GRAMMAR

STUDY:
INDIRECT 
SPEECH
GROUP 10
Designed by Tr?ng Nhân
 She told me  Bla bla bla... 
that bla bla 
bla... 
REPORTED 
SPEECH
•DEFINITION :
•Indirect speech (also called
reported speech) is a report of
what somebody has said that does
not use their exact words.
EX:

She said she 
liked ice cream.
Grammar in action:
1. Indirect speech is often used by
reporters on the media:
Ex: Yesterday evening,
film stars Nelson Faulkes
and Amy Skelp told our
reporter that they were
going to married next
week.
2. We often use indirect speech to
tell someone else what we have
heard in a talk or speech.

Ex: The lecturer said

that global warming
would be the main issue
in mid-century politics.
•Indirect  speech  is  used  to  tell 
someone  about  something  you 
have read. 
Ex: In his Times
column, Wilson said
that At Gloaming was
the best film he had
seen for a long time.
3. We often use indirect speech when
we gossip with friends, family and
colleagues:
Ex: That guy in HR said he didn’t like
the new manager at all, but I think she’s
ok.
INDIRECT SPEECH
Statements
Question
Commands, Requests 
& Advice
 Reported Statements
1. Reported statements with the
reporting verb in the present:
Ex:  “I have eaten the apple.”

 She says that 
she has eaten the 
apple.
•The reporting verb is often in the
present when:
1. We are passing on messages.
What does  She says you 
mother  must come in 
say? now.
2. Reading aloud and reporting. 

Ex: The instructions say

that you connect this plug
to the set.
3.  Reporting  what  someone 
often says.

Ex: She’s always 
telling me how 
rich she is.
2. Reported statements with tense
changes:
A. Common indirect speech forms:
Ex: “I am going to the cinema", 
he said. 
 He said he was 
going to the cinema. 
Tense change (backshift of tense)

“present becomes past and 
“present becomes past and 
past becomes past perfect”
past becomes past perfect”
 She said, "It is cold."

 She said it was cold. 
Present simple Past simple
She said, "I taught 
online yesterday."

 She said she had taught 
online the day before. 

Past simple Past perfect

She said, "The lesson 
had already started 
when he arrived."

 She said the lesson had already 
started when he arrived.

Past perfect Past perfect

 Direct speech Indirect speech
Present simple Past simple 

Present continuous Past continuous 

Present perfect Past perfect 
Present perfect  Past perfect 
continuous  continuous 
Past simple  Past perfect 

Past continuous  Past perfect continuous 

Past perfect  Past perfect 

Past perfect continuous Past perfect continuous 
Modal verb forms also sometimes change:

Ex: She said, "I can teach 
English online."

 She said she could teach 
English online. 

can could
Modal verb forms also sometimes change:

can could
will would
must had to
shall would/ should
may might
 !Note - There is no change
to: could, would, should,
might and ought to.

Ex: "I might go to the cinema", 
he said. 

 He said he might go to the 
cinema. 
 !Note - The present tense in 
reported speech can be used to 
say that something is still true.

“The earth goes round the sun.”

  He proved that the earth goes 
round the sun.
 !Note - The present tense can be 
used to talk about a future 
event.

"Next week's lesson is on 
reported speech ", she said. 

  She said next week's lesson is 
on reported speech. 
Practice exercise: Turn each direct speech into indirect
speech with tense changes.
was
1. 'I am very tired.' She said she …………
very tired.
2. 'You play the piano very well.'  Mr Jones
told me I ………………
played the piano very well.
3. 'We 're leaving the town.' He told me
were leaving the town.
they ………………………
4. 'He hasn't shaved.' I noticed that he
hadn’t shaved.
……………………….
5. 'Your parents have had an accident.'
Sally rang to say that your parents
had had an accident.
…………………
6. 'I left home at seventeen.' Her letter
said that she …………………..
had left home at
seventeen.
7. 'Don't worry! He won't say anything to
wouldn’t say
the police'. I was sure he ……………………….
anything to the police.
8. 'None of our relatives will come.' They
would come
knew none of their relatives ……………………..
9. 'This parcel has been opened at the
customs.' I could see the parcel
had been opened at the customs.
………………………….
B. Pronoun and adverb changes in
indirect speech:
"Today's lesson is on
Today
presentations."

+ 24 hours

 She said yesterday's

lesson was on presentations.
At work
"I have worked here 
since 1998 " 

At home
She said she had 
worked there since 
1998.
Direct speech Indirect speech

now then / at that time

last night, that night, on Monday
tonight
night
today yesterday, that day, on Monday
the day before / the previous day, on
yesterday
Sunday
the previous night / the night before,
last night
on Sunday night
tomorrow today, the following day, on Tuesday
 Direct speech Indirect speech

this week last week, that week

the previous month / the

last month
month before, in June

this year, the following year /

next year
the year after, in 1996

five minutes ago five minutes before

in two hours' time two hours later

Practice exercise: turn each direct speech into
indirect speech with tense changes and time changes.

1. ' I was listening to the radio yesterday '.

 He said ………………………………
…………………………………………
2. ' I was in Spain last week '.
 She said ……………………………….
…………………………………………
3. ' I want to visit my parents this evening '.
 Susy said ………………………………
…………………………………………
4. ' I'll give you the money back next
week '.
She said ……………………………
…………………………………………
5. ' I'll help you tomorrow '.
He said ………………………………
………………………………………….
Practice exercise: turn each direct speech into
indirect speech with tense changes and time changes.

1. ' I was listening to the radio yesterday '.

he had been listening to
 He said ………………………………
the radio the day before.
…………………………………………
2. ' I was in Spain last week '.
she had been in Spain
 She said ……………………………….
the previous week.
…………………………………………
3. ' I want to visit my parents this evening '.
she wanted to visit her
 Susy said ………………………………
parents that evening.
…………………………………………
4. ' I'll give you the money back next
week '.
She said ……………………………
she would give me the
money back the week after .
…………………………………………
5. ' I'll help you tomorrow '.
He said ………………………………
he would help me the next
day.
………………………………………….
 Pronoun change

"I teach English online." 

 She said she taught 
English online.
Rules for the Change of Pronouns in
Indirect Speech
1. First person pronouns change
according to the subject of the
reporting verb.

Ex: He said, ‘I am busy.’

 He said that he was busy.
2. Second person pronouns change
according to the object of the reporting
verb.

Ex: He said to me, ‘You 
have to come with me.’

 He told me that I had to go with 
him.
3. Third person pronouns will not
change.
Ex: He said, ‘She is 
a good girl.’

 He said that she was 
a good girl.
 Direct Speech Reported Speech

Personal Pronouns

I / you (subject) she / he

we / you (subject) they

me / you (object) him / her

us / you (object) them

 Possessive Pronouns / Determiners

my / your his / her

mine / yours his / hers
our / your their
ours / yours theirs
Demonstrative Pronouns / Determiners

This That
These Those
3. Reporting Verbs:
•We use say and tell in both direct
and indirect speech.

Ex: I said "I'm hungry." 

 I said that I was 
hungry
•We cannot use say or
tell with indirect
questions.

Jim told/said me if I wanted to play

football. incorrect

Jim asked (me) if I wanted to play

football. correct
4. Using objects:
S + tell + SO + (that) + ….

He told me that he liked playing

tennis. - Correct
He said me that he liked playing
tennis. - Incorrect
He told that he liked playing tennis.
- Incorrect
 S + say to + SO + (that) + ….

Ex: He said to them

that he would be late.

!Note: With other objects, we don't

usually use tell.
He said a strange thing - Correct
He told a strange thing – Unusual
5. Use of 'That' in reported speech

­ He told me that he lived 
in Greenwich.

­ He told me he lived in 
Greenwich.

!Note - That is never used in

questions, instead we often use if.
He asked me if I would come to the party. 
 Watch the 
movie segment 
and answer the 
questions
1. ( T ) I was in an Egyptian Tomb
2. ( T ) I'll wait for that glass of champagne 
at the Copacabana
3. ( R ) It's nothing, I'll be OK.
4. ( R ) Draw my bath.
5. ( R ) I can't wait to get out of these clothes.
6. (T ) I am very impressed.
7. ( T ) You've been here all day.
8. ( T ) This is the fifth time you're seeing 
this.
9. ( R ) Come here quickly
10. ( T ) Who are you?
11. ( T ) I'm free.
12. ( C ) What's going on?
• Tom said (that) he was in an Egyptian tomb..
• Tom said he would wait for that glass at the 
Copacabana.
• Rita said it was nothing, She would be OK.
• Rita told the maid to draw her bath.
• Rita said she couldn't wait to get out of those 
clothes.
• Tom said he was very impressed.
• Tom said she had been there all day.
• Tom said that was the fifth time she was seeing 
that.
• Rita told Tom to come there quickly
• Tom (Cecilia) asked Cecilia (Tom) who she (he) 
was?
• Tom said he was free.
• Cecilia asked what was going on. 
Reported Question

YES /NO QUESTIONS

WH­ QUESTIONS
•General:
reporting verbs: ask, want to know, 
wonder and inquire...

Tense, pronoun and possessive 
adjective, and adverbs of time and 
place change as in statement

The interrogative form of the verbs 
changes to the affirmative form. 

The question mark (?) is omitted.
 YES /NO QUESTIONS

Ex: “Do you want to

go to the movie with
me?”

 My friend asked me 
if I wanted to go to the 
movie with him. 
1. Don’t use comma, quotation marks
or question marks.

•“Are you ready?”, he

said.

 He asked me if I was ready.

2. Speech verb: ask, want to know,
wonder, …

Ex: “Did you see the 
accident?” the 
policemen asked.

 The policemen asked if/whether

I had seen the accident.
•“said”  “wanted to know,
wondered, …”
•“said to”  “asked”

Ex: "Is it raining?" she said to me

=> She asked me if/ 
whether it was 
raining.
3. The inversion in the direct
question changes to statement word
order.

“Are you ready?” 
 He asked (me) if/whether I was 
ready.
A reported tag question 

“You are ready, aren’t you?”

 He asked (me) 
if/whether I was ready.
 4. “if/whether” 
•Normally we can use the either if and
whether. “If = usual, whether = formal”

Ex: “Do you know Bill?” he said

 He asked if I knew Bill.

Ex: “Did you see the accident?” the

policemen asked.
 The policemen asked if/whether I had seen
the accident.
•Whether can emphasize that a
choice has to be made:
“Do you want to go by air or sea?” the travel
agent asked.

 The travel agent asked whether I

wanted to go by air or by sea.
•Whether or not:
“Do you want to
insure your luggage or
not?” he asked.

 He asked whether or not I wanted to

insure my luggage.
 He asked if I wanted to insure my
luggage or not.
Whether is neater if the question 
contains a conditional.
Ex:
“If you get the job will you move to
York?” Bill asked.
 Bill asked whether, if 
I got the job, I’d move to 
York.
5. Tense, pronoun, possessive 
adjective, and adverbs of time 
and place change as in 
statement. 
Practice exercise 

Will I ever
lose weight?
He asked if he would ever 
lose weight.
 Can anyone live
without money?

He wondered if anyone 
could live without money.
 Are you sure it’s
true?

She asked if we were 
sure it was true.
 Do I have to go to
school?

He asked if he had to 
go to school.
 Did you enjoy your
meal, sir?

He asked if the man 
had enjoyed his meal.
 Are you coming?

He asked me if I was 
coming.
 Do you believe in
ghosts?

He asked me if I 
believed in ghosts.
 Have you ever seen
the pyramids?

He asked me if I had 
ever seen the pyramids.
 WH­ QUESTIONS

He said, “Where is she going?”

 He asked where 
she was going.
1. Don’t use comma, quotation marks
or question marks.

‘
 He asked me 
where I was 
going.
’
2. Speech verb: ask, want to know,
wonder, …
•If the introductory verb is say, it must be
changed to a verb of inquiry, ex: ask,
inquire, wonder, want to know, etc:

Ex: He said, “Where is 
the station?”
 He asked where the
station was.
Ask, inquire, wonder can also 
be used in direct speech.
Ex: “Where is the station?” he inquired.

Ask can be followed by the person

addressed (indirect object):
Ex: He asked, “What have you got in your bag?”

 He asked (me) what I had got in my bag.
Inquire, wonder, want to know
cannot take an indirect object, we
must use ask:
Ex: He said, “Mary, when is the 
next train?” 

 He asked Mary 
when the next 
train was.
3. The inversion in the direct question
changes to statement word order.
When we report questions, the
subject comes before the verb.

Ex: "Where are you going?" 

 He asked me where I was going.
Don't use the auxiliary verb do,
except in negative questions.

Ex: "Who doesn't like cheese?" 

 She asked me who 
didn't like cheese.
who, what or which + to be + object

Ex: "Who is the champion?" 

 She asked me who 
the champion was. 
 She asked me who 
was the champion.
4. Tense, pronoun and possessive
adjective, and adverbs of time
and place change as in
statement.
1. The old man asked, “What is tolerance? How can
we achieve it? ”
 The old man what  tolerance was and how
inquired ……………………………………….
we could achieve it
……………………………..…………………………………………………
2. The teacher asked me, “Why aren't you coming
with us. Where is your courage?”
    why I wasn’t coming with 
 The teacher asked me ………………………………………
them and where my courage was.
………………………………………………………………………...…….
3. “How did the son feel after the death of the
father?” Asked my colleague.
    how the son had felt after th
 My colleague inquired ………………………………………
death of the father.
………………………………………………………………………….……
4. “What caused the oil spill along the coast of
Lebanon?” I asked.
 I wanted    what had caused the oil spill
to know ………………………………………
along the coast of Lebanon.
.…………………………………………………………………………
5. The student asked, “What does the word
"tone" mean?”
    what the word “tone” 
 The student asked ……………………………………..
meant.
…………………………………………………………….……………
Reported commands,
requests and advice.
1. Use ask, tell and advise like this 
to report commands, requests and 
advice.

Reporting 
+ object + infinitive
Verb
• The secretary asked us 
to fill in the form.

• Mr. Mills told the 
children to stand up.

• The doctor  advised Mr. 
Preston to exercise.
 Negative  in reporting 
commands, requests and advice.

Reporting 
+ object + not + infinitive
Verb

Ex: Mr. Mills  told  the 
children not to stand up
 Work out with
me!

She told us to work 
out with her. 
 Sign at the
bottom, please.

The boss asked him to 
sign at the bottom.
 Be careful!

He warned us to be 
careful.
 Listen carefully!

The teacher told us to 
listen carefully.
 Look at these 
lovely watches!

He told us to look at 
those lovely watches.
 Common verbs
advise forbid invite
order persuade remind warn

Ex: ‘Don’t forget to call 
Ex : ‘You really should stop 
Ex: ‘Please come to my party.’
Ex: ‘Don’t go near the water.’
her sister.’
smoking.’ 

He advised me to 
 She warned them 
 I reminded him 
  I invited her to 
stop smoking.
not to go near the 
to phone his sister.
come to my party.
water. 
2. We use these reporting verbs with
an infinitive:
agree offer promise
refuse threaten

Ex: ‘Ok, I’ll tell Jamie.’ 

 She agreed to tell Jamie.
3. We use an –ing form after the
reporting verbs:
recommend advise
admit deny suggest

Ex:
‘I got the answer wrong.’
 I admitted getting 
the answer wrong.
Grammar in action:
1. Report what 
someone has 
told us to do. 

2. Report what we 
have told someone 
else to do
Female witness 1: I saw the suspect
stealing my car.
Female judge: The witness is making
a serious accusation.
What do you have to say?
Male suspect 1: That’s not true.
Female judge 1: Speak a bit louder.
Male suspect 1: It’s not true. I have
never stolen a car.
The  witness  (0)  claimed  that  she  (0) 
had  seen  the  suspect  stealing  (1)  her 
car.  The  judge  (2)  pointed  out  that  the 
witness  (3)  was  making  a  serious 
accusation  and  (4)  asked  the  suspect 
what  he  (5)  had  to  say.  The  suspect  (6) 
denied  that  it  (7)  wasn’t  true.  At  this 
point,  the  judge  (8)  told  the  suspect 
(9)to  speak  a  bit  louder.  The  suspect 
went on to (10) replied that he (11)had 
never stolen a car.
Court official: Ladies and gentlemen, the
judge has been delayed so the
trial cannot begin until 11 o’clock.
Judge 2: The case is complicated and
will probably last two or three
weeks.
Suspect 2: But I am totally innocent,
your honour, so the case is very
simple.
Judge 2: That is for the court to decide.
Now, jury, you must not come to a
conclusion until you have heard all the
evidence.
At 10 o’clock, a court official (12) announced
that the judge (13) had been delayed so the trial
(14) couldn’t not begin before 11. When the trial
started, the judge (15) explained to the jury that
the case (16) was complicated and (17) would
probably last two or three weeks. The suspect
then stood up and (18) declared that he
(19)was innocent and said that the case (20)
was very simple. The judge (21) pointed out
that (22) was for the court to decide. He went on
to (23) instruct the jury (24) not to come to a
conclusion until they (25) had heard all the
evidence.
Danh sách nhóm 10:
1.Tr??ng Tr?ng Nhân
2.Hoàng Long
3.L?u Th? Nguy?t