked (me) what I was doing (question)
He asked me to close the door (request)
12. Reported Imperatives and requests
• Use tell + object pronoun + infinitive to report
imperatives and instructions:
“Close the door!” – She told me to close the door
“Wait here!” – He told us to wait there
“Don’t forget!” – He told them not to forget
13. Reported Imperatives and requests
• Use ask + object pronoun + infinitive to report
requests:
“Could you close the door?” – She asked me to
close the door
“Can you wait here?” – He asked us to wait there
14. 'I can't
remember
what exit
it is.' She
told us ...
'The film
will be on
tomorrow'
They told
us...
'Could you
pass me the
salt, please?'
My friend
asked me...
'I've
finished my
exams!”
She said ...
Freddy
Mercury to
Brian May:
'Don't stop
me now.'
'Please,
stop telling
lies to me.'
She told
him ...
'Where
have you
been all
day?' He
asked her...
Elvis to
Priscilla:
'Are you
lonesome
tonight?'
'I don't
really want
to see him'
She told
me...
'I'll see you
tomorrow!'
She told us
...
Freddy
Mercury to
Brian May: 'is
this the real
life?
Is this just
fantasy?'
'We
probably
won't get
the
message'
They said...
STAND UP
AND
SHOUT
“I’M THE
KING/QUEEN
OF THE
WORLD”
'I must leave
tomorrow
early. Can you
give me a
lift?' Her
friend to Toñi
'We've
never
forgotten
our visit'
they told
us...
Freddy
Mercury to
listeners: “We
will, we will
rock you. Sing
it!”
Pick a
card
Pick a
card
Pick a
card
Pick a
card
1 2 3 4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12
13
14
15
Wheel
15. TALK ABOUT A
CRIME WHICH IS
VERY OFTEN
COMMITTED IN
YOUR
COMMUNITY
NOW
IF YOU WERE A
JUDGE, WHAT
SENTENCE
WOULD YOU
GIVE TO
SOMEONE WHO
STEALS FOOD?
READ OUT THIS
TONGUE
TWISTER (3
times):
If a dog chews
shoes, whose shoes
does he choose?
HAS YOUR
HOUSE EVER
BEEN BURGLED?
WHAT
HAPPENED?
READ OUT THIS
TONGUE TWISTER
(3 TIMES):
thought, through,
thorough, though,
tough, laugh,
caught, taught,
touched, rough,
please .
NAME THREE
CRIMES THAT
POLITICIANS
OFTEN COMMIT.
Denise sees the
fleece,
Denise sees the
fleas.
At least Denise
could sneeze
and feed and
freeze the fleas
TALK ABOUT A
TIME YOU
WITNESSED A
CRIME. WHAT
DID YOU DO?
WHAT CAN YOU
DO TO AVOID
GETTING FAKE
NEWS?
TALK ABOUT A
TIME THAT YOU
LIED TO YOUR
PARENTS ABOUT
WHERE YOU
HAD BEEN.
TALK ABOUT A
MINOR OFFENCE
YOU
COMMITTED
WHEN YOU
WERE A CHILD
OR TEENAGER
If Pickford's
packers packed a
packet of crisps
would the packet
of crisps that
Pickford's packers
packed survive for
two and a half
years?
TALK ABOUT
THREE CRIMES
WHERE SOME
KIND OF
VIOLENCE IS
INVOLVED. ALSO,
NAME THE
CRIMINALS.
She saw Cher's
shoes on the
sofa. But was she
so sure she saw
her shoes on the
sofa, or were
they Sheryll’s.
STAND UP AND
SHOUT:
“I’m the
king/queen of
the world!”
YOU HAVE WON
THIS GAME
16. STUDENT A – THE CUSTOMER
You came to this shop last week to buy a new iMock computer for your mum's birthday. Now
you're at the shop to complain. The computer arrived later than they told you, so you couldn't
give it to your mum on time for her birthday. On top of that, you started the computer and you
noticed that it is very heavy, very slow, and very difficult to use. Also, it failed after a few hours
working. You want a refund now.
The shop assistant told you:
“This is a great computer. It will make your workflow easier and faster.”
“It isn't very heavy. It only weighs three pounds.”
“These computers are very reliable. They never fail.”
“iMocks and Pear computers in general are very easy to use.”
“We have many of these in stock. Order it today and it'll be delivered in three or four
days.”
You paid for it in advance with your credit card. The shop assistant told you:
“Can you pay now? Don't worry, it will arrive on time for your mum's birthday.”
“Cash is OK, but we prefer credit cards or PayPal.”
“I'll call you as soon as the unit arrives next week.”
17. STUDENT B – THE MANAGER
Student A came to your shop last week to buy a new iMock computer for their mum's birthday. He/she is now
at your shop complaining. You can't give them a refund once the computer has been started.
Your shop assistant explained:
“This is a great computer, but it is not very fast. You will have to buy a more expensive one if you
want it to be faster.”
“It isn't very heavy, but you need to carry the power supply with it, and that is really heavy.”
“These computers are very reliable, but the operating system is being upgraded and they fail
sometimes.”
“iMocks and Pear computers in general are very easy to use, but you need to read the manuals to
understand how to use the programmes and applications.”
“We have many of these in stock, but sometimes we run out of stock. I can't promise you'll have it
on time unless you pay in cash now.”
“Don't start the computer or we won't be able to give you a refund in case you don't like it.”
He/she paid for it in advance with their credit card. Your shop assistant said:
“Please, pay now cash to make sure you get a unit as soon as possible. If you pay with a credit card
it will arrive late.”
“I'll call you as soon as the unit arrives, possibly next week or in ten days.”
18. STUDENT A – THE CUSTOMER
You came to this shop last week to buy a new iMock
computer for your mum's birthday. Now you're at the
shop to complain. The computer arrived later than
they told you, so you couldn't give it to your mum on
time for her birthday. On top of that, you started the
computer and you noticed that it is very heavy, very
slow, and very difficult to use. Also, it failed after a few
hours working. You want a refund now.
The shop assistant told you:
“This is a great computer. It will make your workflow
easier and faster.”
“It isn't very heavy. It only weighs three pounds.”
“These computers are very reliable. They never fail.”
“iMocks and Pear computers in general are very easy
to use.”
“We have many of these in stock. Order it today and
it'll be delivered in three or four days.”
You paid for it in advance with your credit card. The
shop assistant told you:
“Can you pay now? Don't worry, it will arrive on time
for your mum's birthday.”
“Cash is OK, but we prefer credit cards or PayPal.”
“I'll call you as soon as the unit arrives next week.”
STUDENT B – THE MANAGER
Student A came to your shop last week to buy a new iMock
computer for their mum's birthday. He/she is now at your
shop complaining. You can't give them a refund once the
computer has been started.
Your shop assistant explained:
“This is a great computer, but it is not very fast. You will
have to buy a more expensive one if you want it to be
faster.”
“It isn't very heavy, but you need to carry the power supply
with it, and that is really heavy.”
“These computers are very reliable, but the operating
system is being upgraded and they fail sometimes.”
“iMocks and Pear computers in general are very easy to
use, but you need to read the manuals to understand how to
use the programmes and applications.”
“We have many of these in stock, but sometimes we run out
of stock. I can't promise you'll have it on time unless you pay
in cash now.”
“Don't start the computer or we won't be able to give you a
refund in case you don't like it.”
He/she paid for it in advance with their credit card. Your shop
assistant said:
“Please, pay now cash to make sure you get a unit as soon
as possible. If you pay with a credit card it will arrive late.”
“I'll call you as soon as the unit arrives, possibly next week
or in ten days.”
20. Reporting verbs
• The most common reporting verbs are “say”
and “tell”
• Do not use an object pronoun after “say”
He said (that) he was tired 👍
He said Peter/me he was tired 👎
• Use an object or pronoun after “tell”
He told me he was tired 👍
He told he was tired 👎
21. Reporting verbs
• To report what other people have said, we can use
other specific verbs. We use a verb which summarizes
the information implied in the reported sentence,
rather than literally transforming the sentence into
reported speech:
‘I’ll drive you to the airport.’
Jack told me/said (that) he would drive me to the airport.
Jack offered to drive me to the airport
22. Reporting verbs
• After specific reporting verbs, there are three
different gammatical patterns:
1. Rep.Verb + to + infinitive (agree, offer, refuse,
promise, threaten …)
2. Rep.Verb + person + to + infinitive (advise,
persuade, ask, remind, convince, tell, encourage,
warn, invite…)
3. Rep.Verb + -ing (apologize (to sb) for, insist on,
accuse sb of, recommend, admit, regret, blame
sb for, suggest, deny …)
23. Reporting verbs
1. Rep. Verb + to + infinitive (agree, offer,
refuse, promise, threaten …)
Lewis: ‘Ok, I agree. I’ll send you the file.’
Lewis agreed to send me the file.
Lewis: ‘I won’t tell anyone’
Lewis promised not to tell anyone
24. Reporting verbs
2. Rep. Verb + person + to + infinitive (advise,
persuade, ask, remind, convince, tell, encourage,
warn, invite…)
Doctors: ‘You should do more exercise.’
Doctors advise us to do more exercise
Me to my sister: ‘I think it isn’t a good idea to go out
with George.’
I persuaded my sister not to go out with George
25. Reporting verbs
3. Rep.Verb + -ing (apologize (to sb) for, insist
on, accuse sb of, recommend, admit, regret,
blame sb for, suggest, deny …).
Me: ‘I’m sorry, I’m late.’
I apologized (to my colleagues) for being late.
The police: ‘Karl stole the car.’
The police accused Karl of stealing the car.
26. Reporting verbs
• In negative sentences, we use the negative
infinitive (not to do) or the negative gerund (not
doing)
• In group 3 we can have a perfect gerund with
very little difference in meaning (he admitted
stealing the money/he admitted having stolen the
money)
• With agree, admit, promise and regret you can
also use a that clause (he admitted stealing the
money/he admitted that he had stolen the
money.)
27. “Jane, don’t walk through the park
at night.”
I ___ her _____
“Ok! I’ll work late next week.”
Jane ___
“You should buy a new car.”
The mechanic__me ____
advised me to buy a new car
agreed to work late the following week
warned her not to walk through the
park at night
28. “Let’s go for a walk.”
I ___
“Jane, please, don’t leave the company.”
The boss ___
“I stole the handbag.”
The man___
admitted stealing the handbag
begged Jane not to leave the company
suggested going for a walk
“Sorry for the interruption.”
The student ___
apologized for interrupting/the
interruption
29. “I should have gone to the party”
I ___
“Jack, you stole the car! We have evidence!”
The police ___
“I’ll drive you to the airport.”
Jake ___
offered to drive me to the airport
accused Jack of stealing the car
regretted not going to the party
“I won’t tell anyone, believe me.”
He ___
promised not to tell anyone
31. You are a journalist for El Guardian del Castillo.
Last night a man was murdered in Silos Street
at around 00.30. There were no eye-witnesses
of the murder, as the curfew starts at 23.00 and
the streets were deserted, but a few
neighbours heard a man shouting and fighting
noise near Hotel Sandra, so they called the
police.
The police and an ambulance arrived 15
minutes later and they found a body on the
pavement.
You interviewed some neighbours, police
officers, and the ambulance crew. You took
32. Your notes
Neighbour 1: “I heard a man shouting, ‘I’m gonna kill you!’”
Neighbour 2: “My husband and I heard there were some people
shouting in the street. One of them said, ‘You’re gonna pay for this.
Prepare to die!’”
Neighbour 3: “I heard running steps along Calle Silos, near the Hotel
Sandra. Then I heard two or more people fighting. I heard someone say,
‘please, don’t kill me! I didn’t know she was married.’”
Ambulance staff 1: “We tried everything we could, but the man had
been wounded in his neck and chest, and had bled to death in only few
minutes.”
Ambulance staff 2: “The man was already dead when we arrived. We
couldn’t save his life.”
Police officer 1: “Apparently, a man has stabbed another man to death.
He used a pocket knife to kill him. We found his body on the pavement.
There is a lot of evidence and we’ll arrest the murderer soon.”
Police officer 2: “We are questioning some witnesses. They say the
murderer caught the other man cheating on him in Hotel Sandra. We
already have a suspect.”
33. “Stabbed to death by jealous husband”
It has been reported that a man was murdered/A man has been reported to
have been murdered last night next to Hotel Sandra, in Silos Street. This
newspaper has been informed (by witnesses)/Witnesses have informed that
the victim had presumably been/was cheating on the murderer in the hotel
and the perpetrator is supposed to have/supposedly caught them in the act.
Both men were heard fighting and shouting in the street, which alarmed the
sleeping neighbours. The victim was heard to beg/to have begged/begging for
his life after the murderer threatened to kill him, which he ultimately did.
According to police, a pocket knife was used to stab the victim in the neck and
chest.
An ambulance and a police patrol arrived at the crime scene only 15 minutes
after the stabbing, but the victim is reported to have already bled to death
when paramedics arrived. The ambulance crew admit (that) they tried/to have
tried everything they could to save the man’s life, but the sustained wounds
were fatal.
Witness questioning has already produced plenty of evidence, and the
perpetrator has been identified. The suspect will be arrested soon, police have
promised.
34. Now it’s your turn …
• Imagine you’re a journalist covering an
incident that happened in an apartment
complex.
• Watch the video and summarize what
happened using reported speech. This is the
headline:
Black man booted from his own pool …
