This document provides instructions on how to change direct speech into reported or indirect speech. It explains that in reported speech, the exact words are not used and some elements may need to change, such as pronouns, verb tenses, places and time expressions. Examples are given for changing statements, questions and requests into reported speech by backshifting tenses and changing pronouns. Key aspects like using "that" for statements and interrogatives or "if/whether" for questions without interrogatives are highlighted. An exercise provides opportunities to practice changing direct questions into reported speech.

1. NORTHEAST SCHOOL OF
AGRICULTURE
THIRD FOURT MONTH
PRACTICE ENGLISH III
ENGINEER OSCAR GARCÍA
GROUP PRACTIE #3
NAME: JOSÉ RUBELSE SANTIAGO GARCIA
PRIMERO

2. REPORTED SPEECH
IF WE REPORT WHAT ANOTHER PERSON HAS SAID, WE USUALLY DO NOT
USE THE SPEAKER’S EXACT WORDS (DIRECT SPEECH), BUT REPORTED
(INDIRECT) SPEECH. THEREFORE, YOU NEED TO LEARN HOW TO
TRANSFORM DIRECT SPEECH INTO REPORTED SPEECH. THE STRUCTURE IS A
LITTLE DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON WHETHER YOU WANT TO TRANSFORM A
STATEMENT, QUESTION OR REQUEST.
STATEMENTS
WHEN TRANSFORMING STATEMENTS, CHECK WHETHER YOU HAVE TO
CHANGE:
◾PRONOUNS
◾PRESENT TENSE VERBS (3RD PERSON SINGULAR)
◾PLACE AND TIME EXPRESSIONS
◾TENSES (BACKSHIFT)

3. Type Example
direct speech “I speak English.”
reported speech
(no backshift)
He says that he speaks English.
He said that he spoke English
QUESTIONS
reported speech
(backshift)
WHEN TRANSFORMING QUESTIONS, CHECK WHETHER YOU HAVE
TO CHANGE:
◾PRONOUNS
◾PRESENT TENSE VERBS (3RD PERSON SINGULAR)
◾PLACE AND TIME EXPRESSIONS
◾TENSES (BACKSHIFT)
ALSO NOTE THAT YOU HAVE TO:
◾TRANSFORM THE QUESTION INTO AN INDIRECT QUESTION
◾USE THE INTERROGATIVE OR IF / WHETHER

4. Type Example
with interrogative
direct speech
“Why don’t you speak
English?”
reported speech
He asked me why I didn’t
speak English.
without interrogative
direct speech “Do you speak English?”
reported speech
He asked me whether /
if I spoke English.

5. For pronouns, tenses and place / time expressions see statements in reported speech.
Besides, note that instead of ‚that‘ you use the interrogative. If there is no interrogative,
use ‚whether‘ / ‚if‘.
It is also important that you use an indirect question in reported speech, i.e. after the
interrogative or ‚
whether‘ / ‚if‘ you continue the sentence as if it were a statement (subject-verb etc.).
The auxiliary verb ‚do‘ is not used in indirect questions.
E
Direct Speech Reported Speech
statement
He said: “She lives in
London.“
He said that she lived in
London
question with
interrogative
He asked:“Where does
she live?“
He asked where she
lived.
question without
interrogative
He asked: “Does she live
in London?“
He asked whether she
lived in London.
He asked if she lived in
London.

6. QUESTIONS - EXERCISE 1
COMPLETE THE SENTENCES IN REPORTED SPEECH. NOTE THE CHANGE OF
PRONOUNS AND TENSES.
"WHERE IS MY UMBRELLA?" SHE ASKED.
→ SHE ASKED
"HOW ARE YOU?" MARTIN ASKED US.
→ MARTIN ASKED US
HE ASKED, "DO I HAVE TO DO IT?"
→ HE ASKED
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" THE MOTHER ASKED HER DAUGHTER.
→ THE MOTHER ASKED HER DAUGHTER
"WHICH DRESS DO YOU LIKE BEST?" SHE ASKED HER BOYFRIEND.
→ SHE ASKED HER BOYFRIEND
"WHAT ARE THEY DOING?" SHE ASKED.
→ SHE WANTED TO KNOW
"ARE YOU GOING TO THE CINEMA?" HE ASKED ME.
→ HE WANTED TO KNOW
THE TEACHER ASKED, "WHO SPEAKS ENGLISH?"
→ THE TEACHER WANTED TO KNOW
"HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?" SHE ASKED ME.
→ SHE ASKED ME
"HAS CARON TALKED TO KEVIN?" MY FRIEND ASKED ME.
→ MY FRIEND ASKED ME

7. DIRECT SPEECH IS SPEECH INSIDE QUOTATION MARKS. IT IS USED TO
REPEAT THE EXACT WORDS THAT SOMEBODY SAID:
MY MOTHER TOLD ME, "YOU HAVE TO WORK HARDER IN SCHOOL, OR
YOU'LL FAIL."
WHILE THIS IS OKAY FOR SHARING STORIES WITH FRIENDS, THIS IS
NOT THE BEST WAY TO REPORT A CONVERSATION, EITHER IN SPEECH OR
IN WRITING. IT SHOWS A BETTER EDUCATION TO USE REPORTED SPEECH:
MY MOTHER TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO WORK HARDER OR THAT I WOULD
FAIL.

8. 1. WHEN REPORTING A STATEMENT (NOT A QUESTION), WE GENERALLY USE
THAT:
IN SHORT SENTENCES, WE OFTEN DROP THAT, BUT IN WRITING IT IS A GOOD IDEA
TO USE IT ALL THE TIME, EVEN FOR SHORT SENTENCES!
NOTE: IN REPORTED SPEECH, WE REPEAT THAT AFTER AND, BUT AND OR.
NOTE: THERE ARE NO COMMAS BEFORE OR AFTER AND, BUT OR OR IN REPORTED
SPEECH.
NOTE: THERE ARE NO COMMAS BEFORE OR AFTER THAT!
SHE SAID THAT HE WAS HUNGRY AND THAT HE WANTED TO EAT SOON.
HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAD NEVER BEEN TO FRANCE BUT THAT HE WANTED TO
GO.
THEY PROMISED US THAT THEY WOULD TELL THE TRUTH.

9. NOTE: YOU NEVER USE A QUESTION MARK (?) WHEN REPORTING A
QUESTION!
HE ASKED ME IF I WAS GOING TO THE OFFICE PARTY. ("ARE YOU GOING TO
THE...")
HE ASKED ME WHEN I WOULD CALL HIM. ("WHEN WILL YOU CALL ME?")
HE ASKED ME HOW MUCH MY RENT WAS. ("HOW MUCH IS YOUR RENT?")
THE FOLLOWING VERBS MUST BE USED WITH AN INDIRECT OBJECT:
(THERE IS NO TO BEFORE THESE INDIRECT OBJECTS!)
TOLD HE TOLD ME THAT HE WAS HUNGRY.
INFORMED WE INFORMED HER THAT THE STORE WAS CLOSED.
REMINDED HE REMINDED THE STAFF THAT THE MEETING WAS AT 8 PM.

10. VIDEO
HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WAT
CH?V=W9HBSF154HE

11. EGRAFIA
• HTTP://WWW.EGO4U.COM/EN/CRAM-UP/GRAMMAR/REPORTED-SPEECH