Grammar

REPORTED SPEECH THEORY 
Explanations 

Problems 

This unit assumes that the basic rules for forming reported speech are already known. 

• The most important rule is to use verb forms that are natural in the situation. 

'I'm happy to help you' she said. 

She told me she is happy to help us. 

In the above example, the verb has not been put one stage back in the past. In the following example, the same is true. 

I wanted to go to the cinema, but John wasn't so keen,' said Sue. 

Sue said that she wanted to go to the cinema, but John wasn't so keen. 

• Reported speech with modal auxiliaries If the reporting verb is in a past verb form, modals change where there is a 'past equivalent'.

Will - would can - could may - might 

Could, would, and might do not change. 

I might be late. She said (that) she might be late. 

Should changes to would if it is used as a first person form of would. 

I should love to come. She said (that) she would love to come.

 Otherwise should remains unchanged. 

You should rest. They said (that) I should rest. 

Must can be reported as either had to or remain as must. 

• Reported speech with conditional sentences

 After a past tense reporting verb, real situations include verb form changes. 

If we leave now, we'll catch the train. 

I told him that if we left then we'd catch the train.

 In reported hypothetical situations, verb form changes are not made if the event has reference to a possible future. 

If you came back tomorrow, I'd be able to help you. 

She said that if I came back the next day, she'd be able to help me. 

If the event is clearly hypothetical and impossible, time changes are made. 

If I had a spanner, I could fix it. 

He said that if he had had a spanner he could have fixed it. 

Hypothetical past conditional sentences do not change.

 • Don't think Statements reported with verbs of thinking such as think, expect, suppose can transfer the negative from the statement to the verb.

 I suppose she won't come. (This means I don't suppose she'll come.)

REPORTING VERBS 

There are numerous reporting verbs, which report the words of others, or our own words and thoughts. Only a selection is given here. Other examples are included in the activities. Only the most useful categories are given here. It is advisable to use a dictionary to check on how reporting verbs are used. 

• Verbs followed by that + clause (with * can be followed by a person) 

 add, admit, agree, announce, argue, believe, claim, complain 

 confirm, consider, decide, deny, doubt, estimate, expect*, explain 

 feel, hope, imply, insist, mean, mention, object, persuade

 predict, promise*, reassure*, reckon, remark, repeat, reply, report* 

say, state, suggest, suppose, tell*, think, threaten, warn* 

• Verbs followed by person + to

 advise forbid invite persuade remind warn tell ask instruct order 

• Verbs followed by subjunctive or should 

Most of these verbs can also be used in the other ways given. As these verbs contain the sense that someone 'should do' something, should can follow them.

 They suggested that she should apply again.

 More formally, the subjunctive can be used instead of should. This is formed from the base of the verb (without third person V). 

They suggested that she apply again. 

Some other verbs of this type are:

advise (also: someone to do/against something) agree (also: to do something, that + clause) 

(also: to do something) insist (also: on someone doing something) prefer (also: someone to do something) propose(also: doing something) recommend (also: doing something) request (also: someone to do something) suggest (also: that + clause) urge (also: someone to do something)

• Verbs which can be followed by that + clause containing would 

All these verbs report statements containing will. These verbs can also be followed by 'to do something'. 

I'll leave at 8.00. 

She decided to leave at 8.00.

 She decided (that) she would leave at 8.00.

 Others are: expect, hope, promise, threaten. 

FUNCTIONS

• Many verbs describe a function, rather than report words. 

Look, if I were you I'd leave early. 

She advised me to leave early. 

Examples are: 

admit complain request suggest advise invite remind warn agree persuade threaten

 • Some verbs describe actions.

 Hi, Dave, how are you? 

He greeted me.

 Examples are:

 accept, congratulate, decide, greet, interrupt, introduce

CHANGES OF VIEWPOINT

Changes of time, place and person reference are assumed known at this level. In reported speech, there is no longer a clear reference which can be understood by two people in the same place. 

I left the parcel on this chair. 

In reported speech one would have to specify which chair:

 He said he had left the parcel on the chair by the window. 

Or the reference may be replaced by a more general one:

 I love this town. 

She said that she loved the town.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Vince, Michael., and Peter. Sunderland. Advanced Language Practice : English Grammar and Vocabulary. Macmillan, 2003. file:///C:/Users/Raquel/Downloads/macmillan-advanced-language-practice_1406021893.pdf

EXERCISE ONE REPORTED SPEECH 

REPORTED SPEECH: STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS

Gap-fill exercise

  

Fill in all the gaps, then press "Check" to check your answers. Use the "Hint" button to get a free letter if an answer is giving you trouble. You can also click on the "[?]" button to get a clue. Note that you will lose points if you ask for hints or clues!

GAP-FILL EXERCISE.
Rewrite the direct speech as reported speech to complete the sentences. Use contractions where possible.

1. 'The police have found the missing girl.' They say that the police .

2. 'Can I borrow your newspaper?' He asked me my newspaper.

3. 'I don't feel very well.' She says that very well.

4. 'We had a great time.' They say that a great time.

5. 'Why are you late?' My boss asked me .

6. 'It's been hot here.' Mike says that there.

7. 'Do you think the Prime Minister will resign?' They asked me if I thought that the Prime Minister .

8. 'I'd never been to Spain before.' Julie said that Spain before.

9. 'He has read War and Peace.' She said War and Peace.

10.'I will stop smoking on Tuesday.' She said she on Tuesday.

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

 Seonaid. “Perfect English Grammar.” N.p., 2015. Web. 8 Dec. 2017. http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/contact.html

University Press. “OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS.” 2017. N.p., 2017. Web. 8 Dec. 2017. https://elt.oup.com/student/solutions1stedition/ui_unit_page/unit5/grammar/exercise1?cc=us&selLanguage=en

 EXERCISE TWO REPORTED SPEECH

REPORTED SPEECH EXERCISES

Quiz

  

Choose the correct alternative.

 

1. Chris: “Robin will be arriving on Saturday.”
   Chris said _______________.
   1.   Robin would be arriving on Saturday
   2.   Robin had arrive on Saturday
   3.   Robin arrive on Saturday
   4.   Robin arriving on Saturday
2. Greg: “I know what the assignment is.”
   Greg said _______________.
   1.   that he knew what was to be the assignment
   2.   that he knows what is the assignment
   3.   that he knows what was the assignment
   4.   that he knew what the assignment was
3. Sherri and Dan: “We enjoyed the concert.”
   Sherri and Dan told us _______________.
   1.   they enjoyed the concert
   2.   they can be enjoy the concert
   3.   that enjoyed the concert
   4.   that they enjoying the concert
4. Byron: “I don’t know what Dan said.”
   Byron stated _______________.
   1.   that he didn't know what he did said
   2.   that he didn't know what he said
   3.   that he didn't know what he did say
   4.   that he didn't know what he say
5. Byron: “I can’t swim.”
   Byron said _______________.
   1.   he can not swim
   2.   he had not swim
   3.   he couldn't swim
   4.   he can't to swim
6. Peter: "The weather is warmer than usual."
   Byron: Peter said _______________.
   1.   that the weather warmer than usual
   2.   the weather it is warmer than usual
   3.   the weather was warmer than usual
   4.   the weather be warmer than usual
7. Cameron: “I have missed the bus, but I’ll catch the next one.”
   Cameron said _______________.
   1.   he has missed the bus but he catches the next one
   2.   he has missed the bus but was catching the next time
   3.   he has missed the bus but can caught the next one
   4.   he had missed the bus, but would catch the next one
8. Cathy: “I have a cat.”
   Greg: Cathy just said _______________.
   1.   that she has a cat
   2.   that she had before a cat
   3.   that she have a cat
   4.   that she been having a cat
9. Travel agent: “I think the train will be on time.”
   The travel agent said _______________.
   1.   that she thinks the train to be on time
   2.   that she thinks the train would going to be on time
   3.   that she thought the train would be on time
   4.   that she thinks will be the train on time
10. Ruby: “I go to school every day.”
    Ruby said _______________.
    1.   that she went to school next month
    2.   that she goes to school every day
    3.   that she could go school every day
    4.   that she go each day to school

BIBLIOGAPHY

 University of Victoria. English Language Centre. “ELC Study Zone: Reported Speech 1.” 1998. N.p., 2000. Web. 8 Dec. 2017. http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/490/grammar/reported-speech1.htm