Reported Speech (Indirect Speech).
Key Idea:
When we report what was said but do not use the actual words spoken it is called
reported speech.
Reporting a statement
We change pronouns and other words to make the meaning clear – eg “your” may
become “my” or “our”; “me” may become “him” or “her”.
If we are reporting a past action, we often change the past tense.
We do not use speech marks or put a comma after the reporting verb.
Direct speech
Reported Speech
He said, “I’ll help you.”
He said that he would help me / us.
We do not change the tense if the action if always true or is still happening.
Direct speech
Reported Speech
She said, “The world is round.”
She said (that) the world is round.
Reporting orders and requests
The reporting phrase moves from the end to the beginning
Direct speech
Reported Speech
“Take your shoes off,” she told me.
She told me to take off my shoes.
Reporting questions
We do not put a question mark after a reported question. We have to change the word
order so that the subject comes before the verb:
Direct speech
Reported speech
“What’s your name?” she asked.
She asked me what my name is.
Some questions start with a verb. We have to use “if” (or “whether”) when we report
them:
Direct speech
Reported Speech
“Did you remember to post
Granny asked me if (whether) I had
my letter?” Granny asked me.
remembered to post her letter.
Exercise 1.
Read each sentence and say whether it is direct speech or reported speech.
1. Wesley admitted that he had broken the window.
2. “I will huff and puff and blow your house down,” said the wolf.
3. The teacher told the children to put their books away.
4. “My home is on a shelf in the library,” said the bookworm.
5. The referee shouted, “Free kick!”
6. He warned me not to go into the haunted house.
7. “I’m looking for a dragon,” said St. George.
8. The thief confessed to taking the jewels.
9. “Mickey is my pal,” said Donald.
10. Mum asked who had broken the dish.
Exercise 2.
Put a question mark after any direct questions below. Put a full stop after any
reported sentences.
11. Did it rain during the night
12. I wonder whether it rained during the night
13. Try to find out where that boy lives
14. Do you happen to know where that boy lives
15. Mum wants to know where you have been
16. How can we get rid of all this rubbish
17. Dad can’t decide which shirt to wear
18. The policeman asked me what my name is and where I live
19. What the survivors of the disaster need most is food, clothes and
shelter
20. Which of those bicycles is Paul’s and which is yours
Exercise 3.
Change these sentences into reported speech.
1. Mary said, “I’m going to the cinema.”
2. “I can’t find the leak,” said the plumber.
3. My mother said to me, “Open all the windows.”
4. “Eat this apple, Snow White,” ordered the disguised Queen.
5. “I locked the door.” Amy admitted to use, “because I was scared.”
6. The men asked me, “Can you show us where to put the furniture.”
7. “Be careful in future!” the policeman warned Paul.
8. Mrs Green told Mr Brown, “Put the red flowers in the blue vase.”
9. Mary told us, “I’ll be starting my ballet lessons next week.”
Alert: We
may have to
make the
time or
date clear –
“today” may
become
“yesterday”.
Direct:
Peter said,
“Today is
my
birthday.”
Reported in
the same
day: Peter
said that
today is his
birthday.
Reported
the next
day: Peter
said that
yesterday
was his
birthday.
10. “Earthlings, take us to your leader,” commanded the aliens.
11. “Somebody stole my bike during the night,” Paul complained.
12. Peter whispered in my ear, “Don’t tell Hannah about the surprise party.”
13. “I am the meanest giant in the world,” he boasted to the frightened boy.
14. “Keep away from that cable!” the electrician told the children.
15. “I’ve volunteered to do a parachute jump,” James announced to his family.
16. “Don’t go out until I return,” my mother told me.
17. My cousin told me, “The game has been postponed until tomorrow.”
18. “Take your show off and show the doctor your bad foot,” the nurse told her
patient.
19. The spaceship commander said, “We can’t land. It’s too dangerous.”
20. “Why can’t you behave yourselves?” my mother asked my sister and me.
Exercise 4: The Challenge!
Change the following dialogue in reported speech.
“Don’t eat any food for the next 24 hours,” the doctor told Daljit. “The operation won’t
take long. You can go home the next day.”
Daljit asked Gita, “Will you go to the hospital with me?”
“Of course,” she said. “What time do you have to be there?”
“I must be at the hospital by 9am. The operation is at 10am.”
“That’s fine. I’ll see you in the morning,” she waved goodbye.
After the operation, Gita and the doctor asked Daljit, “How do you feel?”
“OK, but don’t tell my any jokes. My stomach hurts when I laugh!”
“We’ll try to be very serious, then,” they joked.
Daljit told them, “My father’s coming to collect me tomorrow morning. I’ll be glad to be
home again.” He asked Gita, “Did you tell Ms Wilson about my operation?”
She told him, “Your father sent her a note, so she knows all about it.”