Reported Speech Grammar Guide mgr Anna Waligrska Kotfas

Reported Speech Grammar Guide mgr Anna Waligórska – Kotfas PWSZ Konin

Introduction When we report what we or other people have said or thought, we can use: Ø direct speech (saying the exact words): ‘I love you’ he said. Ø but we usually use indirect speech or reported speech: He said he loved me.

When reporting speech in literature, authors often use direct speech – the exact words are between inverted commas. Ø The reporting verb (said, replied, etc. ) can go before the speech in inverted commas, after the speech, or in the middle of it: Ø Lovett said, ‘Houston, we have a problem. ’ ‘Houston, we have a problem, ’ Lovett said. ‘Houston, ’ Lovett said, ‘we have a problem. ’

Reporting Verbs There a number of common introductory verbs used to report statements, which are often followed by that: say, tell, add, continue, answer, reply, mention, remark For the third time that day, the minister replied that it was out of the question.

Reporting Verbs: say vs. tell Ø say sth (to sb) He said that he had been here before. He said to us that his mobile phone had been out of action all day. Ø tell sb sth He told us that his mobile phone had been out of action all day.

Changes: 1. Pronouns When we report another person’s words in indirect speech, we often have to change: Ø the pronouns used in the direct speech James added ‘I really don’t understand the problem. ’ James added that he really didn’t understand the problem.

Changes: 2. Time and Place Ø adverbs of time and place here there now then this (evening) → that (evening) today that day tomorrow the next day next (week) the following (week) yesterday the day before last Monday the last / previous Monday (a week) ago (a week) before these (days) those (days)

Changes: 3. Tenses Ø When we use indirect speech after a past tense reporting verb, we usually change the tense in the sentences we are reporting. We use a tense one step further in the past (‘backshift’): Ø PRESENT PAST ‘I am from Poland, ’ she said. She said she was from Poland.

Changes: 3. Tenses Ø Present Simple Past Simple ‘I live in a small flat, ’ he said. He said he lived in a small flat. Ø Present Continuous Past Continuous ‘I’m leaving in ten minutes, ’ she said. She decided she was leaving in ten minutes.

Changes: 3. Tenses Ø Present Perfect Past Perfect ‘Mr Jackson has left, ’ she said. She said that Mr Jackson had left. Ø Past Simple Past Perfect ‘I learnt a lot, ’ he said. He said that he had learnt a lot.

Changes: 3. Tenses Ø Future in the Past ‘I’ll help you, ’ she said. She said that she would help me. Ø can could ‘I can’t find my money, ’ she shouted. She shouted that she couldn’t find her money.

REMEMBER! Ø We do not change the tense of the original words in reported speech when the reporting verb is in a present tense: ‘Intelligent life in the universe does not exist’, he says. He says that intelligent life in the universe does not exist.

Indirect Questions: Reporting Verbs Ø The most common verbs for reporting questions are: ask, want to know: The assistant asked what type of printer we had, but I don’t know. Laura wanted to know if anybody had reported the missing person.

Indirect Questions: Reporting Verbs Ø We also use enquire formal questions and wonder for ‘ask ourselves’: He inquired politely where they were going. The party was boring and John wondered when he could leave. Ø We report negative questions which express surprise or criticism with a ‘functional’ verb like complain: 'Isn't that stupid? ‘ he asked. → He complained that it was stupid.

Indirect Questions: Close Questions Patterns When we report questions, we use the word order of an affirmative statement: the subject usually comes before the verb, and the auxiliary do / does / did is not used. Tense, pronouns and time / place expression changes are the same as for other types of reported speech. Ø We introduce yes/no questions with if or whether: Ø ‘Do you like apples? ’ she asked me. She asked me if I liked apples.

Indirect Questions: Close Questions Patterns ‘Is there a lift in the apartment block? ’ Deborah asked if there was a lift in the apartment block. ‘Did Marama's horse win a prize? ’ Owen asked. → Owen asked whether Marama's horse had won a prize. Are you going to the film tomorrow? → She asked if we were going to the film the next day.

Indirect Questions: Open Questions Patterns Ø In indirect open questions we use a question word and the word order of an affirmative statement: ‘What do you like doing in your free time? ’ → He asked me what I liked doing in my free time.

Indirect Questions: Open Questions Patterns Dave asked, ‘Where did you go last weekend? ’ → Dave asked me where I had gone the previous weekend. He asked, ‘Why are you studying English? ’ → She asked me why I was studying English. ‘Why won't you marry me? ’ asked Donald. → Donald asked her why she wouldn't marry him.

REMEMBER! Ø We do not change the tense when the reporting phrase is in a present tense: ‘Is she coming with us? ’ → Do you know if she is coming with us? ‘When does the film begin? ’ → Could you tell me when the film begins?

Indirect Commands and Requests: Reporting Verbs Ø Verbs used to report commands are tell, order, command forbid (negative): When the vet had finished, he told them to let the animal sleep. He forbade us to pass on any of the information to the authorities. Ø We use ask for reporting requests, and beg or urge with urgent requests: His secretary asked me to come back later.

Indirect Commands and Requests: Patterns Ø To report orders, requests and suggestions, we use: a reporting verb + object + (not) + to + verb. ‘Be careful, ’ I told him. → I told him to be careful. ‘Go away, ’ he said. → He told me to go away.

Indirect Commands and Requests: Patterns ‘Call the first witness, ’ said the judge. → The judge ordered them to call the first witness. She told him, ‘Please wait here till I return. ’ → She requested him to wait there till she returned. ‘Stop smoking, ’ the doctor said. → The doctor told me to stop smoking.

Indirect Commands and Requests: Patterns The teacher said to the students, ‘Work hard. ’ → The teacher advised the students to work hard. I said to the child, ‘Do not look down into the well. → I warned the child not to look down into the well. The man with the gun said to us, ‘Don't move!’ → The man with the gun warned us not to move.

Reported Speech is not difficult if you keep practising it!

Changes: Tenses Present Past: am / is / are was / were Ø Present Simple Past Simple come came Ø Present Continuous Past Continuous am / is / are living was / were living Ø Present Perfect Past Perfect has left had left Ø Past Simple Past Perfect: sang had sung Ø will help would help Ø can could Ø

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