Lengua Inglesa II

UNIT 3. REPORTED SPEECH

 REPORTED SPEECH

When we report what people think or what they have said, we often
report in our own words when the information convey is more important
than their exact words.

When we are talking in direct speech about something, we have to be

careful when changing into reported speech, as the tenses change:
Direct Speech Þ Indirect Speech
Present Simple Þ simple past
He said, “I go to school every day.” He said (that) he went to school every day.
Past Simple Þ past perfect
He said, “I went to school every day.” He said (that) he had gone to school every
day.
Present Perfect Þ past perfect
He said, “I have gone to school every He said (that) he had gone to school every
day.” day.
Present Continuous Þ past progressive
He said, “I am going to school every He said (that) he was going to school every
day.” day.
Past Continuous Þ perfect progressive
He said, “I was going to school every He said (that) he had been going to school
day.” every day,
Future Simple Þ would + verb name
He said, “I will go to school every He said (that) he would go to school every
day.” day.
Future (going to) Þ present progressive
He said, “I am going to school every He said (that) he is going to school every day.
day.”
past progressive
He said (that) he was going to school every
day
Direct Speech Þ Indirect Speech
auxiliary + verb name Þ (The same tense changes as above)
He said, “Do you go to school every He asked me if I went to school every day.*
day?” He asked me where I went to school.
He said, “Where do you go to
school?”
Imperative Þ Infinitive
He said, “Go to school every day.” He said to go to school every day.
Lengua Inglesa II
UNIT 3. REPORTED SPEECH

 REPORTING VERBS
Some verbs can be followed by more than one pattern:
o VERB + that- clause. “She agreed that the ruel was unfair”.
add, agree, argue, comment, answer, confirm, deny, emphasise,
grumble, note, insist, point out, predict, repeat, reply, swear.
o VERB + object + that- clause. “He reminded me that it’s Hannah’s
birthday next week”.
assure, convince, inform, notify, persuade, reassure, remind, tell.
o VERB + (object) + that- clause (the object is not always necessary)
“They warned (us) that swimming there was dangerous.
advise, promise, show, teach, warn.
o VERB + that- clase or verb + object + to infinitive (They expected
that the concert would be cancelled or They expected the concert
to be cancelled) .
acknowledge, assume, believe, claim, consider, declare, expect,
feel, find, presume, suppose, think, understand.
o VERB + that- clause or verb + to + object + that clause.
e.g: They complained that my lectures were boring.
e.g2: They complained to me that my lectures were boring.
admit, complain, confess, indicate, explain, propose, recommend,
report, say, suggest, whisper.
VERB + that- clause or verb + with + object + that- clause.
e.g. She joked that she had lost their presents.
e.g2. She joked with the children that she had lost their presents.
agree, argue, check, commiserate, confirm, disagree, joke.
o VERB + to-infinitive.
e.g. He offered to give us a lift to the airport.
apply, offer, refuse, swear, volunteer.
o VERB + object + to-infinitive.
e.g. She told me to phone her at any time.
advise, allow, ask, call on, command, encourage, forbid, force,
instruct, invite, order, persuade, recommend, remind, request,
teach, tell, urge, warn.
o VERB + to-infinitive or verb + object + to-infinitive.
e.g. I asked to wait.
e.g. I asked her to wait.
ask, beg, expect.
o VERB + to-infinitive or verb + that-clause
e.g. He decided to go to Greece.
e.g2. He decided that he would go to Greece.
agree, claim, decide, demand, guarantee, hope, promise, propose,
request, swear, threaten, vow.
o VERB + object + to-infinitive or verb + object + that-clause.
e.g. He advised me to travel by train because it would be cheaper.
Lengua Inglesa II
UNIT 3. REPORTED SPEECH

e.g2. He advised me that it would be cheaper to travel by train.

advise, order.
o VERB + -ing or verb + that-clause.
e.g. She regretted starting the course.
e.g2. She regretted that she had started the course.
advise, admit, deny, mention, propose, regret, report, suggest.
o VERB + that-clause with should.
e.g. They proposed that Sociology (should) be taught as an
undergraduate subject at the university)
advise, ask, beg, command, demand, direct, insist, instruct,
intend, order, prefer, propose, recommend, request, require,
stipulate, suggest, urge, warn.
We can also use a that-clause with should after nouns related to
these verbs such as advice, command, demand, direction,
insistence, instruction, proposal.
e.g. They put forward the proposal that Sociology (should) be
taught as an undergraduate subject at the university.

EXERCISES REPORTED SPEECH (ADVANCED) C1

Lengua Inglesa II
UNIT 3. REPORTED SPEECH
Lengua Inglesa II
UNIT 3. REPORTED SPEECH

*Put the next fragment into Reported Speech.

Orlando : As I remember, Adam, it was upon this fashion bequeathed me by will

but poor a thousand crowns, and, as you say, charged my brother, on his
blessing, to breed me well; and there begins my sadness. My brother Jaques he
keeps at school and report speaks goldenly of his profit.

Adam: My master comes yonderi, your brother.

Orlando: Go apart, Adam, and you shall hear how. He will shake me up.

Adapted Text from As You Like It (Shakespeare, 1599)

i
Archaic form: in or at an indicated place. (adv. of place)

ANSWER.-