Study this example situation:
You want to tell somebody what Paul said.
There are two ways of doing this:
You can repeat Paul's words (direct speech):
Paul said 'I'm feeling ill.'
Or you can use reported speech:
Paul said that he was feeling ill.
Compare:
r-
direct
reported
'
Paul said '
am
'
Paul said that he
•
•
feeling ill.'
l
In writi ng we use these quotation
marks to show direct speech.
was feeling ill.
When we use reported speech, the main verb of the sentence is usually past (Paul said that ... I
I told her that ... etc.). The rest of the sentence is usually past too:
Paul said that he was feeling ill.
C I told Lisa that I didn't have any money.
-=:
You can leave out that. So you can say:
0 Paul said that he was feeling ill. or Paul said he was feeling ill.
In general, the present form in direct speech changes to the past form in reported speech:
am/is ---7 was
do/does ---7 did
will ---7 would
are ---7 were
have/has ---7 had
can ---7 could
want/like/know/go etc. ---7 wanted/Liked/knew/went etc.
Compare direct speech and reported speech:
You met Anna. Here are some of
the things she sa id in direct speech:
'
Later you tell somebody what Anna sa id.
You use reported speech:
My parents are fine.
I'm going to learn to drive.
C
0
I want to buy a car.
John has a new job.
I can't come to the party on
Friday.
I don't have much free time.
I'm going away for a few days.
I'Ll phone you when I get back.
0
0
8
ANNA
~
C
0
Anna said that her parents were fine.
She sa id that she was going to learn to
drive.
She said that she wanted to buy a car.
She said that John had a new job.
She said that she couldn't come to the
party on Friday.
She said she didn't have much free time.
She said that she was going away for a
few days and would phone me when
she got back.
The past simple {did/saw/knew etc.) can usually stay the same in reported speech, or you can change
it to the past perfect (had done I had seen I had known etc.):
0
direct Paul sa id 'I woke up feeling ill, so I didn't go to work.'
reported Paul said (that) he woke up feeling ill, so he didn't go to work.
or
Paul said (that) he had woken up feeling ill, so he hadn't gone to work.
Reported speech 2 -+ Unit 48
Report ed questions -+ Unit SOB
Exercises
Yesterday you met a friend of yours, Steve. You hadn't seen him for a long time. Here are some
of the things Steve said to you:
1 I'm living in London.
7
I haven't seen Amy recently.
2 My father isn't very well.
8
I'm not enjoying my job very much .
9
You can come and stay at my place
if you're ever in London .
~
3 Rachel and Mark are getting~
married next month.
4 My sister has had a baby. - - - - 5 I don't know what
~
joe is doing.
~
Steve
6 I saw Helen at a party in
June and she seemed fine.
-------- 11
\__,2
My car was stolen a few days ago.
I want to go on holiday, but I
can't afford it.
I'll tell Chris I saw you .
Later that day you tell another friend what Steve said. Use reported speech.
1 ..St&v.e s~---~Q.&... h ~ ---~-~... IJ--v:~g --~ Londpn.................... . ..... . ......
.... . ..........
.......... .. .
2 He said that .................. ..... ...... ..... ................... . ..... ............... ...... ......................... .... . ... ......
.......... .....
3 He ............ ...... .. ........................... . ............................................................ ......................................................................... ....... .............. .. .
4 .................. ..... .... .. ......... ................................ ... .
5
6
7 ............................ .............................. ...................... .................................................................... ...... .......... .. ................................................................ ..
8
9
10 ....................... ...
11
12 ................................................ .. ..
Somebody says something to you which is not what you expected. Use your own ideas to
complete your answers.
1
2
lt's quite a long way from the hotel to the station.
a: Is it? The man on the reception desk said .U:: ...N~ 0..~41 . .~Y.~.. m0..~:t&.? >_ ~~ . ... ........ .. .... ..... .
A:
A:
B:
3
A:
4
A:
.. .. .... .
Sue is coming to the party tonight.
Is she? I saw her a few days ago and she said she ....
Sarah gets on fine with Paul.
a: Does she? Last week you said ........... .... .. . ... ................... ......... . ................... ................................................. each other.
B:
j oe knows lots of people.
That's not what he told me. He said . ........ .. .. . ........ .... . .... .. ............ ..... . ......... ............................................ anyone.
jane will be here next week.
a: Oh, really? When I spoke to her, she said ... ................................................................. .................. .................................... away.
5
A:
6
A:
B:
7
A:
8
A:
I'm going out tonight.
Are you? I thought you said
...................... .
.. ....................
..
......................
home.
John speaks French quite well.
s: Does he? He told me ............. .. ...................... .. .... ... .......... ........ ......................... . .................. any other languages.
I haven't seen Ben recently.
s: That's strange. He told me ... . .... ... ........
_. Addit ional exercise 25 (page 316)
.. ...................................................... ................................... last weekend .
95
lt is not always necessary to change the verb in reported speech. If the situation is still the same, you
do not need to change the verb to the past. For example:
0 direct
Paul said 'My new job is boring.'
reported Paul said that his new job is boring.
{The situation is still the same. His job is still boring now.)
0 direct
reported
Helen said 'I want to go to Canada next year.'
Helen told me that she wants to go to Canada next year.
(Helen still wants to go to Canada next year.)
You can also change the verb to the past:
0 Paul said that his new job was boring.
0 Helen told me that she wanted to go to Canada next year.
But if the situation has changed or finished, you must use a past verb:
C Paul left the room suddenly. He said he had to go. (not has to go)
You need to use a past form when there is a difference
between what was said and what is really true.
For example:
Have you hea rd?
joe is in hospital.
You met Sonia a few days ago.
She said: Joe is in hospital.
Later that day you meet Joe in the street. You say:
Hi, joe. I didn't expect to see you. Sonia said you were in hospital.
(not 'Sonia said you are in hospital', because dearly he is not)
Hi,joe.
Sonia said
you were
in hospital.
Say and tell
If you say who somebody is talking to, use tell:
0 Sonia told me that you were in hospital. (not Sonia said me)
0 What did you tell the police? (not say the police)
Otherwise use say:
0 Sonia said that you were in hospital. (not Sonia told that ... )
0 What did you say?
But you can 'say something to somebody':
~ Ann said goodbye to me and left. (n ot Ann said me goodbye)
0 What did you say to the police?
Tell/ask somebody to do something
We also use the infinitive (to do I to be etc.) in reported speech, especially with tell and ask (for
orders and requests) :
0 direct
'Drink plenty of water,' the doctor said to me.
reported The doctor told me to drink plenty of water.
C direct
'Don't be late,' I said to Joe.
reported I told joe not to be late.
Cl direct
'Can you help me, please,' jackie said to me.
reported Jackie asked me to help her.
You can also say 'Somebody said (not) to do something':
() Paul said not to worry about him. (but not Paul sa id me)
Reported speech 1 -+ Unit 47
Reported questions -+ Unit SOB
l 48
~-~ un it ·.
Exercises
~'S;
:;.
"
Here are some things that Sarah said to you:
I've never been to the United States.
I don 't have any brothers or sisters.
jane has a very well-paid job.
I'm working tomorrow evening.
But later Sarah says something different to you. What do you say?
Sarah
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
r
You
~
Dave works very hard.
Let's have fish for dinner.
I'm going to buy a car.
Jane is always short of money.
My sister lives in Paris.
I think New York is a great place.
Let's go out tomorrow evening.
I've never spoken to jane.
. .. .~.0.t . !19.0.....?<M.4:... h~. . N.~--- ~H-·................................ ...... .....................
But
./
Complete the sentences with say or tell (in the correct form). Use only one word each time.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Ann ......?. oid.,
.... ..... . goodbye to me and left.
.... .. .. ..................... us about your holiday. Did you have a nice time?
Don t JUSt stan d t h ere.I .... .. . .... ............ somet h'mg.I
I wonder where Sue is. She ....... ... .. ..... .... she would be here at 8 o'clock.
Dan .... .............................. me that he was bored with his job.
The doctor .. ................... .. ... that I should rest for at least a week.
Don't
. . ...... .... anybody what I ...
............ . it's a secret just between us.
'Did she
...............
you what happened? ' 'No, she didn't ...... . .. . ................ anything to me.'
Gary couldn't help me. He ...................................... me to ask Chris.
Gary couldn't help me. He ...... ......................... to ask Chris.
I
•
The following sentences are direct speech:
Can you open your bag, please?
Could
you
me_
a paper?
....__
__
_get
__
___,......,?
Do you think you could give me a hand, Tom?
Now choose one of these to complete each of the sentences below. Use reported speech.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Will was taking a long time to get ready, so I . t9.~.. h.~ W....h.0.rr~ k\P ......... ......... ..................... ..................... .
Sarah was driving too fast, so I asked ....... ... .
. .... . . .................. ...
................... .. . . ....
.. ............. .
Sue was nervou s about the situation. I told ...................... ............................................................................................................ .
........... ....... .. .................. . . . ................. . ..... .. ....................................... .
I couldn't move the piano alone, so I ......... ... ..
.... . ................ ... . .......................
.. .... ........ .
The security guard looked at me suspiciously and ........... .... . ........
Tom was going to the shop, so I
................. .. .......................... ..... ............ ... ......... ................... . ............. ................................. .
The man started asking me personal questions, so I ....................................................................... ................................................ .
....... . . ..... . .......... ......
. ..... ..................... ........ .......
.............. .
John was in love with Marianne, so he
I didn't want to delay Helen, so I . ..... ...........
..... ............... ...... . ....... ....... ....... .......... .. ...... ...........
.. ........... .
-+ Additional exercise 25 (page 316)
97
Do you know where ... ? I I don't know why ... I Could you tell me what ... ? etc.
We say:
Where has Tom gone?
X
Do you know where Tom has gone?
but
(not Do you know where has Tom gone?)
When the question (Where has Tom gone?) is part of a longer sentence (Do you know ... ? I
I don't know ... I Can you tell me .. . ? etc.), the word order changes. We say:
n
(
"
What time is it?
Who are those people?
Where can I find Louise?
How much will it cost?
but Do you know what time it is?
I don't know who those people are.
Can you tell me where I can find Louise?
Do you have any idea how much it will cost?
Be careful with do/does/did questions. We say:
C1
What time does the film start?
'- What do you mean?
"--" Why did she Leave early?
but Do you know what time the film starts?
(not does the film start)
Please explain what you mean.
I wonder why she Left early.
Use if or whether where there is no other question word (what, why etc.):
C Did anybody see you?
but Do you know if anybody saw you?
or .. . whether anybody saw you?
He asked me where .. . (reported questions)
The same changes in word order happen in reported questions. Compare:
0 direct
The police officer said to us 'Where are you going ?'
I
reported
C direct
reported
The police officer asked us where we were going
Clare said 'What time do the banks close ?'
Clare wanted to know what time the banks closed .
In reported speech the verb usually changes to the past (were, closed etc.) . See Unit 47.
Study these examples. You had an interview for a job and these were some of the questions the
interviewer asked you:
Why did you apply for the job?
What do you do in your spare time?
H ow lo ng have you been
work ing in you r present j ob?
Do you have a drivi ng licence?
Later you tell a friend what the interviewer asked you. You use reported speech:
' She asked if (or whether) I was willing to travel.
C She wanted to know what I did in my spare time.
C She asked how long I had bee n working in my present job.
0 She asked why I had applied for the job. (or ... why I applied)
0 She wanted to know if (or whether) I could speak any other languages.
C She asked if (or whether) I had a driving licence.
(~R_e_p_ort__ed__sp_e_e_ch__~__u_n_it_s_4_7-_4_s____________________________________________________)
Exercises
Which is right? Tick
(~)the
correct alternative.
1 a Do you know what time the film starts? ../
b Do you know what time does the film start?
c Do you know what time starts the film?
5 a Why you didn't phone me yesterday?
b Why didn't you phone me yesterday?
c Why you not phoned me yesterday?
2 a Why Amy does get up so early every day?
6 a Do you know where does Helen work?
b Why Amy gets up so early every day?
c Why does Amy get up so early every day?
b Do you know where Helen does work?
c Do you know where Helen works?
3 a I want to know what this word means.
b I want to know what does this word mean.
c I want to know what means this word.
4 a I can't remember where did I park the car.
b I can't remember where I parked the car.
c I can't remember where I did park the car.
7 a How much it costs to park here?
b How much does it cost to park here?
c How much it does cost to park here?
8 a Tell me what you want.
b Tell me what you do want.
c Tell me what do you want.
Put the words in the correct order.
1 (don't I Tom I where I know I gone I has) I ...... M.Y.\~.t k.n9¥.V.... N~.~~-- T.l!.tr.... h~?. ....9.9.n~ ..................... ............. .
How ....4Pn.\. k ~Q~...~her.~. . .To.~ 11~?. 99.n~......... ...... ?
(wonder I is I how I old I Tom)
I .... 49r\'.c k.D9.N.... N.~.~~ T9..D:.... hQ-..?. . . 9.9.~e ............................. .
(Lisa I on holiday I going I is)
When ..4o~.\ k. r!9~ ....~h ~~... Tom...~~- gqn~ .......
?
(tell I the post office I you I me I is I where)
Could ........... ...... ....... .......... .. ............................................................................................................................... ..................................................... ?
(in the accident I injured I anyone I don't I whether I know I was)
2 (is I to the airport I far I it)
3
4
5
6
I ... ....... .............. ... ............... ....... ..........
................. ................. ................................. ..... ....................................................................
7 (what I tomorrow I know I time I will I arrive I you I you)
Do .....
................................................................................. .
···············
?.
You have been away for a while and have just come back to your home town. You meet Tony,
a friend of yours. He asks you a lot of questions:
1
5
6
7
2
3
8
How long have you been back?
Do you have any plans to go away again?
Tony
4
9
What are you doing now?
Can you help me find a job?
Now you tell another friend what Tony asked you. Use reported speech.
1
2
3
4
5
.....tt.~....as~.~- me _hqw ...!.... v.v.~s ..
He as ked me ................ ..
...............
...... ... ......... ......... ..... ........... . .................. . .... .
He ............. ...
...................................................... ... ........................................................................................................................................ ... .......................... ..
6 ............................................................. ....... ...... ................................ .
7 ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ..
8
9 ........................................ .................................................................................................................................. .................. ..................................... ..
~Addi t ional
exercise 25 (page 316)
101
Key to Exercises
46 .2
47.2
49.2
2 Sarah has her car serviced once a
Example answers:
2 she wasn't coming I she was going
3 Who paid it? I Who paid the bill?
year.
3 lt cost twelve pounds to have my
suit cleaned .
4 The last time I had my eyes tested
was t wo years ago.
5 We've had some new cupboards
fitted in the kitchen .
6 We need to get this document
translated as soon as possible.
46.3
2 I had it cut.
3 We had them cleaned .
4 He had it built.
5 I had them delivered.
46.4
2 have another key made
3 you had your hair cut
4 Do you have a newspaper delivered
5 we' re having I we are having
a garage built
6 Have you had the washing machine
fixed I Did you have the washing
machine fixed
7 have your ears pierced
9 She had her credit cards stolen.
10 We all had our bags searched .
UNIT 47
47.1
2 He said (that) his father wasn't very
we ll.
3 He said (that) Rachel and Mark were
getting married next month.
4 He said (that) his sister had had a
baby.
5 He said (that) he didn't know what
joe was doing.
6 He sa id (that) he'd seen I he had
seen Helen at a party in June and
she'd seemed I she had seemed
fine . or He said (that) he saw
Helen ... and she seemed ...
7 He said (that) he hadn't seen Amy
recently.
8 He said (that) he wasn't enj oying his
somewhere else I she couldn't come
3 they didn't like each other I
they didn't get on with each other I
4 he didn't know anyone
5 she would be away I she was going
at his place if I was ever in London.
10 He said (that) his car had been
stolen a few days ago.
6 you were staying at home
7 he couldn't speak I he didn't speak
any other languages
8 he'd seen you I he saw you last
weekend
UNIT 48
48.1
2 But you said you didn 't like fish.
3 But you said you couldn 't d rive.
4 But you said she had a very wellpaid job.
6 But you said you'd I you had never
been to the United States.
7 But you said yo u were working
tomorrow evening.
8 But you said she was a friend of
yours.
me. or ... he saw me.
8 What did you fall over?
9 What fell off the shelf?
11 Who did you borrow it from? I
... borrow the money from?
12 What are you worried about?
49.3
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
How is cheese made?
When was the computer invented?
Why isn't Sue working today?
What t ime are your f riends coming?
Why was the trip cancelled?
Where was your mother born?
Why didn't you come to the party?
10 Why doesn't this machine work?
2 Tell
7 tell .. . sa id
8 tell ... say
9 told
3 Say
4 sai d
5 told
49.4
2 Don't you like him ?
3 Isn't it good?
4 Haven't you got any? or
Don't you have any?
UNIT 50
48.2
10 said
6 said
48.3
2 her to slow down
3 her not to worry
4 asked Tom to give me a hand
or ... to help me
5 asked me to open my bag
6 asked him to get (me) a paper
7 told him to mind his own business
8 asked her to marry him
9 told her not to wait (for me) if I was
late
50.1
2 c
3 a
4 b
6 c
7 b
8 a
5 b
50.2
2 How far is it to the airport?
3 I wonder how old Tom is.
4 When is Lisa going on holiday?
5 Could you tell me where the post
office is?
6 I don't know whether anyone was
injured in the accide nt.
7 Do you know what time you will
arrive tomorrow?
50.3
UNIT 49
2 He asked me where I'd been. I
... where I had been.
49 .1
3 He asked me how long I'd been back. I
2 Were you born there?
5 Have you got (any) chi ldren?
tell Chris he'd seen I he had see n
Who lives in that house? I Who lives
brothers or sisters.
ago.
12 He sa id (that) he'd tell I he would
Who does it I this book belong to?
9 How did the accident happen?
5 But you said you didn't have any
or .. . his car was stolen a few days
holiday, but (h e) cou ldn't affo rd it.
What did she/Diane say?
10 What does it I th is word mean?
away
3 Are you married?
4 How long have you been married ?
11 He said (that) he wanted to go on
What happened?
there?
they couldn't sta nd each other
job very much.
9 He sa id (that) I could come and stay
4
5
6
7
or Do you have (any) children?
... how long I had been back.
4 He asked me what I was doing now.
5 He asked me why I'd come back. I
... why I had come back. or
.. . why I came back.
6 How old are they?
6 He asked me where I was living.
7 What do you do?
7 He asked me if/ whether I was glad
8 What does your w ife do ?
to be back.
8 He asked m e if/ whether I had any
plans to go away again.
9 He asked me if/ whether I could
346
help him find a job.