REPORTED SPEECHES

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

reporting a conversation that is still going on

reading a letter and reporting what it says
reading instructions and reporting them
reporting a statement that someone makes very often, e.g. Tom says that he'll never get
married.
I'm glad I went to the States, said Marilyn.
Marilyn said (that) she was glad she'd gone to the States.
This is known as reported, or indirect, speech. The most important difference here between this
and the direct speech in a is in the tenses of the reported verbs (was, had gone), which have
undergone a backshift in order to accord with the past tense (said) of the reporting verb.
(Marilyn is not glad now that she went; she was glad then, namely at the time of speaking, that
she had gone.). Usually the main verb in direct speeches is used to introduce what is reported,
however, suitable reporting verbs as suggested, admitted, pointed out, explained, was sure,
wondered, indicated, warned, emphasised, assured, considered, ventured to suggest, promise,
threaten, offer, refuse, deny, insist, etc. can be used in appropriate sense of the sentence.
I dont like this party, I want to go home now, said Bill.
Bill said to me that he didnt like the party and he wanted to go home right away.
She said to me, I have got no money, and asked me for help.
She said to me that she had no money and asked me for help.
1- Change of pronouns and possessive adjectives
Pronouns and possessive adjectives usually change from first or second to third person except
when the speaker is reporting his own words
2- Change of place and time words
Direct
here
there
the party
this party
today
yesterday
the day before yesterday
tomorrow
the day after tomorrow
next week / next year
last week / last year
a year ago
3- Change the tenses
TENSE in DIRECT SPEECH
simple present
present perfect
present continuous
present perfect continuous
simple past
future
future continuous
future perfect
4- Case that TENSES do not change

Indirect
there (when it is clear what place is meant or
replaced by a phrase)
replaced by a phrase
that party
the party / that party
that day
the day before
two days before
the next day / the following day
in two days time
the following week / the following year
the previous week / the previous year
a year before / the previous year

TENSE in REPORTED SPEECH

simple past

past perfect

past continuous

past perfect continuous

past perfect

conditional

conditional continuous

conditional perfect

a. In spoken language: when direct speech is reported very soon afterwards, there is
often no backshift in any of the left-hand tenses.
b. In written language: sometimes the present tense is used as an alternative to the
past tense in reported speech if the verb in question refers to what is (or was)
believed to be a regular occurrence or existing fact; it is said that in this point of
view, the time-point between the speaker and the reporter is the same.
(written language) It was the astronomer Copernicus (1473-1843) who first stated that the
planets revolve/revolved round the sun. Before his time people thought that the earth
stays/stayed still while the sun moves/moved.
(written language) Marilyn said that the Americans are/were generally very hospitable people.
(written language) He explained how television works/worked.
The man on TV said, Dinosaurs were around for 250 million years.
The man on TV said that dinosaurs were around for 250 million years.
There was an earthquake here yesterday / last Monday / on the l7th / a month ago / in 1906,
said Marilyn.
Marilyn said (that) there was an earthquake here / there yesterday / last Monday / on the 17th
/ a month ago / in 1906.
c. after wish, would rather/sooner and it is time do not change:
We wish we didn't have to take exams. said the children.
.....................................................................................................................................................
Bill wants to go alone, said Ann, but I'd rather he went with a group.
.....................................................................................................................................................
I wish I knew someone over there, she sighed.
.....................................................................................................................................................
d. I/he/she/we/they had better remains unchanged, you had better can remain
unchanged or be reported by advise + object + infinitive
The children had better go to bed early, said Tom.
Tom said that the children had better go to bed early.
You'd better not drink the water, she said.
She advised/warned us not to drink the water.
e. The subjunctive were, used sometimes instead of was for NON-FACT, does not
undergo backshift:
Ah, if only I were Marilyn! cried Christine.
.....................................................................................................................................................
f. Conditional sentences types 2 and 3 remain unchanged
The past perfect, the conditional or the conditional perfect tense will always remain
unchanged in a conversion from direct to reported speech, as in the following example:
If my children were older I would emigrate, he said.
.....................................................................................................................................................
If I'd gone to the States I'd have stayed there longer than Marilyn, said Christine.
.....................................................................................................................................................
Christine said, Id visit Disneyland if I went to the States.
.....................................................................................................................................................
5- Modal verbs
a. might
remains unchanged (except when used as a request form)
He said, Ann might ring today.
.....................................................................................................................................................
Use to ask + object + infinitive when used as a request form
You might post these for me, he said.
.....................................................................................................................................................

b. ought to / should
used for obligation or assumption remains unchanged:
They ought to/should widen this road, I said.
.....................................................................................................................................................
if used to express advice rather than obligation, can be reported by advise + object +
infinitive:
You ought to/should/must read the instructions, said Ann.
.....................................................................................................................................................
the advice form If I were you, I should/would . . . is normally reported by advise + object +
infinitive:
the request form I should/would be (very) grateful if you would . . . is normally reported by
ask + object + infinitive:
c. would in statements doesn't change; would in requests is reported by reported verbs +
infinitive or gerund:
Would you mind moving your car? I demanded.
.....................................................................................................................................................
d. used to doesn't change:
e. must
used for conclusion does not change
You must have strange ideas about Ken to think that, said Helen.
.....................................................................................................................................................
must (not) used weakly with the meaning of should (not) to express advisability rather than
obligation does not change
You mustnt think Kens always late, I whispered to Helen.
.....................................................................................................................................................
must (not) used respectively for obligation and absence of obligation do not always change
but very often do so, especially when what is reported all in the past, or history
You must tell me first, said Sheila.
.....................................................................................................................................................
Since must has no tenses, it is its approximately equivalents have to and will have to that,
through backshift, can provide the changes in reported speeches.
I must catch that plane, said Helen, whatever happens.
.....................................................................................................................................................
So if Ken is late, she went on, I must order a taxi.
.....................................................................................................................................................
Must expressing a command has the equivalent of to be to
No one must order a taxi, she ordered.
.....................................................................................................................................................
f. need
Similarly, need not may be the equivalent of does not need to/have to or will not need to/have
to, which provide the basis for the changes in reported speech.
I didnt need to go back to my office after lunch, so I and my car are now at your disposal, I
said.
.....................................................................................................................................................
Helen neednt worry, she added, Ken wont be late.
.....................................................................................................................................................
Whereas did not need to changes to had not needed to, need not have does not change
Well, thought Helen, I neednt have worried after all.
.....................................................................................................................................................
g. could for ability
for present ability does not change:

I can't/couldn't stand on my head. he said.

.....................................................................................................................................................
for future ability can remain unchanged or be reported by would be able:
He said, I could do it tomorrow.
.....................................................................................................................................................
in type 2 conditional sentences is reported similarly:
If I had the tools I could mend it, he said.
.....................................................................................................................................................
would be able here implies that the supposition may be fulfilled. (Perhaps he'll be able to
borrow tools.)
in type 3 conditional sentences is reported unchanged
for past ability can remain unchanged or be reported by had been able
I could read when I was three.' she boasted.
.....................................................................................................................................................
I couldnt tell you before, I said.
.....................................................................................................................................................
You see, I didnt know whether I could take you or not. I explained.
.....................................................................................................................................................
h. could for permission:
In type 2 conditional sentences could can remain unchanged or be reported by would be
allowed to:
If I paid my fine I could walk out of prison today, he said.
He said that if he paid his fine he could/would be allowed to walk out of prison that day.
could in the past can remain unchanged or be reported by was/were allowed to or had been
allowed to:
He said, When I was a boy I could stay up as long as I liked.
.....................................................................................................................................................
6- Dropping that
She said (that) shed had enough.
I think (that) you were probably right.
That cannot be dropped after certain verbs (e.g. reply, telegraph, shout) and after nouns:
He disagreed with Copernicuss view that the earth went round the sun.
7- Questions and answers
In reported questions, the subject normally comes before the verb in standard English and the
auxiliary do is not used (except in negative questions); the verb ask, want to know are used in
reported speech with Wh- questions.
Where are you living? he asked.
.....................................................................................................................................................
Yes/No questions are reported with if or whether
Are you going on business or for a holiday? asked the policeman.
.....................................................................................................................................................
Say and tell are not used to report questions (but can introduce the answers to questions.)
8- Actions: promises, orders, requests, advice, etc.
The basic way of reporting requests and commands is to use told + object + infinitive or
told/said used with was/were (not) to
Be sure to send me a postcard from Los Angeles.
.....................................................................................................................................................
Your business will be in good hands while you're away. Don't worry.
.....................................................................................................................................................

The first is the more common, but after a clause (her business ... away) only the second can be
used (not so not to worry).
9- Lets, let us, let him, let them
let's usually expresses a suggestion and is reported by suggest in reported speeches
He said, Let's leave the case at the station.
.....................................................................................................................................................

In theory let him/them expresses a command, but very often the speaker has no authority
over the person who is to obey the command, sentences of this type are, therefore, normally
reported by ought/should:
It's not my business, said the postman. Let the government do something about it.
.....................................................................................................................................................

Sometimes, however, let him/them does express a command. It is then usually reported by
say + be + infinitive:
Let the boys clear up this mess, said the headmaster.
.....................................................................................................................................................
Let the guards' be armed, he ordered.
.....................................................................................................................................................

Sometimes let him/them is more a suggestion than a command. In such cases it is usually
reported by suggest, or say + should:
She said, Let them go to their consul
.....................................................................................................................................................
10- Exclamation in reported speeches
Exclamations usually become statements in indirect speech. The exclamation mark disappears.
by exclaim/say that:
He said, What a dreadful idea! or How dreadful.'
He exclaimed that it was a dreadful idea/was dreadful
by give an exclamation of delight/disgust/horror/relief/surprise etc.
by using suitable verbs
He said, Good luck!
He wished me luck.
He said, Happy Christmas!
He wished me a happy Christmas.
He said, Congratulations!
He congratulated me.
He said, Liar!
He called me a liar.
He said, Damn!
He swore.
Exercise 1
Report the following direct speech using the introductory verbs shown
1. Let's send away for this electric kettle advertised in the paper as a special offer, said my
wife.
My wife suggested .......................................................................................................................
2. It was about three weeks later that I said: Will you plug it in while I get the cups?
It was about three weeks later that I asked her ............................................................................
3. You mustn't, I said, fill it with the switch on, whatever you do.
I warned her ................................................................................................................................. .
4. Stand back,' I cried, 'while I disconnect it!
I ordered her .................................................................................................................................

5. Don't ever touch that kettle again, I said. It's live.

I warned her .................................................................................................................................
6. Don't you think, said my wife, we should get a lawn-mower the next time there's a special
offer?
My wife recommended that .........................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................
7. If I were you, said the girl from next door, who'd just come in, I'd get the whole house
rewired.
The girl from the next door, whod just come in, advised us ......................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................
8. I do hope you'll follow such an excellent piece of advice, said my wife.
My wife urged me ........................................................................................................................
9. Mind your own business! I snapped, still tense after the affair of the kettle.
I, still tense from the affair of the kettle, told her ........................................................................
10. Don't ever speak to me like that again, she said, if you want any more meals cooked.
She warned me .............................................................................................................................
11. I'm sorry, dearest, I said. Please, please forgive me.
I apologised and begged/implored/entreated her .........................................................................
12. How about eating out this evening? I then said, by way of a peace offering.
Then, by way of a peace offering, I suggested ............................................................................
13. Oh, yes! said our neighbour. Why not go to the new Chinese restaurant? I've heard it's
excellent.
Our neighbour recommended/suggested ......................................................................................
14. Mind you, she went on, you'll have to reserve a table.
But, She warned (me) ..................................................................................................................
15. And you'd better put on a tie, she said, eyeing me disapprovingly.
And, eyeing me disapprovingly, she advised me .........................................................................
16. Yes, said my wife, go upstairs and change into something decent.
My wife (agreed and) told/ordered me ........................................................................................ .
17. You're not to come out with me looking like that, she said.
She forbade me ............................................................................................................................ .
18. If I were you, said our neighbour, I'd telephone the restaurant first.
Our neighbour advised me to .......................................................................................................
19. Hurry up, said my wife, whichever you do first.
My wife told/ordered me ............................................................................................................. .
20. I suddenly felt a great need for peace and quiet. Look, I said, why don't you two go out
instead of me?
Suddenly feeling a great need for peace and quiet, I suggested ..................................................
Exercise 2

Report the following direct speech. If you can, make only one sentence (or each number by
using links, including adding that .... Suitable substitutes or additions to the verbs already given
(said, asked, etc.) in some of the sentences would be suggested, admitted, pointed out, explained,
was sure (all used, like said, with that), and wondered (used like ask).
1. Are you doing anything this evening? I asked Willie one day. Would you like to go to a
disco?
2. You may not believe this, he replied, but I've never been to a disco in my life, as I'm
afraid I just wouldn't be able to stand the noise.
3. It's clearly high time you went to one, I told him. I'd take you where you'd be surprised at
the gentle, civilised atmosphere.
4. Sounds idyllic, said Willie, but if I go out this evening who's to do all this work? It's got
to be done by tomorrow morning.
5. Who are you doing it for? I asked. Can't it wait? I had a lot of work myself the other day,
but I didn't let it spoil my evening, I can tell you.
6. If my work spoilt my evenings, retorted Willie, I wouldnt be an architect. I often have to
work in the evenings. Some of my clients don't like to be kept waiting, you know.
7. But I bet your clients take time off, I said. If you did the same how do you know you
wouldn't find a new one? Some very moneyed people go where I propose taking you.
8. Sounds to me more like a night club than a disco. The only one of those places I ever went
to was called the Upper Crust. I was asked to advise on some architectural improvements.
9. That's the very place I'm talking about! I cried. So now you can come and see how your
ideas have worked out in practice, can't you? Combine business with pleasure. A perfect
evening for you.(Begin: I was delighted to tell him ... )
10. I'm afraid not,' said Willie. They didn't like my idea of making it look like a loaf of bread.
Someone else got the contract. So you see it really would be wiser for me to stay in and work
this evening.
Possible changes in auxiliary verbs
will, shall, should, could, might, must, need not
Exercise 3
Report the following, using if you can only one sentence for each number. Verbs such as insist,
inform and explain can be used both as reporting verbs and for direct speech as shown. Others,
such as continue, answer and lie cannot, and you will need to find alternative verbs or phrases.
The first is done for you
1. It's sad but we'll have to get rid of Molly if she doesn't mend her ways, said Harry
McArthur. After all, we can't afford to be too soft-hearted about our typists and secretaries
if we're to have an efficient firm.
Harry McArthur said/announced with some regret that they'd have to get rid of Molly if she
didn't mend her ways, pointing out that they couldn't afford to be too soft-hearted about their
typists and secretaries if they were to have an efficient firm.
2. I must, he continued, have told her at least three times about using the office phones. She
should listen when I tell her things. She must never call America without my permission.
3. I think she may have done it again, said Georgina. What shall I tell her if she has?
4. You needn't tell her anything, answered Harry, because I'll deal with the matter myself.
5. I couldn't ask Mr McArthur about the phone, said Molly, because he'd gone out to lunch.
So I thought I could use my own discretion in the matter.
6. She must be very stupid to say things like that, said Georgina. Shall I tell her she's got the
sack?
7. No one must tell her anything, insisted Harry. Only that she must come and see me. It
looks very much as if she'll have to be told her services are no longer required.
8. According to regulations, he went on, she must have a minimum of two weeks' notice or
salary in lieu. She's quite a nice kid, so I'll be as generous as I can.

9. Although I'm afraid you must go, he informed her, you needn't worry too much because
I'll give you a good reference and three weeks' pay.
10. Could I have the reference now? asked Molly. Then I could start looking for another job
at once.
11. Perhaps your father could help you find a job, I said when I heard of her predicament.
You should pay him a visit. I might do just that. She replied, although it would cost a
lot.'
12. I didn't need to pay the whole fare when I booked the flight,' she told .me later, so I needn't
have worried so much about money. But I couldn't get through to my father last night to tell
him of my plans. Could you possibly phone him from your office for me?
13. She couldn't have arranged to come at a worse time, complained her father on the phone.
I can't possibly meet her at the airport on Friday. I'll have just come back from Canada and
there'll be several business matters I must see to before the weekend.
14. It's the only cheap flight Molly could get on, I explained. She tried to contact you but
couldn't. So what shall I tell her to do?
15. You shouldn't spoil the girl, he retorted. She ought to be capable of coming to see me
without all this help from strangers. What's she coming for, anyway?
16. I haven't the least idea, I lied. But isn't it just possible that your daughter might wish to
see you again after a gap of several years?

Exercise 4
For each numbered verb in brackets choose a suitable tense, whether for reported speech
(dependent upon the verbs in italics) or for direct speech (within quotation marks).
A spokesman for the environmental group Greenpeace said that fishing with drift-nets (1 kill)
not only fish but also seals, dolphins and sea birds, which (2 not / can) see the plastic-fibre
filaments and so (3 swim) into them, (4 become) entangled, and (5 drown). He pointed out that
this type of net (6 can) be up to 55 km. long and 15 m. deep, and added that a global ban on its
use (7 be) proposed and discussed at the United Nations the following week. A fishermen's
representative replied that his organisation (8 oppose) any attempt to prohibit drift-net fishing
until scientific research (9 produce) evidence to show that it (10 be) definitely harmful. I
suppose, commented the Greenpeace spokesman, that when the research (11 be) finished all
the marine mammals and sea birds (12 vanish).
(01) _________________
(04) _________________
(07) _________________
(10) _________________

(02) _________________
(05) _________________
(08) _________________
(11) _________________

(03) _________________
(06) _________________
(09) _________________
(12) _________________

The Mercian insurgents have announced that they (13 capture) Revod, the country's main port,
from the government forces. Their leader General Mot told journalists that they (14 launch) a
new offensive last Friday and (15 take) the town early on Sunday morning. The government, he
said, (16 boast) that they (17 never / give up) Revod. But, he continued in his excellent
English, they (18 have). So you (19 can) see now, if you (20 fail) to do so in the past, that they
(21 make) only idle boasts and that their final defeat (22 be) certain. General Mot declared a
month ago that the capture of Revod (23 be) a great propaganda coup for the insurgents, and he
was right.
(13) _________________
(16) _________________
(19) _________________
(22) _________________

(14) _________________
(17) _________________
(20) _________________
(23) _________________

(15) _________________
(18) _________________
(21) _________________

At a recent symposium on renewable energy sources, Professor Warner was asked if wind power
(24 can) compete commercially with conventional sources such as coal and oil. His reply was

that if it (25 receive) comparative financial investment it (26 now / be) just as competitive. But,
he said, the Government (27 so far / invest) in wind power sums which (28 be) quite ludicrous in
comparison with its investments in coal and oil and, above all, in nuclear power, which (29 be)
shown to be the most expensive energy source of all. He said, too, that research into wave power
(30 not only / be) grossly underfunded in the past but actually suppressed. Did you know, he
asked, that this country (31 be) at one time at the forefront of research in this field, but that the
fruits of this work (32' since / be) reaped by other countries? And that this (33 happen) because
nuclear power (34 be) the altar upon which the Department of Energy (35 sacrifice) our future
welfare?"
(24) _________________
(27) _________________
(30) _________________
(33) _________________

(25) _________________
(28) _________________
(31) _________________
(34) _________________

(26) _________________
(29) _________________
(32) _________________
(35) _________________

Lord Justice Cleaver, in pronouncing judgement at the Court of Appeal, said that Mrs Rudge,
who (36 be) wrongfully accused of shop-lifting five years before, (37 since / live) with the
terrible burden of having to clear, her name. But, he now reminded the Court, Superstores legal
counsel (38 say) that the company (39 no longer / insist) that there (40 be) some truth in its
allegations against Mrs Rudge. Counsel makes it quite clear, he went on, that Superstore (41
admit) that a very serious error (42 be) made. The Judge stressed that the increase in the libel
award to 15,000 (43 be) not to be taken as setting a standard for such awards, which (44
normally / be) left to the decision of juries. But in this case Mrs Rudge (45 be) entitled to
greater damages than those the jury (46 award) her last year in the High Court. After the
Appeal-Court hearing, Mrs Rudge said she (47 believe) in British justice again. It (48 not / be)
the money that (49 really / matter), but the fact that I (50 have) a public apology from
Superstore. She recalled how she (51 be) arrested by a store detective, searched, and locked in
a cell for several hours. When the case (52 come) to trial in 1987 no evidence (53 be) offered
and she (54 be) acquitted. But I (55 live) under a cloud of suspicion until this very day.
(36) _________________
(39) _________________
(42) _________________
(45) _________________
(48) _________________
(51) _________________
(54) _________________

(37) _________________
(40) _________________
(43) _________________
(46) _________________
(49) _________________
(52) _________________
(55) _________________

(38) _________________
(41) _________________
(44) _________________
(47) _________________
(50) _________________
(53) _________________