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Reported speech statement Exercises

( Free Online English Grammar Lessons )

Read time : 4 minutes

Form : ( Subject + SAY + (that) + subject + verb )

Form : ( Subject + TELL + object + (that) + subject + verb )

In English we use reported speech to tell someone what another person said. In reported speech, we usually report what was said at a different time, and so we change the tense to reflect the time which we are reporting. The verb forms generally move one tense into the past.

Example Sentences :

DIRECT SPEECH : "I'm not playing football."

REPORTED LATER : He said that he wasn't playing football.

Look at the change in tense from direct speech to reported speech in these examples:

Present Simple ---> Past Simple

"I want to work abroad." ---> He said he wanted to work abroad.

Present Continuous ---> Past Continuous

"I'm teaching English in London." ---> She said she was teaching English in London.

Past Simple ---> Past Perfect

"I met a girl." ---> He said that he had met a girl.

Present Perfect ---> Past Perfect

"I've been to Australia." ---> She said she had been to Australia.

Will ---> Would

"I'll be back in May." ---> She said she would be back in May.

Can ---> Could

"I can help you." ---> He said that he could help me.

Be going to ---> Was/Were going to

"I'm going to start a business." ---> He told me he was going to start a business.

In English we use 'said' or 'told' in reported speech but they are used differently.

You can't use 'said' with an object or pronoun. eg. He said that he loved her. NOT He said her that he loved her.

You must use 'told' with an object. eg. He told her that he loved her. NOT He told that he loved her.

Notes for use of reported speech statements :

'That' is optional after say and tell.

Sometimes we need to change the pronoun:

DIRECT SPEECH : Jim: "I don't like living here." (Jim is referring to himself)

REPORTED SPEECH : Jim said (that) he didn't like living here. (the pronoun 'he' refers to Jim)

We may also need to change other words about place and time.

DIRECT SPEECH : "I went to Tokyo last week."

REPORTED SPEECH : She said (that) she'd been to Tokyo the week before.

If we report something which is still true, it is not necessary to change the verb.

DIRECT SPEECH : "My car is bigger than yours."

REPORTED SPEECH : He said his car is / was bigger than mine.

When we are reporting past tenses, and we see the events from the same viewpoint as the original speaker, it is not necessary to change the tense.

DIRECT SPEECH : "The earthquake happened at half past seven."

REPORTED SPEECH : The radio said that the earthquake happened at half past seven.

Modal verbs could, might, would, should, ought to and had better usually do not change in reported speech.

DIRECT SPEECH : "I should go to the dentist."

REPORTED SPEECH : He said that he should go to the dentist.

In English we don't have to report all the words people say. It's more important to report the main idea.

DIRECT SPEECH : "Don't forget to lock the door."

REPORTED SPEECH : She reminded them to lock the door.

The past simple and the past continuous don't have to change tense in reported speech, but they can.

If the reporting verb is in the present tense, then there is no change in tense.

eg. Dad says I can go to the party tonight if I finish my homework first.

Reporting verbs :

In English we use a variety of verbs to report what people say. The grammar structure we use after them changes.

Examples sentences :

invite / remind / warn + object + infinitive with to

He invited me to go to a party.
I reminded her to bring her ID.
She warned him not to drive too fast.

offer / refuse / promise / agree / threaten + infinitive with to

Tim offered to give me a lift home.
She refused to accept any help.
He promised to keep the secret.
I agreed to do extra shifts at work this week.
He threatened to kill her if she told anyone.

admit / suggest + verb + ing

Jo admitted breaking the vase.
Emily suggested buying a new one.

Some reporting verbs have more than one verb pattern.

After promise, agree, admit and suggest we can use that + clause.

eg. James admitted being in love with her. / James admitted that he was in love with her.

Verbs that summarize what people say:

verb + (that) : agree, complain, explain, insist, recommend, say, suggest

verb + object + (that) : warn, assure, persuade, tell

verb + gerund : deny, admit, recommend, suggest

verb + preposition + gerund : apologise, insist, object

verb + object + preposition + gerund : accuse, blame, congratulate, suspect

verb + infinitive : refuse, agree, decide, demand, offer, promise, threaten

verb + object + infinitive : tell, ask, invite, order, remind, warn

Reported speech statement example sentences
She said she decided to stay in London for another month!	Elle a dit qu'elle a décidé de rester à Londres pour un mois de plus!
Basically, it says, when his hand caught on fire.	Alors, ça dit, que lorsque ça main a pris feu.
She said she didn't think talking to me would solve the problem!	Elle a dit qu'elle pensait que me parler ne résoudrai pas le problème!
Please also say that I'm sorry I couldn't come tonight.	Et désolé de ne pas pouvoir venir ce soir.
Well, you said you've been bringing your cat here since he was a kitten.	Eh bien, vous disiez que vous amenez votre chat ici depuis qu'il est bébé.
They say the early bird catches the worm!	On dit que l'avenir appartient à ceux qui se lèvent tôt!
He says he is having breakfast at a cafe.	Il dit qu'il prend un petit déjeuner au café.
The girls say they will meet their boyfriends in Soho.	Les filles disent qu'elles vont voir leur petits copains à Soho.
Yeah, she said they were fully booked!	Ouais, elle a dit qu'ils étaient complets !
I didn't say I wanted to or not...	Je n'ai pas dit que je le voulais ou non...
She said the IT manager wasn't able to come to the office today.	Elle a dit que le gestionnaire IT ne pouvait pas venir au bureau aujourd'hui.
I just mentioned it looked clean to me.	J'ai juste dit qu'il avait l'air propre.
Exactly, I thought you said you didn't like violence!	Exactement, je pensais que tu m'avais dit que tu n'aimais pas la violence !
Diego said he really likes taking Bear out.	Diégo a dit qu'il aimait bien sortir Bear.
She said they needed to cancel the meeting today!	Elle a dit qu'il faillait annuler le rendez-vous d'aujourd'hui!
When his right hand caught on fire!	Lorsque sa main droite a pris feu !
Possibly, I can see why you said you weren't good at lying!	Possible, je peux voir pourquoi tu as dit que tu étais mauvaise pour mentir !
Yeah, she told me she already paid all of the registration fees, etcetera.	Ouais, elle m'a dit qu'elle avait d'ores et déjà payé les frais d'inscription, etcetera.
No, you said you didn't have time, so you just took this one.	Non, tu as dit que tu n'avais pas le temps, c'est pourquoi tu as pris celle-ci
No, we didn't, I'm the owner... They told me you were coming.	Non, nous n'avons pas parlé, je suis la propriétaire... Ils m'ont dit que vous viendriez.

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