25/2/2016 Indirect and reported Speech Indirect & Reported Speech by Viv Quarry (www.vivquarry.com) Remember, that with indirect and reported speech: 1. There is no Auxiliary verb Do/Does/Did Where does he live? and third person 's' is used. I'd like to know where he lives 2. Auxiliary verb 'To Be' = If or Whether He's French (Yes/No questions & statements) I can't remember if he's French or not 3. The word order changes. What's your name? He wants to know what your name is 4. The pronoun and puncuation Am I right? sometimes change. He is asking whether he is right In reported speech, time expressions and demonstratives (this/these) often change: todaythat day, yesterdaythe day before/the previous day, tomorrowthe next day/the following day, tonightthat night, this weekthat week, this bookthat/the book, these peoplethose/the people 5. If the reporting verb is in the past Do you live in Rio? ONE TENSE BACK.@ She asked me if I lived in Rio Tense Changes to: Present Simple Past Simple Present Continuous Past Continuous Past Simple Past Perfect Simple (When referring to a state There may be no change) Past Continuous Past Perfect Continuous Present Perfect Simple Past Perfect Simple Present Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous Will Would Can Could Must Had to or No Change Past Perfect Simple & Continuous No Change Would, Could, Should, Might 1. Reported statements There are two types of verbs used for reporting statements in English a) Verbs like 'say' are usually followed directly by the expression being reported (You can use 'that' if you like, it's optional) Eg. "I'm OK!" He said (that) he was OK Other verbs like this are: add, admit*, accept, agree**, argue, complain, deny*, explain, insist, point out, promise**, protest, and warn** * These verbs can also be followed by a gerund (~ing) ** These verbs can also be followed by the infinitive (to do sth.) b) Verbs like 'tell' which are usually followed by an object pronoun (me, you, him, her, us, them) (You can use 'that' if you like, it's optional). These verbs can also be followed by the infinitive Eg. "I'm OK!" He told me (that) he was OK Other verbs like this are: advise, ask, beg, challenge, encourage, forbid, force, invite, order, permit, persuade, remind, request, urge and warn http://www.vivquarry.com/wkshts/repspch.html 1/2 25/2/2016 Indirect and reported Speech 2. Reported commands Commands are reported using the infinitive (to do sth.) Eg. "Stop doing that!" He told me to stop doing it Note! The verb 'tell' can be used for both statements and commands. Compare the two examples given for 'tell' used in statements and 'tell' used in commands Other reporting verbs for commands are: advise, ask, order, persuade, remind, urge and warn 3. Reported questions When reporting questions in English, you have to remember TWO THINGS 1. The word order and pronoun changes in indirect speech (see rules 1 4 on page 1) 2. The tense must also be moved back in time (see the table on page 1) Eg "Where did you go?" He asked me where I had gone Indirect and reported speech expressions (@ = see note on page 1) Can/Could you tell me ? He couldn't tell me @ Can/Could you explain ? I was wondering @ Do/Don't you know ? We didn't find out @ Who knows ? We never found out @ I can't imagine He asked sb @ Nobody knows They wanted to know @ I don't know She didn't know @ I'd like to know We needed to know @ I'd love to know She had to tell him @ I wonder Nobody knew I can't remember He wondered @ I have forgotten I wish I knew @ I'd like to say/tell you I wanted to tell you @ I've no idea We had no idea @ Indirect and reported speech exercises Back to Grammar worksheets Home http://www.vivquarry.com/wkshts/repspch.html 2/2