Reported Speech Grammar presentation

1. Reported speech
1. When it is used
2. Needed changes:
i. Pronouns
ii. Verbs
iii. Time and place
3. Reporting verb patterns

2. Direct speech
Real-time conversation
E.g. a job interview

3. Indirect speech
When you reproduce somebody else’s words
E.g. you phone a friend
after the interview
You gossip

4. Pronouns
 Direct speech:
 “I am coming to your graduation”.
 Indirect speech:
 She told me (that) she was coming to my graduation.

5. Verbs: statements (I)
Present
Past
Past
Perfect
Direct:
“She interviews dozens of
people everyday”
Indirect: He told me that
she interviewed dozens of
people everyday”
“I am looking for a job
on the Internet”
He told me that he was
looking for a job on the
Internet”

6. Statements (II)
Present
Past
Past
Perfect
Direct:
He made a good impression
in his job interview
Indirect: He told me that
he had made a good
impression in his job
interview.

7. Statements (III)
Other verb transformations:
Direct Indirect
I was applying to many jobs. He told me he had been applying to many jobs.
I have prepared the interview. He told me he had prepared for the interview.
I had updated my CV. He told me that he had updated his CV.
I will call you. He told me that he would call me
I can ask a day-off. He told me he could ask a day-off
I must/have to work extra
hours.
He told me that he must/had to work extra
hours.
I may find another job soon. He told me he might find another job soon.

8. Questions
1. YES/NO questions:
Direct:
Do you speak any other languages?
Indirect:
The interviewer asked me if I spoke any other languages.
2. WH- questions:
Direct:
Why did you leave your last job?
Indirect:
The interviewer asked me why I had left my last job.

9. Commands
Direct:
“Take a seat, please.”
“Don’t be nervous”
Indirect:
He asked me to take a seat.
He told me not to be nervous

10. Suggestions
Direct:
“Let’s start with some
questions about you”
If I were you, I would
wear a suit.
Indirect:
She suggested starting with
some questions about me.
He recommended/advised me
to wear a suit/that I wore a
suit.

11. Time and space
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
this /these that /those
here there
now then
today that day
yesterday the day before/the previous day
last week
a month ago
the week before/the previous week
the month before/the previous month
tomorrow the next day/the following day
next week
next month
the next week/the following week
the next month/the following month

12. Reporting verbs
 Statements:
 SAY: He said to me (that) he would come at 9.
 TELL: He told me (that) he would come at 9.
 Others: inform, explain, declare, claim, admit*, deny*,
promise•, refuse•, agree•, apologise (for), complain
(about)…
 Questions: ask, request, wonder…
 Commands: ask, order, shout, warn…
* followed by: –ing • followed by: to+infinitive