10 Indirect Speech Tense Changes Rumors and Gossip

10 Indirect Speech: Tense Changes Rumors and Gossip Focus on Grammar 4 Part X, Unit 26 By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells Copyright © 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. `

Rumors and Gossip Really! Viktor No, is it? toldwhat me that Wow! Yeah, I students heard he was could eat in an easy his class. teacher. Have Mariayou saidheard that Larisa that the latest gossip the newsaid teacher the new teacher about the new didn’t give any had given all the teacher? homework. students an A last semester.

Indirect Speech 1 When the reporting verb is in the simple past, the verb tense in the indirect speech statement often changes. Direct Speech Simple Present Indirect Speech Present Progressive Simple Past Progressive Simple Past Tense Past Perfect Present Perfect Past Perfect

Examples 1 “The teacher is strict. ” She said the teacher was strict. “The teacher is giving everyone an A. ” He said the teacher was giving everyone an A.

Examples 2 “Somebody put the final exam on the Internet. ” “The teacher has graded our grammar tests. ” She said somebody had put the final exam on the Internet. Joe said the teacher had graded our grammar tests.

Practice 1 Change the direct speech into indirect speech. Example: “My friend is helping me study. ” She said… She said her friend was helping her study. 1. “The library is closed. ” He said… He said the library was closed 2. “We have registered for classes. ” They said… They said they had registered for classes. 3. “She got an A on the test. ” You said… You said she had gotten an A on the test.

Indirect Speech 2 Modals often change in indirect speech. Direct Speech Indirect Speech will would can could may might must had to

Examples 1 “The test will be difficult. ” “You can use your notes on the test. ” He said the test would be difficult. She said we could use our notes on the test.

Examples 2 “We may have a substitute teacher. ” She said we might have a substitute teacher. “You must study hard for the final exam. ” She said we had to study hard for the final exam.

Practice 2 Change the direct speech into indirect speech. Example: “You can relax about the exam. ” She said… She said I could relax about the exam. 1. “We’ll help you with your homework. ” They said… They said they would help me with my homework. 2. “Anna must finish her paper. ” He said… He said Anna had to finish her paper. 3. “She may take a different class. ” You said… You said she might take a different class.

Indirect Speech 3 The following modals do not change in indirect speech: should, could, might, and ought to. “You shouldn’t tell this secret to anyone. ” She said I shouldn’t tell this secret to anyone. “You ought to tell this to a friend. ” ! He said I ought to tell this to a friend.

Indirect Speech 4 The following do not change in indirect speech: the past perfect, the present and past unreal conditional, and past modals. “If I had have studied, I would “Icould thought I had chosen “I gotten help have gotten an A. ” the easy from ateacher. ” tutor. ” He He said ifhe hethought could had studied, have gotten he he had would help have gotten a teacher. tutor. an A. chosen thefrom easy

Practice 3 Change the direct speech into indirect speech. Example: “We ought to study some more. ” He said… He said we ought to study some more. 1. “If I knew, I would tell you. ” She said… She said if she knew, she would tell me. 2. “I might have known the test was difficult. ” He said… He said he might have known the test was difficult. 3. “She had that teacher before. ” We said… We said she had that teacher before.

References Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education and its licensors. All rights reserved.