REPORTED SPEECH GRAMMAR

We use reported speech to report what somebody else has said or to repeat something that has already been said. For extra practice of this grammar tense, click HERE

 

You need to focus of these points:

• Tense change
• Do not change the tense if the reporting verb is in the present (say, tell, ask, claim, remark, report, comment, mention) or if the information is still true,
• Also, do not change the tense in certain tenses including: past perfect, modal verbs (would, should, might or could)
• Change in time or place words

 

DIRECT SPEECH	REPORTED SPEECH
Present simple: “I am keen on running” said Marc.	Past simple: Marc said that he was keen on running.
Present continuous: “I am writing a course” said Marc.	Past continuous: Marc said that he was writing a course
Present perfect: “I have already seen this movie” Marc told Alex.	Past perfect: Marc told Alex that he had already seen that movie.
Past simple: “I went jogging yesterday” said Marc.	Past perfect: Marc said that he had been jogging the day before.
Going to: “I am going to watch a movie tonight” said Marc.	Was/were going to: Marc said that he was going to watch a movie that night.
Can: “I can come to the party tomorrow” Marc told Alex.	Could: Marc told Alex that he could go to the party the next day.
Will: “I will help you move house” claimed Marc	Would: Marc claimed that he would help me move house.

 

If the verb is a general opinion, belief or continues, do not change the tense.

“I am keen on doing sport” said Marc.

Marc said that he is keen on doing sport.

 

“They don´t believe in God” they claimed.

They claimed that they don´t believe in God

 

Focus on:

• the change in subject pronoun (I, you, he, she, it, they, we) or object pronoun (me, you, him, her, them, it, them, us) or possessive determiner (my, your, his, her, their, our)
• The change in time and place

 

TIME	PLACE
Now – then/at that moment Yesterday – the day before Last week – the week before Ago – before Tonight – that night Tomorrow – the next day Next week – the following week	Here – there This place – that place

 

BE CAREFUL WITH IRREGULAR FORMS:

See GRAMMAR: VERB + OBJECT + (BARE) INFINITIVE/GERUND for extra help

 

Verb + ING

Suggest, recommend, advise against, insist on, accuse of, consider, regret, deny,

E.g. “Let´s go to the cinema” suggested Marc.

Marc suggested going to the cinema.

 

Verb + INFINITIVE

Refuse, offer, demand, decide, threaten, forget, promise, agree, disagree

E.g “I won´t do my homework until you kiss me” said Marc

Marc refused to do his homework until she kissed him.

 

Reported Questions:     IF/WHETHER OR THE QUESTION WORD

 

As if it were the affirmative +

The principle is the same as reported speech. You need to change the tense in the same ways. There are two types of questions that you need to look at.

 

Auxiliary verbs:    

CLOSED QUESTIONS                 IF/WHETHER

“Did you go out last night?” asked Marc.

Marc asked if you had gone out the night before.

 

“Are you fond of watching TV?” asked Marc.

Marc asked if/whether you are fond of watching TV.

 

Question words:  

OPEN QUESTIONS                  QUESTION WORD (when, where, why)

“When did you see this movie?” asked Marc.

Marc asked when you had seen that movie.

 

“Where do you live?” asked Marc

Marc asked where you live.