REPORTED (INDIRECT) SPEECH

Direct speech refers to statements that are made without an intermediary.

Quoted statements, for example, are a type of direct speech.
Reported (indirect) speech refers to statements that are made through an
intermediary. In reported speech, the sequence of tenses rule is usually
employed (EXCEPT when the application of the rule would result in an amiguous
or unclear sentence!.
The sequence of tenses rule" If the #er in the main clause of a
sentence is in a past tense, suordinate clause #ers must also e in
their respecti#e past forms.
Examples"
DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED (INDIRECT) SPEECH
$. %I ha#e two sisters.% &e says (that! he has two sisters.
'. %(e li#e on )aple *treet.% *he said (that! they li#ed on )aple *treet.
+. %It is too windy to play tennis.% &e said (that! it was too windy to play tennis.
,. %They ha#e + children.% &e said (that! they had + children.
-. %I saw her stealing the glo#es.% &e said (that! he had seen her stealing the glo#es.
.. %(e ha#e eaten dinner.% They said (that! they had eaten dinner.
/. %It is raining outside.% *he said (that! it was raining outside.
0. %I will meet you here at 0"11.% &e said (that! he would meet me there at 0"11.
2. %I can finish my homewor3 4uic3ly.% *he said (that! she could finish her homewor3 4uic3ly.
5otes"
6that is usually omitted efore the suordinate clause
6if the main clause #er is in the present tense (see ex. $ ao#e!, the suordinate
clause #er is not changed
6the past of the past is past perfect (see ex. - ao#e!
6the past of the present perfect is also past perfect (see ex. . ao#e!
6the past forms of the modal #ers are as follows"
can 67 could will 67 would shall 67 should may 67 might
must 67 had to
6sometimes pronouns, possessi#es, and time8place references must e changed
(see examples ', 0, and 2!

EXERCISE Change the following direct statements to reported speech"
%I play inline6s3ate hoc3ey for the
national team.%
&e says .
%I want to play professionally in the
future.%
&e said .
%I too3 some medicine for my cold.% &e said .
%I ha#e ne#er ta3en anaolic steroids.% &e said .
%I must go now.% &e said .
%The pharmacy is closing in $1 minutes.% &e said .
SAY is 9ust one of many #ers that can e used in the main clause of a reported
statement. &ere are some other commonly used #ers"

announce answer complain declare deny
explain
insist mention predictpromise remar3 reply
state tell

Examples" (as an exercise, form the direct statements that ser#ed as the asis for
the following reported statements!
)a3e the direct (4uoted!
statement"
REPORTED (INDIRECT) SPEECH
The weatherman announced that it would rain.
The President insisted that he hadn:t had sex with )s.
;ewins3i.
The accused stated that he was innocent.
)y teacher told me that I had to study more or I would
fail.
The oss told us that we could lea#e early.

5ote"
6the #er TELL re4uires an indirect object (see examples , and -!. The #er
SAY, on the other hand, ta3es no indirect o9ect.


REPORTED QUESTIONS

<eported 4uestions usually employ the #er ASK in the main clause (also
possile are the #ers INQIRE, !"NDER, or !ANT T" KN"!!.

(hen reporting verb questions (yes/no 4uestions!, the suordinating
con9unction I# (or !$ET$ER! is used to introduce the suordinate clause. =or
infor!tion questions, the appropriate interrogati#e pronoun is used (as a
relati#e pronoun! to introduce the suordinate clause.

Examples"
DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED (INDIRECT) SPEECH
%Is the an3 open>% &e as3ed (me! if the an3 was open.
%(here is the nearest post office>% *he as3ed (me! where the nearest post office was.
%(here did you put my glasses>% &e as3ed (me! where I had put his glasses.
%(hen will this noise stop>% They as3ed (us! when the noise would stop.
%&ow many cats do you ha#e>% *he as3ed (me! how many cats I had.

5ote" <eported 4uestions are technically NOT 4uestions themsel#es, so they are
not followed y 4uestion mar3s, and T&E<E I* 5? I5@E<*I?5 ?= T&E @E<A
B5C T&E *DAEECT.
REPORTED CO""#NDS

Commands (imperati#e sentences! are reported using the #er TE$$ followed y
an infiniti#e phrase.

Examples"
DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED (INDIRECT) SPEECH
%Fi#e me all of your moneyG% The roer told me to gi#e him all of my money.
%*top tal3ingG% The teacher told us to stop tal3ing.
%Eat your scramled eggs.% *he told him oy to eat his scramled eggs.

RE%IE& EXERCISE ' REPORTED SPEECH

=orm reported speech statements from the following direct speech 4uotes"
DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED (INDIRECT)
SPEECH
$. %It is not my prolem,% said Eohn. &e said .
'. %There are too many people,% said &elen. *he said .
+. %Can I ha#e another piece>% as3ed the little oy. &e as3ed .
,. %Co you uy the )ontreal FaHette>% as3ed the
telemar3eter.
&e as3ed .
-. %Cid you go to high school in ;a#al>% as3ed the
teacher.
.
.. %(here is the lirary>% as3ed the new student. .
/. %&ow long is rea3>% as3ed all the students. .
0. %It is ten minutes li3e always,% said the teacher. .
2. %&a#e you seen the magnificent <oc3ies>% as3ed )r.
Fratton.
.
$1.%Fo west, young man,% said &orace Freely. .
$$.%=uc3 offG% said the pun3. .
$'.%The Prime )inister will lose the election,% the
9ournalist predicted.
.
$+.%(hen are you going to fix the sin3>% as3ed his wife. .
$,.%(e are considering all possile options,% said the
politician.
.
$-.%Come out with your hands in the airG% said the
policeman.
.
$..%Is this all 9ust a dream>% wondered the philosopher. .
$/.%(ho was the first man on the moon>% as3ed the
historian.
.
$0.%(here did you find my wallet>% as3ed *te#en. .