Grammar - Notes of Reported Speech

Pallavi Model School, Alwal
Reported speech (Grammar notes)
Sub: English
Class: VII
*When we quote the exact words of the speaker we use Direct speech.
* When we talk about someone without repeating the exact words of the
speaker or when we tell somebody else, what you or a person said before is
Indirect speech or Reported speech.
Eg.
She said,” I will come with you.” (Direct speech)
She said that she would come with me. (Indirect or reported speech)
Distinction must be made between direct speech and reported speech.
Direct speech Reported speech

She says: "I like tuna fish." She says that she likes tuna fish.
She said: "I'm visiting Paris next She said that she was visiting Paris the
weekend" following weekend.
Reporting verbs
Points to remember:
1. There are some reporting verbs to be used: asked, told, wondered, admitted,
inquired, and exclaimed, and so on to report general statements and
exclamations.
Example: She admitted that she got up late every day.
● Reporting verbs such as ordered, requested, advised, suggested, forbade or not
to do report imperative sentences
. Example: “Stay away from me”.
He warned them to stay away from him
Different types of sentences
When you use reported speech, you either report:
▪ statements
▪ questions
▪ requests / commands
▪ other types
A. Reporting Statements
When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:
▪ pronouns
▪ tense
▪ place and time expression
1- Pronouns
In reported speech, you often have to change the pronoun depending on who
says what.
Example:
She says, “My dad likes roast chicken.” – She says that her dad likes roast
chicken.
2- 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).
Example:
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).
Example:
He said, “I am happy.” – He said that he was happy.
Examples of the main changes in tense:
Direct Speech Reported Speech

Simple Present Simple Past
He said: "I am happy" He said that he was happy
Present Progressive Past Progressive
He said: "I'm looking for my keys" He said that he was looking for his
keys
Simple Past Past Perfect Simple
He said: "I visited New York last He said that he had visited New York
year" the previous year.
Present Perfect Past Perfect
He said: " I've lived here for a long He said that he had lived there for a
time " long time
Past Perfect Past Perfect
He said: "They had finished the work He said that they had finished the
when I arrived" work when he had arrived"
Past Progressive Past Perfect Progressive
He said: "I was playing football when He said that he had been
the accident occurred" playing football when the
accident had occurred
Present Perfect Progressive Past Perfect Progressive
He said:"I have been playing football He said that he had been
for two hours." playing football for two hours
Past Perfect Progressive Past Perfect Progressive
He said: "I had been reading a He said that he had been reading a
newspaper when the light went off" newspaper when the light had gone
off
Future Simple (will+verb) Conditional (would+verb)
He said: "I will open the door." He said that he would open the door.
Conditional (would+verb) Conditional (would+verb)
He said: "I would buy Mercedes if He said that he would buy Mercedes if
I were rich" he had been rich"
The modal verbs could, should, would, might, needn't, ought to, used to do not
normally change.
Example:
He said, "She might be right." – He said that she might be right.
Other modal verbs may change:
Modal Direct speech Reported speech
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 He said that she must/had to apply for
job." the job.
will "They will call you." He told her that they would call her.
3- 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
today that day

now Then
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
here There
Demonstratives
this That
these Those
B. 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
Types of questions Direct speech Reported speech
With question word "Why" don’t you He asked me why I

(what, why, where, speak English?” didn’t speak English.
how...)
Without question word “Do you speak He asked me whether
(yes or no questions) English?” / if I spoke English.
C. 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")
Example:
She said, “Sit down." - She asked me to sit down.
She said, "don't be lazy" - She asked me not to be lazy.
Exercise:
Rewrite the following sentences changing the direct speech to indirect
speech
1. The maid said, ‘All the windows have been washed thoroughly.’
2. The doctor said to the patient, ‘Take your medicines without fail.’
3. The clever fox said to the foolish crow, ‘Will you sing a song for me?’
4. The manager said to the customers, ‘The staff is on an indefinite strike’.
5. The young girl asked the man, ‘Will you do me a favour?’
6. The fisherman said, ‘I haven’t caught any fish today.’
7. Mitra said, ‘I go for a walk every morning.’

8. The actor said, ‘My new film is due for release next month.’
Answers:
1. The maid said that all the windows had been washed thoroughly.
2. The doctor advised the patient to take his medicines without fail.
3. The clever fox asked the foolish crow if he would sing a song for him.
4. The manager told the customers that the staff was on an indefinite strike.
5. The young girl asked the man if he would do her a favour.
6. The fisherman said that he hadn’t caught any fish that day.
7. Mitra said that she went for a walk every morning.
8. The actor said that his new film was due for release the following month.

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Pallavi Model School, Alwal

Reported speech (Grammar notes)

Direct speech Reported speech

When you use reported speech, you either report:

▪ If the sentence starts in the present, there is no backshift of tenses in

▪ 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.

Direct Speech Reported Speech

Modal Direct speech Reported speech

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.

3- Place, demonstratives and time expressions

Direct Speech Reported Speech

today that day

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

Also note that you have to:

▪ transform the question into an indirect question

Types of questions Direct speech Reported speech

With question word "Why" don’t you He asked me why I

C. Reporting requests / commands

Direct speech Reported speech

“Nancy, do the exercise.“ He told Nancy to do the exercise.

4. The manager said to the customers, ‘The staff is on an indefinite strike’.

5. The young girl asked the man, ‘Will you do me a favour?’

6. The fisherman said, ‘I haven’t caught any fish today.’

7. Mitra said, ‘I go for a walk every morning.’

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