Reported Speech

REPORTED SPEECH (Statements and Questions)

‘Reported speech’ is when we say or write what another person said. • Tenses usually change:

PRESENT PAST PRESENT PERFECT PAST SIMPLE

WILL WOULD PAST PERFECT

Modal verbs: some change: can → could may → might must → had to

some stay the same: could, might, should

Attention!: must → had to mustn’t → mustn’t

Direct Statements

Reported Statements

‘I like going shopping.’

She said (that) she liked shopping.

‘I’m going tomorrow.’ ‘I’ll always love you.’

He told her he was going the next day. He said he would always love me.

‘I passed the exam!’

She told him_______ the exam.

‘I’ve forgotten my keys.’

He said he _______ hid keys.

‘I can’t come.’

She said ________ come.

‘I may be late.’

He said __________ late.

‘I must go.’

She said _________ to go.

Direct Questions

Reported Questions

‘Are you married?’

She asked him if he _________.

‘Did she phone?’

He asked me whether she _____________.

‘What’s your I asked him what his name name?’ ‘Where do you They asked me where I live?’ ______.

MORE EXAMPLES “ We moved house last year.” >> They said that they had moved the house the year before. “Did you see Jack?” >> She asked whether I had seen Jack.

“What's your address?” >> He asked us what our address was. “We can’t come” >> They said they could not come. “I have finished” >> He said that he had finished.

“Are you typing the fastest you can?” >> She asked me if I was typing the fastest I could.

COMMANDS: Direct speech

Reported speech

‘Go away.’

She told him to go away.

‘Don’t worry.’

The doctor told me not______. .

‘Can/Could you help me?’

I asked the shop assistant ___________ me.