reported speech

2 If the sentence starts in the past, there is often backshift of tenses in Reported speech.. see: Note Example: Susan: "I work in an office." Susan said that she worked in an office.. B

Reported speech

Statements

1) If the sentence starts in the present, there is no backshift of tenses in Reported speech

Example: Susan: "I work in an office." Susan says that she works in an office

2) If the sentence starts in the past, there is often backshift of tenses in Reported speech (see: Note)

Example: Susan: "I work in an office." Susan said that she worked in an office

Backshift of tenses

Simple Present Simple Past Simple Past

Past Perfect Present Perfect

Past Perfect

Progressive forms

was/were

had been has been

had been

Backshift of tenses

Peter: "I work in the garden." Peter said that he worked in the garden

Peter: "I worked in the garden."

Peter said that he had worked in the garden

Peter: "I have worked in the garden."

Peter: "I had worked in the garden."

Peter: "I will work in the garden." Peter said that he would work in the garden

Peter: "I can work in the garden." Peter said that he could work in the garden

Peter: "I may work in the garden." Peter said that he might work in the garden

Peter: "I would work in the garden."

(could, might, should, ought to) Peter said that he would work in the garden.(could, might, should, ought to)

Progressive forms

Peter: "I'm working in the garden." Peter said that he was working in the garden

Peter: "I was working in the garden."

Peter said that he had been working in the garden

Peter: "I have been working in the garden."

Peter: "I had been working in the garden."

(a week) ago (a week) before

last weekend the weekend before / the previous weekend

next (week) the following (week)

tomorrow the next/following day

Note:

In some cases the backshift of tenses is not necessary, e.g when statements are still true

John: "My brother is at Leipzig university."

John said that his brother was at Leipzig university or

John said that his brother is at Leipzig university

Mandy: "The sun rises in the East."

Mandy said that the sun rose in the East or Mandy said that the sun rises in the East

Reported questions

If you put a question into Reported speech there are some steps which are the same like in statements:

(changing of the person, backshift of tenses, changing of expressions of time)

In Reported speech there is no question anymore, the sentence becomes a statement

That's why the word order is: subject - verb

Question without question words (yes/no questions):

Peter: "Do you play football?" - Peter asked me whether (if) I played football

Question with question words:

Peter: "When do you play football?" - Peter asked me when I played football

Reported commands

If you put a command into Reported speech there are some steps which are the same like in statements:

(changing of the person, backshift of tenses, changing of expressions of time)

The form is mostly: form of to tell + to + infinitive

Affirmative commands Negative commands

Father: "Do your homework." Teacher "Don't talk to your neighbour."

Father told me to do my homework The teacher told me not to talk to my neighbour

Reported speech - simple statements - Exercise 1

2

Reported speech - statements with expressions of time - Exercise 2

Finish the sentences using Reported speech Always change the tense, although it is sometimes not necessary.

Example: Peter: "I clean the black shoes."

Peter told me that

Answer: Peter told me that he cleaned the black shoes.

1) John: "Mandy is at home."

2) Max: "Frank often reads a book."

3) Susan: "I'm watching TV."

4) Simon: "David was ill."

5) Peggy: "The girls helped in the house."

6) Richard: "I am going to ride a skateboard."

7) Stephen and Claire: "We have cleaned the windows."

8) Charles: "I didn't have time to do my homework."

9) Mrs Jones: "My mother will be 50 years old."

10) Jean: "The boss must sign the letter."

Reported questions - Exercise 1

4

Example: Peter: "I clean the black shoes yesterday."

Peter told me that _

Answer: Peter told me that he cleaned the black shoes the day before.

1) Emily: "Our teacher will go to Leipzig tomorrow."

2) Helen: "I was writing a letter yesterday."

3) Robert: "My father flew to Dallas last year."

4) Lisa: "Tim went to the stadium an hour ago."

5) Patricia: "My mother will celebrate her birthday next weekend."

6) Michael: "I am going to read a book this week."

7) Jason and Victoria: "We will do our best in the exams tomorrow."

8) Andrew: "We didn't eat fish two days ago."

9) Alice: "I spent all my pocket money on Monday."

10) David: "John had already gone at six."

Reported questions - Exercise 2

Finish the sentences using Reported speech Always change the tense, although it is sometimes not necessary.

Example: Peter: "Did John clean the black shoes?"

Peter asked me _

Answer: Peter asked me if John had cleaned the black shoes.

1) Christopher: "Do you want to dance?"

6) Mandy: "Can I help you?"

Mandy wanted to know 2) Betty: "When did you come?"

7) Andrew: "Will Mandy have lunch with Sue?"

3) Mark: "Has John arrived?"

8) Justin: "What are you doing?"

4) Ronald: "Where does Maria park her car?"

9) Frank: "How much pocket money does Lisa get?" Frank wanted to know

5) Elisabeth: "Did you watch the latest film?"

10) Anne: "Must I do the shopping?"

Reported commands, affirmative sentences - Exercise 2

6

Example: Peter: "Did John clean the black shoes yesterday?"

Peter asked me _

Answer: Peter asked me if John had cleaned the black shoes the day before.

1) Mandy: "Are the boys reading the book?"

2) Jason: "Who gave you the laptop?"

3) Robert: "Is Tim leaving on Friday?"

4) Daniel: "Will it rain tomorrow?"

5) Jennifer: "Where do you play football today?"

6) Nancy: "Why didn't Nick go to New York last summer?"

7) Barbara: "Must I do my homework this afternoon?"

8) Linda: "Did Max fly to London two weeks ago?"

9) Grandmother: "Where are my glasses?"

10) A man: "When does the train to Liverpool leave?"

Reported commands, negations - Exercise 2

Finish the sentences using Reported speech Always change the tense, although it is sometimes not necessary.

Example: Peter: "Don't clean the black shoes!"

Peter told me _

Answer: Peter told me not to clean the black shoes.

1) Karen: "Don't play football in the garden!"

6) Marcel: "Don't sing that song!"

2) Teacher: "Don't forget your homework!"

7) Jane: "Don't watch the new film!"

3) Mike: "Don't shout at Peter!"

8) Walter: "Don't ring Romy on Sunday!"

4) Yvonne: "Don't talk to your neighbour!"

9) Lisa: "Don't fly via Paris!"

Finish the sentences using Reported speech Always change the tense, although it is sometimes not necessary.

Example: Peter: "Clean the black shoes!"

Peter told me _

Answer: Peter told me to clean the black shoes.

1) Andrew: "Clean the blue bike!"

6) Tom: "Come at 8!"

2) Jessica: "Write a text message!"

7) Teacher: "Do your homework!"

3) Nelly: "Help Peter's sister!"

8) Doris: "Dance with me!"

4) Fred: "Wash your hands!"

9) Sabine: "Meet Sandy at the station!"

5) Anna: "Open the window!"

10) Victoria: "Check your e-mails!"