Reported Speech

If we report what another person has said, we can use the speaker’s exact words (direct speech):

• Mary said, “I’m going to the store for milk.”

Or reported (indirect) speech:

• Mary said (that) she was going to the store for milk.

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 or a question. There is also a structure for commands, requests and advice.

Definition

RulesMary: “I work at the hospital every day.”

๏ All verbs must agree with the first verb, so when you report something in the present (Mary says…), then no change is necessary:

๏ Mary says that she works at the hospital every day.

๏ When you report something in the past, then you must consider agreement of tenses:

๏ Mary said that she worked at the hospital every day.

๏ That is to say, every verb after “said” must be one step back in the past. The present (works) becomes the past (worked). See the chart on the next page…

Mary said:

“I walk to work.” “I am walking to work.”

“I walked to work.” “I have walked to work.”

“I can walk to work.” “I will walk to work.”

Direct

…she walked to work …she was walking to work.

…she had walked to work. …she had walked to work.

…she could walk to work. …she would walk to work.

Indirect (Reported Speech)

Mary said/told me (that):

Conversion

Question Forms

Direct Indirect (Reported Speech)

Bob asked me, Bob asked me

“What time are you leaving?” “Where do you live?”

“Why did you call?” “When will you arrive?”

what time I was leaving. where I lived.

why I had called. when I would arrive.

Question Forms with “Whether” and “If”

“Are you Free?” “Have You had lunch?” “Do you have time?”

Direct

Bob asked me,

Indirect (Reported Speech)

Bob asked me if /whether

I was free. I had had lunch. I had time.

• Command (tell) • Request (ask) • Advise (should)

Reported Commands, Requests and Advice

The structure for commands, requests and advice use an infinitive phrase instead of verb agreement as in the previous structures.

Bob said,

“Turn off the light.” “Don’t leave the office unlocked.”

Kathy said,

“Please call me.” “Would you mind not smoking?”

John said,

“You ought to see a doctor.” “You shouldn’t buy that car.”

DirectBob told me (command)

…to turn off the light …not to leave the office unlocked.

Kathy asked me (request)

…to call her. …not to smoke.

John advised me (advice)

…to see a doctor. …not to buy that car.

Indirect (Reported Speech)

Conversion

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