Lecture on Reported Speech and Sequence of Tenses

LECTURE 7
REPORTED/INDIRECT SPEECH and
SEQUENCE OF TENSES
CONTENTS
I. REPORTED SPEECH
1.1. Direct vs. Reported Speech
1.2. Reporting verbs
1.3. Report structures
1.4. Reported statements, questions, orders and requests
II. SEQUENCE OF TENSES
2.1. Definition
2.2. Rules and exceptions
I. REPORTED SPEECH
1.1. DIRECT VS. REPORTED SPEECH
- DIRECT SPEECH = the act of repeating/quoting the exact words spoken/placed between quotation
marks;
- REPORTED/INDIRECT SPEECH = the act of reporting something that was said, but not using exactly
the same words;
DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH

REPORTING CLAUSE REPORTED CLAUSE
Tom said, I want to Tom said/told me (that) he
marry Jane. wanted to marry Jane.
"There's a fly in my Ann screamed (that)there
soup!" screamed was a fly in her soup.
Ann.
He said, Im going to He said/told me (that) he
come. was going to come.
q DIRECT SPEECH (quote structures)
the reporting verb (said, told, replied, warned,advised, complained, asked, etc.) can go before,
after, or in the middle of the direct speech:
Mary said, John, we have a problem. before
John, we have a problem, Mary said/said Mary. after

John, said Mary/Mary said, we have a problem. in the middle
'The operation has been a resounding success, ' she said.
'The operation has been a resounding success,' said the surgeon.
REPORTED SPEECH (report structures)
- statements, questions, orders/commands, suggestions, and exclamations;
- 2 parts:
1. the reporting clause reporting verb
I told him (that) nothing was going to happen to me.
I wanted to be alone.
She said (that) she liked ice cream.
2. the reported clause
She says (that) she wants to see you this afternoon.
I think (that) there's something wrong.
Paul says (that) he will see me later.
1.2. REPORTING VERBS
REPORTING VERBS PATTERN EXAMPLE
ask (somebody), VERB She asked to use the car.

beg (somebody), (+ OBJECT) + TO He begged us to let him stay
expect (somebody), INFINITIVE overnight.
promise (somebody)
advise, command, tell, VERB I advised him not to go there.
encourage, persuade, + OBJECT She forced the child to tell her the
expect, forbid, implore, + TO INFINITIVE truth.
instruct, invite, order,
request, permit, remind,
force, urge, warn, etc.
acknowledge, believe, VERB + He denied stealing the money.
claim, consider, think, ING FORM He expected going home soon.
suppose, declare, feel,
expect, find, presume
REPORTING
PATTERN EXAMPLE
VERBS
ask (somebody), VERB
She asked to use the car.
beg (somebody), (+ OBJECT)
He begged us to let him
expect (somebody), + TO stay overnight.
promise (somebody) INFINITIVE
advise, command, tell,
encourage, persuade, VERB I advised him not to go
expect, forbid, implore, + OBJECT there.
instruct, invite, order, + TO She forced the child to tell
request, permit, remind, INFINITIVE her the truth.
force, urge, warn, etc.
acknowledge, believe, He denied stealing the
claim, consider, think, VERB + money.
suppose, declare, feel, ING FORM He expected going home
expect, find, presume soon.

REPORTING
PATTERN EXAMPLE
VERBS
mention, apologize for, He denied stealing the
decide on, deny, admit, VERB + money.
recommend, regret, ING FORM He regretted going to
report, suggest the party.

REPORTING
PATTERN EXAMPLE
VERBS
accuse (somebody) of, VERB They accused me of
blame (somebody) for, + OBJECT forging the checks.
congratulate (smb.) on, + PREPOSITION My parents thanked me
thank (somebody) for + ING FORM for calling them.

REPORTING
PATTERN EXAMPLE
VERBS
accuse (somebody) of, VERB They accused me of
blame (somebody) for, + OBJECT forging the checks.
congratulate (smb.) on, + PREPOSITION My parents thanked me
thank (somebody) for + ING FORM for calling them.
She offered to pick up
agree, demand, offer,
VERB + TO my son from school.
guarantee, propose,
refuse, swear, threaten INFINITIVE They refused to sign a
new contract.
1.3. REPORT STRUCTURES
Choose an appropriate reporting verb
First depending on the type of discourse

Change the tenses to their past form,
Then unless what is said is still true

Don't Change personal pronouns, possessive
adjectives or pronouns depending on
forget to the speaker(s)

and to Change time and place adverbs

and to Change time and place adverbs
Remember Change the punctuation depending on
the type of discourse
to
v Change to the TENSE
Reporting NO CHANGE to the tense
verb in the I write poems. He says he writes poems.
PRESENT I like to eat oranges. She says she likes to eat
(no backshift) oranges.

Present Tense Past Tense
She decided she was
Im leaving in ten minutes.
leaving in ten minutes.
Reporting
verb in the
PAST
(backshift)
She decided she was
Present Perfect Tense Past Perfect Tense
Reporting I have lived here all my He said he had lived there
verb in the life. all his life.
PAST
(backshift)
She decided she was
PAST Past Tense Past Perfect Tense
(backshift) It rained really heavily He mentioned it had rained
today. really heavily that day.

She decided she was
PAST Past Tense Past Perfect Tense
(backshift) It rained really heavily He mentioned it had rained
today. really heavily that day.
Future Tense Future-in-the-Past
Ill send you a postcard. She promised she would
send me a postcard.
Change to the Modal Verbs
MODAL DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH
CAN I can do it. He said he could do it.

He wanted to know if he
MAY May I go out?
might go out.
MAY May I go out?
might go out.
She must apply for the He said that she must/had to
MUST job. apply for the job.

MAY May I go out?
might go out.
They will call you. He told her that they would
WILL call her.

MAY May I go out?
might go out.
They will call you. He told her that they would
WILL call her.
I shall tell them the truth. I decided I would tell them
the truth. future
SHALL Shall we tell the boss? She suggested they should
tell the boss. suggestion
- the modal verbs could, should, would, might, needn't,
ought to, used to do not normally change:
He said, She might be right. He said that she might be right.

The tense does not change when:
SITUATION EXAMPLE
the reporting verb is in a He says that intelligent life in the
present tense universe does not exist.

SITUATION EXAMPLE
the action in the indirect
speech is still happening or Helen said I can share her flat.
going to happen
SITUATION EXAMPLE
going to happen
the reported verb expresses
He explained that counseling is not
a fact or situation that cannot
the answer for everyone.
or is unlikely to change
SITUATION EXAMPLE
going to happen
the verb comes after a time He replied that he had started the
conjunction: when, after, etc. job after he left school.

SITUATION EXAMPLE
going to happen
the verb comes after a time He replied that he had started the
conjunction: when, after, etc. job after he left school.
the direct speech includes an
Janice said that she wished she
unreal past
were younger.
I wish I were younger.

v Change to the PRONOUNS,
ADVERBS of TIME and PLACE
PRONOUNS
OBJECT PRONOUNS DEMONSTRATIVES
I she/he this that
we/you they these those

PRONOUNS
I she/he this that
ADVERBS OF PLACE
here there
PRONOUNS
I she/he this that
ADVERBS OF PLACE
here there
ADVERBS OF TIME
now then/at that time
today that day
tomorrow the next day,
the following day
yesterday the previous day,
the day before

PRONOUNS
I she/he this that
ADVERBS OF PLACE
here there
ADVERBS OF TIME
now then/at that time next year the following/the next year
today that day days ago days before/earlier
tomorrow the next day, last month the month before,
the following day the previous month
yesterday the previous day, in two weeks two weeks from then
the day before last Monday the last/previous Monday

1.4. REPORTED STATEMENTS,
QUESTIONS, ORDERS AND
REQUESTS
q Reported/Indirect Statements
common introductory verbs: say, tell, add,
continue, answer, reply, mention, remark, often
followed by that:
The minister replied that it was out of the question not to
follow the procedures.
Alex said, Ill meet you here again tomorrow at 3.30.
Alex said that he would meet us there again the next
day at 3.30.
He told me that he was looking for his keys.

q Reported/Indirect Questions
common reporting verbs: ask, want to know,
enquire (formal questions), wonder (= ask ourselves):
The assistant asked/wanted to know what type of printer we
had.
The reception was boring and I wondered when I could
leave.
I asked if I could stay with them.
He asked me where I was going.
She enquired how John was getting on.
* - no interrogative word order
- no question mark
1. Yes/No Questions (closed questions)
reporting verbs: discover, remember, see, know,
say, wonder, ask, enquire;
if-clause
D.S. Is the work going well?
I.S. Someone asked me if the work was going well.
D.S. Has your hair always been this colour?
I.S. He enquired if her hair had always been that colour.
whether-clause
D.S. Do you want to stay at a hotel or at my home?
I.S. I was asked whether I wanted to stay at a hotel or at
his home.
D.S. Are the servants still here?
I.S. She asked whether the servants were still there.

2. WH-word Questions
- to ask for information:
D.S. Where are you going?
I.S. He asked me where I was going.
D.S. Why are you so late?
I.S. She enquired why I was so late.
D.S. Who was that fantastic man?
I.S. Ann asked me who that fantastic man had been.
D.S. How do you like the film?
I.S. I asked how they liked the film.

q Reported/Indirect Orders
common reporting verbs: tell, order, command
and forbid;
a reporting verb + (not) to + infinitive
D.S. Go to bed!
I.S. He told the child to go to bed.
D.S. Retreat!
I.S. He commanded his men to retreat.
D.S. Dont smoke!
I.S. He told us not to smoke.

q Reported/Indirect Requests
ask to report requests
beg and urge to report urgent requests
a reporting verb + to + infinitive
D.S. Would you mind coming back later?
I.S. His secretary asked me to come back later.
D.S. Give me a lift!
I.S. He begged us to give him a lift.
D.S. Could you pass the milk, please?
I.S. She asked me to pass the milk.

q Other ways of using Reported Clauses
NOUNS
He referred to Copernicus' statement that the earth moves
around the sun.
They expressed the opinion that I must be mentally
retarded.
There was little hope that he would survive.
The decision to go had not been an easy one to make.
Barnaby's father had fulfilled his promise to buy his son a
horse.
ADJECTIVES
Everybody was sad that she had to return to America.
I was worried that shed say no.
He was aware that he had drunk too much whisky.

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
People are very worried about how to fill their
increased leisure time.
They never complained of the ceaseless rain.
No one had warned us of the dangers.
He had already decided on his story.

II. SEQUENCE OF TENSES
2.1. DEFINITION
- dependence of the tense in the subordinate
clause on the tense of the verb in the main clause:
She goes for a walk in the park when the weather is good.
She has been teaching since she graduated from college.
I went to bed early because I was very tired.
By the time he returned, I had typed ten pages of my report.
She will visit them tomorrow if she has the time.

- OBJECT SUBORDINATE CLAUSES:
q answer the question what?;
q are used after such verbs as: know, think,
believe, understand, wonder, agree, say, tell, ask,
answer, remark, etc.;
q are used after phrases like I'm sure (that), I'm
afraid (that);
q are connected to the main clause by the
conjunction that (which is often omitted) and by
other conjunctions, such as where, when, why,
how, whether, if, because.
He will ask her about it when he sees her tomorrow.
The books that I bought yesterday are on my desk.
He didn't answer you because he doesn't speak English.

2.2. RULES AND EXCEPTIONS
MAIN OBJECT
CLAUSE CLAUSE EXAMPLES
We want to know what you
PRESENT/ ANY TENSE did then.
RULE PRESENT (PRESENT/ I have just learnt that she is
1 PERFECT PAST/FUTURE) in her office and will see you
as soon as she is free.

MAIN OBJECT
RULE ANY TENSE She will cry if you punish her.
2 FUTURE (EXCEPT FUTURE) I will tell her what we have
done/did.
MAIN OBJECT
done/did.
PAST I watched them as they were
SIMULTANEITY playing chess.
RULE PAST
3
MAIN OBJECT
done/did.
PAST PERFECT I thought you had advised
RULE PAST ANTERIORITY her what to do.
3
MAIN OBJECT
done/did.
PAST PERFECT I thought you had advised
RULE PAST ANTERIORITY her what to do.
3 FUTURE-IN- I wasn't sure that he would
THE-PAST be at home.
POSTERIORITY
I knew he would not pass.

EXCEPTIONS TO RULE 3
q a past tense in the main clause may be followed by a
present or future tense in the subordinate clause when
the subordinate clause expresses some universal truth:
Galileo proved that the Earth revolves around the Sun.
We were told that the atomic energy used in science will
change the face of the earth.
I knew that a friend in need is a friend indeed.
q when the tense in the subordinate clause is independent
of the tense used in the main clause, then it can be in the
present or future:
I didnt get on with her because she isnt reliable.
I liked her so much that I will never forget her.
She told me her father always comes home late.

the verb in the relative clause is at any tense required by
the meaning of the sentence:
I gave the school the dictionaries that had been left to me by
my former teacher, whom I loved so well and I will never
forget as I am so grateful to her for the stimulus I have
always found in her example.
in a comparative clause, introduced by as, than, as much
as, as well as, the verb can be at any tense required by
the meaning of the sentence:
She loved her sister more than she loves or will ever love
me.
She loved her sister as much as she loves or will ever
love me.
expressions such as as if, if only, it is time and wish that
are usually followed by past tenses:
I wish that I was a bit taller.
It is time we started working.
He talks as if he knew everything.
when the if clause expresses a real situation, then both
the verb in the main clause and the verb in the if clause
can be at any tense required by the meaning of the
sentence:
If she isnt here, she must be ill. (present+ present)
If he enjoys so much consideration, he earned it by hard work.
(present + past)
If he didnt receive my letter, how can he answer me?
(past + present)
If you have seen him, you know how much better his health is.
(present perfect + present)
If John didnt have lunch before your arrival, he will probably join
PRESENT PAST
I tell you I will start training I told you I would start
only when spring comes. training only when spring
came.
PRESENT PAST
came.
She says she wont go on her She said she wouldnt go on
holiday before she has seen her holiday before she had
you. seen you.

PRESENT PAST
came.
you. seen you.
He is sure that his picture, He was sure that his picture,
when it is finished, will bring when it was finished, would
him the success he has been bring him the success he had
looking forward to. been looking forward to.

PRESENT PAST
came.
you. seen you.
He is sure that his picture, He was sure that his picture,
when it is finished, will bring when it was finished, would
him the success he has been bring him the success he had
looking forward to. been looking forward to.
Whenever I call on her, she is Whenever I called on her, she
working and says I will be a was working and used to say I
great artist when I get older. I would be a great artist when I
will then reap my reward if I got older. I would then reap
have worked as hard as she my reward if I had worked as

OTHER EXAMPLES TYPICAL OF
THE SEQUENCE OF TENSES
I didnt know you were here. Of course I was.
He thought of the pleasures he would give up
when he accepted the new job.
I understood the difficult role she would assume
when she obtained the new position in the
company.
He realised how glad his parents would be when
they found about his promotion.

PRACTICE Reported Speech
1. Rewrite the direct speech as reported speech to complete the sentences:
1. The police have found the missing girl.
the police have found the missing girl.
They say that _________________________________
2. Can I borrow your newspaper?
He asked me ______________________________
if he could borrow my newspaper.
3. I don't feel very well.
She says that _______________________
she doesnt feel very well.
4. We had a great time.
They said that ________________________
they had had a great time.
5. Why are you late?
why I was late.
My boss asked me _____________
6. It's been hot here.
it had been hot there.
Mike said that ___________________
7. Do you think the Prime Minister will resign?
if I thought that the Prime Minister would resign.
They asked me __________________________________________
8. I ve never been to Spain before.
she had never been to Spain before.
Julie said that ________________________________

2. Choose the correct reporting verb from the box and
change the sentences into reported speech:
told advised suggested asked said warned ordered offered
1. I'd go and see a doctor if I were you, Julie said to me.
advised _______________________
Julie ________ me to go and see a doctor.
2. Can you come and help me with this box?
John ______ me to help him with the box.
asked _________________________
3. This is an exam Mr. Jenkins!! . Shut up now!!!
ordered ____________________
The headmaster _______ Mr. Jenkins to shut up.
4. That road is very dangerous so just be very careful!
warned _______________________________________
His mother _______ him that the road was very dangerous and to be careful.
5. Liverpool won the match last night.
that Liverpool had won the match the previous night.
said ___________________________________________
The journalist _____
6. Why don't we go and see that new film at the cinema.
suggested ________________________________
Bill __________ going to see the new film at the cinema.
7. I can come and look after the children tomorrow night.
offered
Jane ________ ____________________________________________
to come and look after the children the following day.
8. The lesson starts at six o'clock in the evening.
told _______________________________________
The teacher _____ us that the lesson started at six in the evening.
3. Write the following paragraph as a
conversation between John and Sue.
Last night John rang Sue and asked her how she felt he
hadnt seen her at work. Sue replied that she had had a
temperature, but she was better now, and apologised for not
ringing him in the last few days. She also asked him if he was
free the following day. John said that he was, so Sue
suggested going to the cinema. John agreed and asked what
she thought they might see. Sue replied that they would
decide the next day, and asked him to pick her up at seven.
John refused, explaining that he couldnt use the car because
his father had taken it, but offered to come and meet her at her
house.
Last night John rang Sue and asked her how she felt he
hadnt seen her at work.
JOHN: How do you feel? I didnt see you at work.
Sue replied that she had had a temperature, but she was
better now, and apologised for not ringing him in the last
few days. She also asked him if he was free the following
day.
SUE: I had a temperature but Im better now. Im sorry for
not ringing you in the last few days. Are you free
tomorrow?
John said that he was, so Sue suggested going to the
cinema.
JOHN: Yes, I am.
SUE: What about going to the cinema?
John agreed and asked what she thought they might see.
JOHN: Yes, OK. What do you think we should see?
Sue replied that they would decide the next day, and asked
him to pick her up at seven.
SUE: Well decide tomorrow. Can you pick me up at seven?
John refused, explaining that he couldnt use the car
because his father had taken it, but offered to come and
meet her at her house.
JOHN: Sorry, but I cant use the car because my father has
taken it. Ill come and meet you at your house.

Lecture on Reported Speech and Sequence of Tenses

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LECTURE 7

REPORTED/INDIRECT SPEECH and

1.1. Direct vs. Reported Speech

1.2. Reporting verbs

1.3. Report structures

1.4. Reported statements, questions, orders and requests

II. SEQUENCE OF TENSES

2.2. Rules and exceptions

1.1. DIRECT VS. REPORTED SPEECH

DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH

q DIRECT SPEECH (quote structures)

Mary said, John, we have a problem. before

John, we have a problem, Mary said/said Mary. after

'The operation has been a resounding success, ' she said.

'The operation has been a resounding success,' said the surgeon.

REPORTED SPEECH (report structures)

- statements, questions, orders/commands, suggestions, and exclamations;

1. the reporting clause reporting verb

I told him (that) nothing was going to happen to me.

She said (that) she liked ice cream.

2. the reported clause

She says (that) she wants to see you this afternoon.

I think (that) there's something wrong.

Paul says (that) he will see me later.

1.2. REPORTING VERBS

REPORTING VERBS PATTERN EXAMPLE

ask (somebody), VERB She asked to use the car.

ask (somebody), VERB

She asked to use the car.

beg (somebody), (+ OBJECT)

He begged us to let him

expect (somebody), + TO stay overnight.

promise (somebody) INFINITIVE

advise, command, tell,

encourage, persuade, VERB I advised him not to go

expect, forbid, implore, + OBJECT there.

instruct, invite, order, + TO She forced the child to tell

request, permit, remind, INFINITIVE her the truth.

force, urge, warn, etc.

acknowledge, believe, He denied stealing the

claim, consider, think, VERB + money.

suppose, declare, feel, ING FORM He expected going home

expect, find, presume soon.

mention, apologize for, He denied stealing the

decide on, deny, admit, VERB + money.

recommend, regret, ING FORM He regretted going to

report, suggest the party.

mention, apologize for, He denied stealing the

decide on, deny, admit, VERB + money.

recommend, regret, ING FORM He regretted going to

report, suggest the party.

accuse (somebody) of, VERB They accused me of

blame (somebody) for, + OBJECT forging the checks.

congratulate (smb.) on, + PREPOSITION My parents thanked me

thank (somebody) for + ING FORM for calling them.

mention, apologize for, He denied stealing the

decide on, deny, admit, VERB + money.

recommend, regret, ING FORM He regretted going to

report, suggest the party.

accuse (somebody) of, VERB They accused me of

blame (somebody) for, + OBJECT forging the checks.

congratulate (smb.) on, + PREPOSITION My parents thanked me

thank (somebody) for + ING FORM for calling them.