Reported speech Reported speech If we report what

Reported speech

Reported speech If we report what another person has said, we usually do not use the speaker’s exact words (direct speech), but reported (indirect) speech. BZB, Englisch - Sc. G

Reported speech There are two types of how to transform direct speech into reported speech: Peter says: „The train is late. “ Peter says that the train is late. with no change of tenses Peter said that the train was late. with change of tenses backshift of tenses BZB, Englisch - Sc. G

No change of tenses If the reporting verb (say, tell, remark, explain, …) is in: present perfect future there is no change of tenses when reporting the sentence! She says, „I have never eaten spinach“. She says that she has never eaten spinach. He has remarked recently, „I will try again!“ He has remarked recently that he will try again. Dad will say, „You painted the fence perfectly“. Dad will say that I painted the fence perfectly. BZB, Englisch - Sc. G

Change of tenses If the reporting verb is in: past tense there is a change of tense: Direct Speech Reported Speech Simple Present Simple Past Present Progressive Past Progressive Simple Past Present Perfect Past Perfect Simple Past Perfect Past Progressive Present Perfect Progressive Past Perfect Progressive Future I (going to) Future I (will) Conditional I Future II backshift of tenses Conditional II was / were going to Conditional II BZB, Englisch - Sc. G

Examples of backshift Present tense past tense He explained, „I don‘t eat much meat“. He explained that he didn‘t eat much meat. past tense past perfect tense He said, „He was really charming“. He said that he had been really charming. present perfect tense past perfect tense He said, „I have never met a lovelier girl before“. He said that he had never met a lovelier girl before. BZB, Englisch - Sc. G

Examples of backshift past perfect tense She told us, „I had never seen a real tiger before I went to the zoo“. She told us that she had never seen a real tiger before she had been to the zoo. future conditional He said, „I will have a cup of tea“. He said that he would have a cup of tea. present perfect tense past perfect tense He said, „I have never met a lovelier girl before“. He said that he had never met a lovelier girl before. BZB, Englisch - Sc. G

Exceptions There are no change of tenses if you report facts: The teacher said, „The earth turns around the sun“. = fact The teacher said that the earth turns around the sun. She explained, „Rome is the capital of Italy“. = fact She explained that Rome is the capital of Italy. There are no changes of tenses if you report requests. You normally transform the imperative into an infinitive: „Carol, speak English!“ She told Carol to speak English. BZB, Englisch - Sc. G

Other changes when reporting Besides the tenses, there are important change in time expressions: here there now then this / these that / those today that day yesterday the day before tomorrow the next / following day the day before yesterday two days before the day after tomorrow in two days‘ time last week / month / year the previous week / month / year a year ago a year before / the previous BZB, Englisch -year Sc. G next week / month / year the following week / month / year

Other changes when reporting In reported speech, you also often have to change the pronoun depending on who said what: „We must paint the fence tomorrow“, he said. He said that we / they must paint the fence the next day. He said, „I am going to invite her for dinner today“. He said that he was going to invite her for dinner that day. BZB, Englisch - Sc. G

Reporting questions If you report questions, you have to: use the given interrogative use if/whether With interrogative: He asked, “Why don’t you speak English? ” He asked me why I didn’t speak English. Without interrogative He asked, ”Do you speak English? ” He asked me whether / if I spoke English. BZB, Englisch - Sc. G