Reported Speech
1. Reported speech
If you want to report what other people say/have said, you can do this in two different ways
-in direct speech: Mr Smith says,“I´ve got a new car. My old one was broken.“
He said“I´m very happy with it and my wife is, too.“
- in reportedspeech: Mr Smith says (that) he has got a new car.
Mr Smith says (that) his old one was broken.
Mind!!: - different to German there is no comma between introduction sentence and reported
speech
- the introducing that can be left out
Because of the different points of view of the direct and indirect speaker, there are a number of changes: I> he/she; my > his / her; me > him / her; we > they; our > their; us > them, etc.
I. Introducing verb is in present
No change to tense forms in reported speech
directspeech: Mr Smith says ,“I saw a big house which I liked.“
reported speech: Mr Smith says (that) he saw a big house which he liked.
II. Introducing verb in past
Due to time shifts from direct to reported speech, you will have to change tense forms. All verbs have to „go back“ one stepin time.
direct speech reported speech
"I´m calling She said she was calling present > past
from Leipzig.“ from Leipzig.
"It is very nice She said it was very present > past
here.“ nice there.
"I´ve had a good She said she had had a present perfect > past perfect
time here.“ good time there.
"I saw many She said she had seen many past > past perfect
interesting things.“ interesting things.
"I will be back She said she would be back will - future > conditional (would)
next week.“ next week.
"I had not been She said she had not been past perfect > past perfect
here before.“ there before.
" ....may...“ ...... might ......
" .....can....“ ...... could......
Exercises
a) transform into reported speech
- Sheila said, “I am here in Leipzig.“
- Peter answered,“I saw Jim yesterday.“
- Thomas remarked,“We will see him on Monday.“
- Petra replied,“I have been to school.“
- Harry said,“We went to Rostock.“
- Tom answered,“You can come to me.“
- Father remarked,“I love the house we have.“
- Mother said,“We will see if grandma comes.“
b) transform into direct speech
Harry told me that they would all leave next week.
She said she came over to me soon.
Margaret answered that she had watched the film as well.
Peter said that he could go to the lake.
Mother answered that there wouldn´t be any problem.
Sandra told me they were at home.
Sheila said that I had been too late.
2. Reported questions
- time shifts are the same as in reported speech
- questions without a question word are started with if or whether
- questions with a question word keep this as introducingword
- typical introducing verbs are asked or wanted to know
Ex.: "Do you play an instrument?“ - She wanted to know if I played an instrument.
"Is there a party on Monday?“- He asked me whether there was a party on Monday.
"Why did you come here?“ - They asked me why I had come there.
"When will you leave, Tom?“ - She wanted to know when Tom / I would leave.
Exercises
- "Have you ever played football?“
- "How old are you?“
- "Did you see that car?“
- "When can you repair the car, Peter?“
- "Where does Sandra live?“
- "Are you going to pack your bag?“
- "Can you lend me your new CD?“
- "Will Paul be at the party tomorrow?“
- They asked me if I was a good football player.
- Sheila wanted to know if had got a dog.
- Mother asked Tom whether he had been in town.
- Sammy wanted to know if I was reading a book.
- Peter wondered if we had done our homework.
- They asked her if she liked living in Leipzig.
3.Reported orders / commands (shortened infinitive constructions)
Use "told, advised, asked, etc” according to the kind of sentence.
Grandma said, “Take your breakfast with you!” > Grandma advised me to take my
breakfast with me.
Mother said, "Don’t go out after ten!“ > Mother told me not to go out after ten.
“Don’t answer the phone, when I’m not at home!”
“Keep the room tidy!”
“You mustn’t play computer.”
“Do your exercises regularly!”
“Never leave the way in the jungle!”
“Drive on the left in Britain!”