INDIRECT SPEECH AND REPORTING

Explanations

I.           Problems

Indirect speech with the imperative

When reported, the imperative becomes infinitive.

Come with me! He told me to come with him.

Dont shut the window. He asked me not to shut the window.

Tenses in the indirect speech (the sequence of tenses)

If the reporting verb is in a present tense (present tense simple and continuous, present perfect simple and continuous) or a future tense, the tenses of the verbs in the reported clause do not change.

She is telling/has told me you are nice.

She is telling/has told me that the party was great.

She is telling/has told me that you will leave.

I will tell you what I know.

If the reporting verb is a past tense (past tense simple or continuous), then the tenses in the subordinate clause will change as follows:

present simple/continuous past simple/continuous

am/are/is etc. going to was/were going to

am/are/is to was/were to

past tense simple/continuous past perfect simple/continuous

present perfect simple/continuous  past perfect simple/continuous

will future future in the past (would + the infinitive of the verb)

She told me you were nice.

She told me that the party had been great.

She told me you were going to leave.

She told me that you were to/were just about to leave.

She told me you would leave soon.

I told you what I knew.

Changes of viewpoint

In reported speech, the viewpoint and the perspective change. As a consequence, the pronouns, adverbs and the words indicating time and place are changed.

Pronouns

You are nice. He told me I was nice.

You are nice. He told her she was nice.

You are nice. She told him he was nice.

You are nice. He told them they were nice.

You are nice. They told us we were nice.

This is not a nice thing to do - He told me that was not a nice thing to do.

These are not your books. He told me those were not my books.

These are not your books. He told her those were not her books.

Adverbs

here there; now then

Ill be here on time. He told me he would be here on time. (I am still here)

Ill be here on time. He told me he would be there on time. (I am not there any longer)

Ill be there on time. He told me he would be there on time.

You have to decide now. He told me I had to decide then.

Place and time objects

tomorrow the next day; today that day; yesterday the day before; a week/month etc. ago a week/month etc before; two weeks/ten years etc from now/two weeks/ten years etc. from then; last night/week etc. the night/week before; next year/month etc. the next year/month etc.; from now on from then on; this year/month etc. that year/month etc.

Ill leave tomorrow. She said she would leave the next day.

I am very busy today. He told me he was very busy that day.

I was at home yesterday. He told me he had been at home the day before.

I am very busy this month. She told me she was very busy this month. (the month is not over yet)

I am very busy this month. She told me she was very busy that month. (the respective month has passed)

Indirect speech with modal auxiliaries

If the reporting verb is in a past tense, modals change where there is a past equivalent.

will would can could may might

Could, would and might do not change.

I might be late. She said (that) she might be late.

Should changes to would if it is used as a first person form of would.

I should love to come. She said that she would love to come.

Otherwise should remains unchanged.

You should rest. They said (that) I should rest.

Must can be reported as either had to or remain as must.

Indirect speech with conditional sentences

After a past tense reporting verb, real situations include tense changes.

If we leave now, well catch the train. I told him that that if we left wed catch the train.

In reported hypothetical situations, tense changes are not made if the event has reference to a possible future.

If you came back tomorrow, Id be able to help you. She said that if I came back the next day, shed be able to help me.

If the event is clearly hypothetical and impossible, time changes are made.

If I had a telephone, I could call him. She said that if she had had a telephone, she could have called him.

Hypothetical past conditional sentences do not change

II.        Reporting verbs

There are numerous reporting verbs, which report the words of others, or our own words or thoughts. Only a selection is given here. Other examples are included in the activities.

Verbs followed by that + clause (with * can be followed by a person)

add decide mean reply

admit deny mention report*

agree doubt object say

announce estimate persuade state

argue expect* predict suggest

believe explain promise* suppose

claim feel reassure* tell*

complain hope reckon think

confirm imply remark threaten*

consider insist repeat warn*

Verbs followed by person + to

advise forbid invite persuade tell

ask instruct order remind warn

Verbs followed by subjunctive or should

Most of these verbs can also be used in the other ways given.

As these verbs contain the sense that someone should do something, should can follow them.

They suggested that she should apply again.

More formally, the subjunctive can be used instead of should. This is formed from the base of the verb (without third person s).

They suggested that she apply again.

Some other verbs of this type are:

advise (also: someone to do/against something)

agree (also: to do something, that + clause without should)

demand (also: to do something)

insist (also: on someone doing something)

prefer (also: someone to do something)

propose (also: doing something)

recommend (also: doing something)

request (also: someone to do something)

suggest (also: that + clause without should)

urge (also: someone to do something)

Verbs which can be impersonal with it

The speaker may not want to take personal responsibility for a statement, or may be reporting the views of a group of people. These verbs can be used in the passive, introduced by it.

It has been agreed to close most of the coal mines.

agree decide imply rumour

announce estimate know say

believe expect predict state

claim fear reckon suggest

confirm feel recommend suppose

consider hope report think

III.     Functions

Functions

Many verbs describe a function, rather than report words.

Look, if I were you, Id leave early She advised me to leave early.

Examples are:

admit complain request threaten

advise invite remind warn

agree persuade suggest

Actions

Some verbs describe actions.

-Hi, Dave, how are you? He greeted me.

Examples are: accept, congratulate, decide, greet, interrupt, introduce

Activities

Choose the most suitable word underlined.

a)      The government spokesperson denied/refused that there was a crisis.

b)      Jane said me/told me there was nothing wrong.

c)      Peter persuaded me/insisted me to stay for dinner.

d)      The director of studies advised me/suggested me to spend more time in the library.

e)      Sheila explained me/warned me not to leave the heater on all night.

f)       The chairperson mentioned us/reminded us that time was extremely short.

g)      Bill answered them/replied them with a detailed description of his plans.

h)      Michael and Sarah announced/reported that they were going to get married.

i)        Paul accepted/expected that he had made a mistake, and apologised.

j)       The manager confirmed/reassured that our room had been reserved.

Match each report 1) to 10) with the actual words spoken from a) to j).

IV.      Jim admitted that he might have taken it.

V.        Sue denied that she had taken it.

VI.      Harry doubted whether he had taken it.

VII.           Diana explained that she had taken it.

VIII.         Bill insisted he had taken it.

IX.      Mary suggested that she had taken it.

X.        Ted confirmed that he had taken it.

XI.      Ruth claimed that she had taken it.

XII.           Charles repeated that he had taken it.

XIII.         Sally reassured us that she had taken it.

a)      No, Ive definitely taken it.

b)      I dont think I took it.

c)      Dont worry, Ive taken it. Its all right!

d)      What about me? Perhaps I took it?

e)      OK, perhaps I did take it after all.

f)       Yes, I took it. I took it, I tell you!

g)      Yes, thats quite correct, I took it.

h)      No, I certainly didnt take it, I can assure you.

i)        You may not believe me, but actually I took it.

j)       You see, its like this. Ive taken it.

Rewrite each sentence in indirect speech beginning as shown.

a)      I wouldnt cook the fish for too long, Bill, if I were you, said Jean.

Jean advised Bill not to cook the fish for too long.

b)      Helen, would you like to come to lunch on Sunday? said Mary.

Mary

c)      Well, in the end I think Ill take the brown pair, said the customer.

The customer finally

d)      Me? No, I didnt take Sues calculator, said Bob.

Bob denied ..

e)      Dont forget to buy some milk, Andy, said Clare.

Clare reminded

f)       Look, I might not be able to come on Saturday, said David.

David told us

g)      Why dont you go and see The Sound of Music again, Brian? I said.

I suggested

h)      No, you really must stay the night, Sophia, Ann said.

Ann insisted

i)        Make sure you dont take the A20 in the rush hour, Tim, said Jack.

Jack warned

j)       You are not allowed to smoke in your room, John, said his mother.

Johns mother .

Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word in capitals, and so that the meaning stays the same.

a)      He was warned by the fireman not to re-enter the house.

The fireman warned him not to re-enter the house

b)      There has been a rumour that the president is ill.

c)      Sue thought it would be a good idea for me to see a doctor.

d)      The minister proposed regular meetings for the committee.

e)      The management claimed that all strikers had returned to work.

f)       The travel agent recommended our staying near the airport.

g)      There has been no report that any lives were lost.

h)      Jack demanded action from the police.

i)        David supposed that we didnt want to watch television.

j)       My bank manager invited me to visit him alone.

Match each report 1) to 10) with the actual words spoken from a) to j).

Ann told me that I should take a holiday.

Ann expected me to take a holiday.

Ann insisted that I should take a holiday.

Ann invited me to take a holiday.

Ann agreed that I could take a holiday.

Ann reminded me to take a holiday.

Ann proposed that I should take a holiday.

Ann asked whether I would take a holiday.

Ann reassured me that I could take a holiday.

Ann preferred that I take a holiday.

Would you like to come on holiday with me?

Dont worry. Of course you can take a holiday.

Dont forget to take a holiday, will you!

You should take a holiday.

Are you going to take a holiday?

Its all right by me if you take a holiday.

Actually, Id rather you took a holiday.

I thought you were going to take a holiday.

Taking a holiday would be a good idea.

You really must take a holiday.

Put the following into indirect speech.

I have something to show you, I said to her.

Nothing grows in my garden. It never gets any sun, she said.

Im going away tomorrow, mother, he said.

Ive been to London for a month but so far I havent had time to visit the Tower, said Rupert.

It isnt so foggy today as it was yesterday, I remarked.

The new underpass is being officially opened the day after tomorrow, said the BBC announcer.

We have moved into our new flat. We dont like it nearly so much as our last one, said my aunt.

We have a lift but very often it doesnt work, they said.

From one of the windows of my flat I can see the Eiffel Tower, he said.

Ive no idea what the time is but Ill dial 8081 and find out, said his daughter.

He said, My wife has just been made a judge.

Ill come with you as soon as I am ready, she replied.

I have a German lesson this afternoon and I havent done my homework yet, said the small boy.

If you let the iron get too hot you will scorch your clothes, I warned her.

You havent given me quite enough. The bill is for $14 and youve paid me only  $13, he pointed out.

Ann said, Englishmen make good husbands because they are nearly always willing to help in the house.

Mary answered, I like men to be useful but I dont like them to be too domesticated. I prefer them to keep out of the kitchen altogether. Men look silly in aprons anyway.

Motoring report: The new Rolls Royce runs so quietly that all you can hear is the ticking of the clock. Managing director of the Rolls Royce company: In that case well have to do something about the clock.

I dont know what to do with all my plums. I suppose Ill have to make jam. The trouble is that none of us eats jam, she said.

We like working on Sundays because we get double pay, explained the builders.

He said, I am quite a good cook and I do all my washing and mending too.

You can keep that one if you like, Joan, he said, Ive got plenty of others.

Im going fishing with my father this afternoon, said the small boy, and we are going into the garden to dig for worms.

Youve got my umbrella, I said crossly. Yours is in your bedroom.

I know exactly what they said, the private detective explained to his client, because I bugged their phone.

Ill sit up till she comes in, but I hope she wont be late, he said.

If you give me some wire, Ill hang that picture for you, said my cousin.

I have a Turkish bath occasionally, but it doesnt seem to make any difference to my weight, she said.

This is quite a good model, madam, I use one of these myself, said the salesman.

My new house is supposed to be haunted, but so far I havent seen any ghosts, she said.

The advertisement said, If you answer the questions correctly you may win $100.

If I press my ear against the wall, I can hear what the people in the next flat are saying, he said.

Put the following into indirect speech.

Why are you looking through the keyhole? I said.

Who put salt in my coffee? he asked.

Which of you knows how to make Irish coffee? said the bartender.

Why did you travel first class? I asked him.

What is your new house like? I asked them.

How can I run in high-heeled shoes? she enquired.

He said, Where am I supposed to go now? (Omit now)

Whose car did you borrow last night? I said to him.

What was she wearing when you saw her last? the policeman asked me.

Who owns this revolver? said the detective.

Where were you last night, Mr Jones? he said.

What else did you see? I asked the boy.

Have you done this sort of work before? said his new employer.

Can you read the last line on the chart? the oculist asked her.

Did they understand what you said to them? he asked me.

Are you being attended to, sir? said the shop assistant.

Will you go on strike when the others do? the shop steward asked him.

Do you see what I see, Mary? said the young man.

Who left the banana skin on the front doorstep? said my mother.

Have you gone completely mad? I asked, Do you want to blow us all up?

Why is your house so full of antiques? she asked. Was your father a collector?

Are you leaving today or tomorrow morning? said his secretary.

How far is it? I said, and how long will it take me to get there?

Could I speak to Mrs Pitt? said the caller. Im afraid shes out, said the girl, Could I take a message?

Are you going to see him off at the station? I asked her.

Would you mind if I looked inside your bag, Madam? said the policeman.

Are you sorry for what you did? the mother asked the little boy.

If someone faint at your feet would you know what to do? said the instructor in First Aid.

Why do you think it may be dangerous? he asked her.

Do you know that the shoes you are wearing arent a pair? I asked him.

Put the following into indirect speech using ask, advise, beg, invite, offer, order, remind, tell, warn.

Switch off the TV, he said to her.

Shut the door, Tom, she said.

Lend me your pen for a moment, I said to Mary.

Dont believe everything you hear, he said.

Dont hurry, I said.

Please fill up this form, the secretary said.

Dont touch that switch, Mary, I said.

Would you like to have lunch with me on Sunday? he said to me.

Would you like a cigarette? said one of the guests.

Would you mind not smoking between courses? said the hostess.

Take these letters to the post, will you? And shut the door as you go out, said the boss.

Will you help me, please? she said. I cant reach the top shelf.

This is a horrible room. Why dont you ask for something better? he said.

If I were you Id try to get a room on the top floor, he said.

Ill wait for you if you like, she said.

Would you like to wait here? said the receptionist, showing me into the waiting room.

Remember to switch off when youve finished, he said.

You might check these figures for me, he said.

Youd better apologize for being late, said my mother.

Could you check the oil, please? I asked the mechanic.

I wish youd sit still! said the artist. How do you expect me to paint you when you keep moving your head?

Why dont you go by train? Its much less tiring than driving, I said.

Hotel notice: Will guests please not play radios loudly after midnight?

You must see this exhibition! said all my friends.

I should plant roses, if I were you, I said to them.

If youd just sign the back of the cheque, said the bank clerk.

Id be very grateful if youd forward my letters while I am away, he said.

Police announcement: Will anyone who saw this accident please get in touch with their nearest police station?

Dont leave your room at night, he said. Our hosts dogs might mistake you for a burglar.

Answer this letter for me, will you? he said. And remember to keep a copy.

Would you mind moving your car? he said. Its blocking my gate.

(in a letter) Perhaps youd let me know when your new stock comes in. (Mrs Jones)

Could you sew on this button for me? Tom asked Ann. Youd better sew it yourself, said Mary. Buttons sewn on by Ann usually come off the next day.

If you will kindly sit down the doctor will be with you in a moment, the girl said.

Put the following into indirect speech, avoiding as far as possible the verbs say, ask and tell, and choosing instead from the following: accept, accuse, admit, advise, agree, apologize, assure, beg, call (= summon), call (+ noun/pronoun + noun), complain, congratulate, deny, exclaim, explain, give, hope, insist, introduce, invite, offer, point out, promise, protest, refuse, remark, remind, suggest, thank, threaten, warn, wish.

He said, Dont walk on the ice; it isnt safe.

Miss Brown, this is Miss White. Miss White, Miss Brown, he said.

Here are the car keys. Youd better wait in the car, he said to her.

Please, please, dont tell anyone, she said. I wont, I promise, I said.

Would you like my torch? I said, holding it out. No, thanks, he said, I have one of my own.

Tom: Ill pay. Ann: Oh no, you mustnt! Tom: I insist on paying!

Come in and look round. Theres no obligation to buy, said the shopkeeper.

If you dont pay the ransom, well kill the boy, said the kidnappers.

I wont answer any questions, said the arrested man.

He expects a lot of work for very little money, complained one of the typists. Yes, he does, agreed the other.

I wish it would rain, she said.

You pressed the wrong button, said the mechanic. Dont do it again. You might have a nasty accident.

Your weights gone up a lot! I exclaimed. - Im afraid it has, she said sadly.

I hope youll have a good journey, he said. Dont forget to send a card when you arrive.

Hurrah! Ive passed the first exam! he exclaimed. Congratulations! I said, and good luck with the second.

All right, Ill wait a week, she said. (Omit all right)

Many happy returns of your birthday! we said. Thanks, said the boy.

Your door is the shabbiest in the street, said the neighbour. It is, I said.

Cigarette? Thanks, I said.

Ill sell the TV set if you keep quarrelling about the programme, said their mother. No, dont do that! We wont quarrel any more, said the children.

Ill give you $500 to keep your mouth shut, he said to me.

Ill wait for you, I promise, he said to me.

Im sorry Im late, she said. The bus broke down.

Youve been leaking information to the Press! said his colleagues. No, I havent, he said. Liar! said Tom.

Ill drop you from the team if you dont train harder, said the captain.

If the boys do anything clever, you call them your sons, complained his wife. But if they do anything stupid, you call them mine.

Lets have a rest, said Tom. Yes, lets, said Ann.