5. What is Reported Speech?
5
Reported Speech is
used to tell what
someone said.
We do not repeat all
the words exactly as
they were said.
We report what was
said
REAL WORDS (direct
speech):
Michelle said “I am very
happy to be here”
REPORTED SPEECH
(indirect speech):
Michelle said that she
was very happy to be
there
6. When I hosted Michelle Obama, she said that she was very happy to be
there.
I asked her how she stayed happy and how she takes care of her mental
health, she replied that she avoided social media.
Since she likes to travel a lot, I was wondering which was her favorite
trip.
She said that she had travelled to Vietnam the previous year and she was
still thinking about the incredible women she met there.
Finally, I had to ask her how she stayed motivated when working
important issues.
She said that when she had lost her father she had decided to focus on
important matters. She added that she would keep fighting for the rights
of those in need of help.
6
13. 13
DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH
Now Then
Today That day
Tonight That night
Yesterday The previous day / the day before
Last week The previous week / the week before
A __________ ago The previous ______ / the _____ before
Tomorrow The following day / the day after / the next day
Next ___________ The following ________ / the _______ after
Here There
This
These
That
Those
Changes in Time and Place
14. 14
Change the following sentences from direct to reported or indirect speech:
He said, “I will be here at noon.”
He said that he would be here at noon.
Mary said, “The train will probably arrive on time.”
He said, “I have to finish this report by five o’clock.”
The doctor said, “Mr. Smith will improve quickly.”
William said to me, “I am leaving in the morning.”
The teacher said, “Everyone has to write a composition.”
John said, “I saw that movie on Wednesday.”
Helen said, “I have read that book.
Mary said that the train would probably arrive on time.
He said that he had to finish that report by five o’clock.
The doctor said that Mr Smith would improve quickly.
William said to me that he was leaving in the morning.
The teacher said that everyone had to write a composition.
John said that he had seen that movie on Wednesday.
Helen said that she had read that book.
15. 15
Change the following sentences from Direct to Reported or indirect speech:
9. Mary said to John, “I cannot go to the movie with you.”
Mary said to John that she could not go to the movie with him.
10. John said, “I have finished studying my lesson.”
John said that he had finished studying his lesson.
11. Mary remarked, “John speaks English well.”
Mary said that John spoke English well.
12. William said to me, “I will not see Mr. Jones until Tuesday.”
William said to me that he would not see Mr. Jones until Tuesday.
13. Mr. Smith said, “I will refuse this offer today.”
Mr Smith said that he would refuse that offer that day.
14. John said, “I certainly hope it won’t rain tomorrow.”
John said that he certainly hoped it would not rain the next day.
15. Henry said, “I can meet them later.”
Henry said that he could meet them later.
16. The boy said, “I am only eight years old.”
The boy said that he was only 8 years old.
17. Watch the following video of Elon Musk in a talk show,
being interviewed by a host. Listen carefully to what Elon
Musk says and note down what his direct answers were.
Let’s watch again the video and report what Elon said.
17
« I am trying to do good things. »
« I am trying to do useful things »
He said that he was trying to do good things and
then he added he was trying to do useful things
