Reported Speech
Indirect Speech
Indirect Speech

Reported speech reports what a speaker
said without using his or her exact words.

Reporting verbs are used such as said, told,
indicated, mentioned, reported.

Reported Speech: The professor told me
that he had written a book about his
research.
“Backshifting” Verbs
Verbs in reported speech shift back in
time.
 Ex. Original: “We are conducting some
research with crows.”


Reported Speech: The scientist explained
that she was conducting some research with
crows.
“Backshifting” Verbs
Direct Speech
Indirect Speech
Present tense to Past Tense “Many animals are very
intelligent.”
The zoologist said
(that)many animals were
very intelligent.
Present Progressive Tense
to Past Progressive Tense
“I’m conducting an
experiment on crows”
She said (that) she was
conducting an experiment
on crows.
Past tense and Present
Perfect Tense to Past
Perfect tense
“The crows made a hook
to get food from a tree”
The researcher reported
(that)the crows had made a
hook to get food from a
tree.
“We have never studied
this behavior before”
She said (that) they had
never studied this behavior
before.
Take turns changing the direct
speech to indirect or reported
speech.
Direct Speech
Indirect Speech
“I am studying bonobos.”
The researcher……
“The older chimp helped
the new chimp to find
food.”
The scientist…….
“None of the chimps has
helped another chimp
before.”
The lab worker…….
“Susan won’t be in class
because she is sick.”
The teacher.……
Changing Modals
Modals will, can, and may
change form in reported
speech.
Change must to had to.
Do not change the
modals should, could,
might or ought to.
Direct Speech
Indirect Speech
“I won’t be at the
meeting.”
She explained (that) she
wouldn’t be at the m
meeting.
“I can ask my colleague
to take notes.”
She said (that) she could
ask her colleague to take
notes.
“I may be able to send
my secretary.”
She mentioned (that)
she might be able to
send her secretary.
“I must find a way to
repeat my experiment.”
She said (that) she had
to find a way to repeat
her experiment.
Take turns changing the direct
speech to indirect or reported
speech.
Direct Speech
Indirect Speech
“I should publish my
results.”
The scientist……
“I may be able to publish
them in June.
She……
“The results must be
published soon.”
Her boss…..
“They won’t be published He……
until the research is
complete.”
Other Changes
Change the pronouns,
possessives, and time
words to keep the
original meanings.
Direct Speech
Indirect Speech
“I can’t access my
computer because it
broke down yesterday.”
The student claimed
(that) she couldn’t
access her computer
because it had broken
down the day before.
Take turns changing the direct
speech to indirect or reported
speech.
Direct Speech
Indirect Speech
“You were cheating on your test
yesterday.”
The teacher……
“I didn’t cheat on the test.”
The student……..