Past Perfect He said: "They had finished the work when I arrived".. Past Perfect He said that they had finished the work when he had arrived.. Past Progressive He said: "I was playing
Trang 1REPORTED SPEECH/ INDIRECT SPEECH
I GRAMMAR 2
1 WHAT IS REPORTED SPEECH? 2
D IFFERENT TYPES OF SENTENCES 2
2 REPORTING STATEMENTS 2
a Pronouns 2
b Tenses 2
c Place, demonstratives and time expressions 3
3 REPORTING QUESTIONS 3
4 REPORTING REQUESTS / COMMANDS 4
5 CONDITIONAL SENTENCES 4
a Zero conditional 4
b First conditional 4
c Second conditional 4
d Third conditional 4
6 OTHER TRANSFORMATIONS 5
II PRACTISE EXERCISE 5
a Rewrite into reported speech: 5
b Multiple choice 7
III ANSWER KEYS 13
a Rewrite into reported speech 13
b Multiple choice 15
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I GRAMMAR
1 What is reported speech?
Reported speech is when you tell somebody else what you or a person said before
Distinction must be made between direct speech and reported speech
She says: "I like tuna fish." She says that she likes tuna fish
She said: "I'm visiting Paris next weekend" She said that she was visiting Paris the following weekend
Different types of sentences
When you use reported speech, you either report:
statements
questions
requests / commands
conditional sentences
other types
2 Reporting Statements
When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:
pronouns
tense
place and time expression
a Pronouns
In reported speech, you often have to change the pronoun depending on who says what
Ex:
She says, “My dad likes roast chicken.” => She says that her dad likes roast chicken
b Tenses
If the sentence starts in the present, there is no backshift of tenses in reported speech
If the sentence starts in the past, there is often backshift of tenses in reported speech
Direct speech Reported speech (no backshift) “I write poems.” He says that he writes poems
(backshift) “I write poems.” He said that he wrote poems
* No backshift
Do not change the tense if the introductory clause is in a present tense (e g He says) Note, however, that
you might have to change the form of the present tense verb (3rd person singular)
Ex:
He says, “I write poems.” – He says that he writes English
* Backshift
You must change the tense if the introductory clause is in a past tense (e g He said)
Ex:
He said, “I am happy.” – He said that he was happy
Examples of the main changes in tense:
Simple Present
He said: "I am happy"
Simple Past
He said that he was happy
Present Progressive
He said: "I'm looking for my keys"
Past Progressive
He said that he was looking for his keys
Simple Past
He said: "I visited New York last year"
Past Perfect Simple
He said that he had visited New York the previous year
Trang 3Present Perfect
He said: "I've lived here for a long time"
Past Perfect
He said that he had lived there for a long time
Past Perfect
He said: "They had finished the work when I
arrived"
Past Perfect
He said that they had finished the work when he had
arrived
Past Progressive
He said: "I was playing football when the
accident occurred"
Past Perfect Progressive
He said that he had been playing football when the
accident had occurred
Present Perfect Progressive
He said: "I’ve been playing football for two hours."
Past Perfect Progressive
He said that he had been playing football for two hours
Past Perfect Progressive
He said: "I had been reading a newspaper when the
light went off"
Past Perfect Progressive
He said that he had been reading a newspaper when the
light had gone off
The modal verbs could, should, would, might, needn't, ought to, and used to do not normally change
Ex:
He said, "She might be right." – He said that she might be right
Other modal verbs may change:
can "I can do it." He said he could do it
may "May I go out?" He wanted to know if he might go out
must "She must apply for the job." He said that she had to apply for the job
will "They will call you." He told her that they would call her
shall “Today we shall eat out.” He said that that day they should eat out
c Place, demonstratives and time expressions
Place, demonstratives and time expressions change if the context of the reported statement (i.e the location and/or the period of time) is different from that of the direct speech
In the following table, you will find the different changes of place; demonstratives and time expressions
Direct speech Reported speech
Time Expressions
yesterday the day before
… days ago … days before last week the week before next year the following year tomorrow the next day / the following day
Place
Demonstratives
3 Reporting Questions
When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:
pronouns
place and time expressions
tenses (backshift) Also note that you have to:
transform the question into an indirect question
use the question word (where, when, what, how) or if / whether
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WH-questions "Why" don’t you speak English?” He asked me why I didn’t speak English
Yes/No questions “Do you speak English?” He asked me whether / if I spoke English
4 Reporting requests / commands
When transforming requests and commands, check whether you have to change:
pronouns
place and time expressions
Direct speech Reported speech
“Nancy, do the exercise.“ He told Nancy to do the exercise
"Nancy, give me your pen, please." He asked Nancy to give him her pen
Tenses are not relevant for requests – simply use to / not to + verb (infinitive without "to")
Ex:
She said, “Sit down." => She asked me to sit down
She said, "Don't be lazy." => She asked me not to be lazy
For affirmative use to + infinitive (without to) For negative requests, use not to + infinitive (without to)
5 Conditional sentences
a Zero conditional
When we report zero conditionals, the following tense changes may occur:
Anne: If John is cursing, it means that he is very angry
=> Anne said that if John is cursing, it means that he is very angry (It is still/always true)
=> Anne said that if John was cursing, it meant that he was very angry (Referring to a past habit)
b First conditional
When we report first conditionals, the following changes may occur:
Mark: If we leave now, we can catch the train
=> Mark said that if we leave now, we can catch the train (Reported simultaneously; we can still catch the train)
=> Mark said that if we left, we could catch the train (The reported words are out-of-date; the train has already left)
c Second conditional
When we report second conditionals, the following changes may occur:
Future time
Catherine: If I lost my job, I would be in serious trouble (Referring to a possible future situation)
=> Catherine said that if she lost her job, she would be in serious trouble (The reported words are true; she might still lose her job)
=> Catherine said that if she had lost her job, she would have been in serious trouble (The reported words are out-of-date; it's not possible that she will lose her job)
Present time
Paul: If I knew the answer, I'd tell you (Referring to an unreal present situation)
=> Paul said that if he knew the answer, he'd tell us
d Third conditional
When we report third conditionals, there are no changes in the verb forms:
Trang 5Tom: If we had booked our flight earlier, it would have been cheaper (Referring to an unreal past situation)
=> Tom remarked that if they had booked their flight earlier, it would have been cheaper
6 Other transformations
Expressions of advice with must, should and ought are usually reported using advise / urge
Ex:
“You must read this book.” => He advised / urged me to read that book
The expression let’s is usually reported using suggest In this case, there are two possibilities for
reported speech: gerund or statement with should
Ex:
“Let’s go to the cinema.”
1 He suggested going to the cinema
2 He suggested that we should go to the cinema
Unreal tenses after wish / if only, would rather / would sooner, it's (high) time and as if / as though do not change in indirect speech
Ex:
- Susan: “I wish I lived in the mountains.”
=> Susan said she wished she lived in the mountains
- Charles: “If only we hadn't missed the train.”
=> Charles wished they hadn't missed the train
- Carol: “I'd rather go by bike than walk.”
=> Carol said that she would rather go by bike than walk
- Mr Wilkins: “I would rather you didn't smoke in here.”
=> Mr Wilkins said he would rather I didn't smoke in his office
- Newspaper article: “It's high time the government did something about this problem.”
=> The article said that it was high time the government did something about the problem
- Jane: “He looks as if he knew the answer.”
=> Jane said that he looked as if he knew the answer
II PRACTISE EXERCISE
a Rewrite into reported speech:
1 The spokesman said: “I can’t understand why billiards has been prohibited.”
2 Gihan exclaimed: “We have had too many prohibitions.”
3 The young lady said: “I did not make such a mistake.”
4 She said: “We’ll go and get some food.”
5 Winston Churchill said: “I wake up at six every day”
6 A company representative said: “This probably won’t happen.”
7 A farmer said: “If the situation goes on like this, we will lose the consumers” confidence forever”
8 He added: “We need someone who will realize that celibacy has to be a personal choice”
9 She said: “I think the amount of immigrants right now is OK, but I don’t think we need any more”
10 He said: “In Japan paper-folding was valued for its decorative function”
11 “If I don’t win this game, I will retire, ” Kasparov said
12 The police said: “Youssef planned the World Trade Centre bombing”
13 She said: “As a woman, my life will change with the new millennium”
14 “I watched a documentary about dolphins on TV yesterday, ” said John
15 “I’m living the adventure of my life, ” Banderas said
16 Al Gore said: “As a teenager, one of the books that I read was Silent Spring.”
17 “I was taught information technology in this course, ” she said
18 My aunt said: “Single men should drive slowly if they want to live longer.”
19 He said: “We are here today to reach consensus”
20 Last week Julia said: “We will meet our new instructor tomorrow”
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21 He said to one of them: “Let me see the streets once more before I die I’ll be back in five minutes.”
22 “Please, don’t say anything to him”, he said
23 “Don’t talk to me like that, ” said his mother
24 She said: “Don’t smoke if you want to save money.”
25 “Buy me the paper if you’re going out”, Alice asked her brother
26 He asked: “Do you often play rugby?”
27 The doctor asked: “Do you ever feel this pain in your stomach before meals?”
28 Michael asked her: “Where did you find these trainers?
29 Michael wondered: “Why do I do this every day?”
30 “What time did the film start?” she asked
31 Her parents asked her: “Why do you want to become a bullfighter?”
32 They asked her mother: “Does he often come home late from school?”
33 The judge asked Karl: “How long have you known the accused?”
34 “What do you want?” she asked him
35 “Are you coming with us?” he asked me
36 He asked, “When do you intend to make the payment?”
37 “Do you come from China?” said the prince to the girl
38 The poor man exclaimed, “Will none of you help me?”
39 “Which way should I go?” asked the little girl
40 Aladdin said to the magician, “What have I done to deserve so severe a punishment?”
41 “Don’t you know the way home?” I said to her
42 “Do you write a good hand?” the teacher said to the student
43 “Have you anything to say on behalf of the accused?” said the judge finally
44 “Have you anything to tell me, little bird?” asked Ulysses
45 “Who are you, sir, and what do you want?” they asked
46 The king was impressed with the magician and asked, “What can I do for you?”
47 She asked, “What is it that makes you stronger and braver than other men?”
48 “Can you solve this problem?” he asked me
49 Jack: "I'll lend you my grammar book if you think it will help
50 The doctor: "I'll send you the results as soon as they arrive."
51 She said “I´ve found my keys!”
52 They asked me “Did you see Tom at the cinema last night?”
53 He asked me “Do you know where the post office is?”
54 “Her parents are getting married next Friday” she assured us
55 The news said “There has been a big earthquake in Japan”
56 “Stop making so much noise!” the mother said to the children
57 “Pam visited us yesterday” Pete said
58 I told them “I was late for work this morning”
59 The criminal confessed “Yes, I lied to the police”
60 Their friends told them “We are going to be a bit late next Monday”
61 Mary said: “My father died a year ago”
62 “Must you go now?”, said Mr Brown
63 John said: “I have finished studying my lesson”
64 He asked me: “Why didn’t you come to class yesterday?”
65 “Remember to buy some sugar”, my mother said
My mother asked
66 He said: “If I were you, I would tell her about that”
He advised
67 “Don’t take more than two of these at once”, said the doctor
The doctor asked
68 The traveler asked: “How long does it take you to get to London?”
69 “Did you phone me yesterday?” Tom asked Mary
70 “Would you like to have dinner with us tonight,” Mike said
Mike invited
71 “Why don’t you organize an English competition for our students?” said Ms Lien
Trang 7 Ms Lien suggested
72 “You won the scholarship Congratulations!” Mary told me
Mary congratulated
73 “You were cheating” said David to Henry
David accused
74 “It was kind of you to help me with my homework” Lan said to Hoa
Lan thanked
75 “I’m sorry I’m late, said Mr Thanh
Mr Thanh apologized
b Multiple choice
1 Julia said that she _ there at noon
A is going to be B was going to be C will be D can be
2 He _ that he was leaving way that afternoon
A told me B told to me C said me D says to me
3 She said to me that she to me the Sunday before
A wrote B has written C was writing D had written
4 I _ him to sell that old motorbike
5 My parents reminded me the flowers
A remember to plant B plant C to plant D planting
6 I asked Martha to enter law school
A are you planning B is she planning C was she planning D if she was planning
7 Nam wanted to know what time
A does the movie begin B did the movie begin
8 I wondered _ the right thing
A whether I was doing B if I am doing C was I doing D am I doing
9 The scientist said the earth the sun
A goes round B is going around C went around D was going around
10 Peter said that if he rich, he _ a lot
C had been – would have travelled D was – will travel
11 They said that they had been driving through the desert
A the previous day B yesterday C the last day D Sunday previously
12 He asked the children _too much noise
A not to make B not making C don’t make D if they don’t make
13 The man said that money _ the passport to everything
14 The teacher said Columbus _America in 1942
A discovered B had discovered C was discovering D would discover
15 John said he _ her since they school
A hasn’t met – left B hadn’t met - had left C hadn’t met left D didn’t meet – has left
16 The woman asked get lunch at school
A can the children B whether the children could
C if the children can D could the children
17 Laura said that when she _ to school, she saw an accident
A was walking B has walked C had been walking D has been walking
18 He asked, “Why didn’t she take the final exam?” - He asked why the final exam
A she took B did she take C she hadn’t taken D she had taken
19 Ba said he some good marks the semester before
20 They told their parents that they _ their best to do the test
21 She asked me where I _ from
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22 She _ me whether I liked classical music or not
23 He asked me who the editor of that book
24 He wants to know whether I _ back tomorrow
25 I wonder why he _ love his family
26 They asked me how many children _
27 Thu said she had been _ the day before
28 The student said that the English test _ the most difficult
29 He wanted to know _ shopping during the previous morning
A if we had been going B that if we had been going
30 He asked me _ Robert and I said I did not know _
A that did I know / who were he B that I knew / who he had been
C if I knew/ who he was D whether I knew / who had he been
31 The mother asked her son _
A where he had been B whether I had been C where has he been D where had he been
32 Martin asked me _
A how is my father B how my father is C how was my father D how my father was
33 The host asked Peter _ tea or coffee
A whether he preferred B that he preferred C did he prefer D if he prefers
34 She asked me _ my holidays _
A where I spent / the previous year B where I had spent/ the previous year
C where I spent / last year D where did I spend / last year
35 He advised _ too far
A her did not go B her do not go C her not to go D she did not go
36 John often says he _ boxing because it _ a cruel sport
A doesn’t like/ is B did not like / were C not liked / had been D had not liked / was
37 Nancy asked me why I had not gone to New York the summer _
38 He asked _ him some money
A her to lend B she to lend C she has lent D she lends
39 Andrew told me that they _ fish two _ days
A have not eaten / ago B had eaten/ previous C did not eat / before D would not eat / last
40 Jason told me that he _ his best in the exam the _ day
A had done / following B will do / previous C would do/ following D was going / previous
41 John asked me _ in English
A what does this word mean B what that word means
C what did this word mean D what that word meant
42 The mother told her son _ so impolitely
A not behave B not to behave C not behaving D did not behave
43 She said she _ collect it for me after work
44 She said I _ an angel
45 I have ever told you he _ unreliable
46 I told him _ the word to Jane somehow that I _ to reach her during the early hours
A passing / will try B he will pass / tried C to pass/ would try D he passed / have tried
Trang 947 Laura said she had worked on the assignment since _
A yesterday B two days ago C the day before D the next day
48 John asked me _ interested in any kind of sports
A if I were B if were I C if was I D if I was
49 John asked me _ that film the night before
A that I saw B had I seen C if I had seen D if had I seen
50 The guest told the host that _
A I must go now B he must go now C he had to go now D he had to go then
51 Last week, our teacher told us that we a spelling test at the end of the week on Friday
A can have B did have C would have D had had
52 Three days ago a friend told me that she was going to visit me but she didn't arrive
A tomorrow B next day C the day before D the next day
53 When I spoke to Belen, yesterday, she said that she to a party the night before
54 The teacher asked us about our favorite sports and everybody said that they _ football
A liked B are liking C were liking D had like
55 I spoke to John on his mobile and asked him where he was He told me that he _ in the airport, waiting for his flight
56 On Tuesday, Abdul told the teacher that he had missed the lesson because he had gone
to the embassy in London
A yesterday B before day C the before day D the day before
57 Last week, David telephoned the school and said that he _ to school because he had a headache
A didn't come B couldn't come C doesn't come D wasn't come
58 Guillermo told us that he _ studying in England but that he didn't like English food
59 When we asked her, Jiang told us that she a ghost
A never saw B never seen C had never seen D did never see
60 Maria told us that she was going to visit _ parents in Italy the next week and wouldn't come to class
61 Peter said that he Brad Pitt on a street in Bristol the day before but nobody believed him
62 I remember last month our teacher told us he would buy us chocolate _ but he forgot and
he never bought us any
A next week B the next week C the after week D after week
63 He said he……… at the “Ritz” Hotel
A is staying B has stayed C was staying D will stay
64 He asked me where I………
A have studied B study C am studying D studied
65 Tina asked me how long I……… a teacher
66 She asked me……….I liked pop music
67 The students asked if I was going to teach them physics………
A the next day B next day C day next D the day next
68 John asked me _ in English
A what does this word mean B what that word means
C what did this word mean D what that word meant
69 She said I _ an angel
70 Laura said she had worked on the assignment since _
A yesterday B two days ago C the day before D the next day
71 John asked me _ interested in any kind of sports
A if I were B if were I C if was I D if I was
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72 John asked me _ that film the night before
A that I saw B had I seen C if I had seen D if had I seen
73 “Go home,” said the teacher to us
A The teacher told us to go home B The teacher said us to go home
C The teacher told us go home D The teacher told to us to go home
74 “Please bring me some fish soup,” he said to the waitress
A He asked the waitress bring him some fish soup
B He asked the waitress to bring her some fish soup
C He asked the waitress to bring him some fish soup
D He asked the waitress bring her some fish soup
75 I said to Nick: “Where are you going?”
A I asked Nick where was he going B I asked Nick where he was going
C I asked Nick where is he going D I asked Nick where he is going
76 “You’d better apologise for being late,” said my mother
A My mother advised me to apologise for being late
B My mother suggested me to apologise for being late
C My mother suggested apologising for being late
D My mother warned me to apologise for being late
77 “Don’t open your books, ” the teacher said to the pupils
A The teacher told the pupils to not open their books
B The teacher told the pupils did not open their books
C The teacher told the pupils not open their books
D The teacher told the pupils not to open their books
78 He said, “My wife has just bought a diamond ring.”
A He said that his wife had just bought a diamond ring
B He said that my wife had just bought a diamond ring
C He said that his wife has just bought a diamond ring
D he said that his wife just bought a diamond ring
79 “I will come with you as soon as I am ready”, she said to Philip
A She said to Philip he will come to see you as soon as he I am ready
B She told Philip she will come to see her as soon as she was ready
C She told Philip she would come to see you as soon as she was ready
D She told Philip she would come to see him as soon as she was ready
80 “I wrote to him yesterday”
A She said to me I wrote to him the day before
B She told me she wrote to him yesterday
C She told me she had written to him yesterday
D She told me she had written to him the day before
81 “He is talking to your sister”, She said to me
A She told me he was talking to your sister
B She told me she was talking to my sister
C She told me he was talking to my sister
D She told me he was talking to her sister
82 Miss White said to him, “Why are you so late? Did your car have a flat fire?”
A Miss White told him why was he so late and did your car have a flat fire
B Miss White asked him why was he so late and did your car have a flat fire
C Miss White asked him why was he so late and if your car have a flat fire
D Miss White asked him why he was so late and whether his car had a flat fire
83 He said "If I had enough money, I could buy that dictionary."
A He said if he had enough money, he could buy that dictionary
B He said if he had had enough money, he could buy that dictionary
C He said if he had enough money, he could have bought that dictionary
D He said if he had had enough money, he could have bought that dictionary
84 Tom: “Why don’t you study hard for the coming exam, Ba”
A Tom advised me not to study hard for the coming exam