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REPORTED SPEECH

Utilizamos el estilo indirecto cuando queremos comunicar a alguien lo que otra


persona ha dicho, sin usar las palabras exactas que ésta utilizó.

a) Reported statements (oraciones declarativas)


 Cambios de los tiempos verbales:

ESTILO DIRECTO ESTILO INDIRECTO


Presente simple Pasado simple
I train every day He said (that) he trained every day
Presente continuo Pasado continuo
I’m having a shower He said (that) he was having a shower
Pretérito Perfecto Pretérito pluscuamperfecto
We haven’t seen it yet They said they hadn’t met her
Pasado simple Pretérito pluscuamperfecto
I met her at 3 He said he had met her at 3
Imperativo Infinitivo
Be quiet He told us to be quiet

 Cambios de los verbos modales:

ESTILO DIRECTO ESTILO INDIRECTO


Can Could
I can’t swim He said (that) he couldn’t swim.
Will Would
I’ll send you a postcard He said (that) he would send us a
postcard.
Must / have (got) Had to
You must study more He said (that) we had study more
May Might
It may be true He said (that) it might be true

Los otros verbos modales no cambian.

 El verbo introductor en los estilos directo e indirecto suele ser say . En el


estilo directo, cuando el verbo va sseguido de un objeto de persona, podemos
emplear say to, o bien tell.
Ejemplo:
‘I’m hungry’, he said to me
‘I’m working tonight’, he told me.
Sin embargo en el estilo indirecto , sólo se utilizaría told.
 Los pronombres y adjetivos posesivos de primera persona cambian a tercera
persona.
Ej: He said ‘I can’t find my keys’.
He said (that) he couldn’t find his keys

 El pronombre you cambia a I.


Ej: He said ‘You look tired’
He said I looked tired.
Nota: He said, ‘You look tired, Jane’. – He told Jane she looked tired

 Otras expresiones que cambian:

ESTILO DIRECTO ESTILO INDIRECTO


THIS THAT

HERE THERE

TODAY THAT DAY

YESTERDAY THE DAY BEFORE


THE NEXT DAY/THE FOLLOWING
TOMORROW
DAY
TONIGHT THAT NIGHT

TOMORROW MORNING THE FOLLOWING MORNING

YESTERDAY AFTERNOON THE PREVIOUS AFTERNOON


NEXT THE FOLLOWING
WEEK/MONTH/YEAR WEEK/MONTH/YEAR
LAST WEEK/MONTH/YEAR THE PREVIOUS WEEK/MONTH/YEAR
A WEEK/MONTH/YEAR
A WEEK/MONTH/YEAR BEFORE
AGO

b)Reported questions (Oraciones interrogativas)

ASK KNOW (NOT) KNOW WANT WONDER

Los cambios de los tiempos verbales son los mismos que los de las oraciones
declarativas indirectas
Nota: El orden de las palabras de la pregunta original cambia al orden de una
oración declarativa. El sujeto va inmediatamente detrás del pronombre
interrogativo, y el verbo, detrás del sujeto.
Ejemplo:
He said ‘What is her name?’

Asked
Wondered
He What her name was.
Wanted to know
Didn’t know

Las Yes/no questions van introducidas por las conjunciones if o whether.


Ejemplo:
He said, ‘Can I use your pen?’
He asked me if / whether he could use my pen.

b)Reporting verbs (Verbos introductores del estilo indirecto)

 Oración introducida por that:

Say – tell (+ objeto) – explain – suggest – insist – promise – warn – admit –


agree – remind claim – complain – reply

Ejemplos:
He promised that he would paint the house the followin week.
She suggested we should stay at home.
She told me that she would arrive late

 Verbo + objeto + to + infinitivo:


Ask – tell – order – advise – warn – invite

Ejemplos:
They asked us to stay longer.
She warned me to be careful

 Verbo acabado en –ing.

Apologise for – suggest – recommend – admit – insit on – accuse someone of

Ejemplos:
They acused him of robbing the bank.
They admitted stealing the money.

REPORTED SPEECH: COMMANDS.-


Introductory verbs: the verb “say” may introduced commands in direct speech but
it must be changed to a verb of command in reported speech, e.g.: beg, command,
forbid, order, tell, know, ask... + personal object without preposition.
Indirect commands are usually expressed by a verb of command + object without
preposition + to infinitive.
Negative commands are usually reported by not + to infinitive.
When we turn a command into reported speech, it is necessary to change the
pronouns and possessive adjectives and adverbs of time and place as in the
statements.

EJERCICIOS PARA LA PRÁCTICA


1. Andrew is working. 29. Shall we go to a night club?
2. The windows aren’t locked 30. Can I have some brochures?
3. I have fixed the shelves 31. My parents are very well
4. It has been raining 32. I’m going to give up my job.
5. We have got plenty of time 33. Ann has bought a new car
6. You can sit over there
34. I can’t come to the party on Friday.
7. I may go to Bali again
35. I want to go on holiday, but I don’t
8. I will help if you like
know where.
9. I must finish this report
36. I’m going away for a few days.
10. I wasn’t listening
37. I will see you tomorrow.
11. When did you start acting, Melissa?
38. Do you like it here?

12. Has the taxi arrived yet? 39. My uncle died last week.

13. What’s the time? 40. This meat tastes funny.

14. Can we take photos? 41. I’m leaving you now.

15. Which way is the Post office?


42. The train leaves at 11:00 tonight.

16. Does Nick need a lift? 43. I’ll phone you this evening.

17. How can we find out?


44. Pete phoned me yesterday

18. Can you type? 45. What’s Peter address?

19. Where can we eat?


46. How does she know my name?
20. Have you got a plan?
47. Why are all the windows opened?
21. We will pay for the damage
22. You really must be careful 48. How many books does he want?
23. I will definitely finish it by next week 49. Where do they keep the money?
24. Would you mind turning the music 50. What time is the meeting?
down? 51. When does the last train leave?
25. I think you should take a taxi 52. How often does Ann go shopping?
26. You mustn’t leave the door unlocked 53. Do they like me?
27. I really must have a rest 54. Will I be ready in time?
28. Can I see your ticket? 55. Is there any food in the house?
56. Is service included or not? 60. Am I doing the right thing?
57. Can I pay by cheque? 61. Is the meeting on Tuesday or
Wednesday?
58. Does my hair look funny?
62. How old are you?
59. Do they speak English?
63. He’s ill
64.
65. I’ll be back tomorrow
66. I don’t like this music
67. Where’s the bus station?
68. Have you finished?
69. Nobody loves me.
70. Do you want tea or coffee?
71. I’ll clean the flat.
72. What am I doing here?
73. Her cat understands everything
74. Would you like a drink?
75. “I really must have a rest”, Andrew said.
76. “This meat tastes funny”, Fanny said her mother.
77. “What time is the meeting?”, the pupil asked.
78. “Is there any food in the house?”, Kathleen asked me.
79. “Her cat understands everything”, Mary told Hugh yesterday.
80. “Would you mind turning the music down?”, the teacher asked.
81. “It has been raining a lot”, John said on Monday.
82. “Which way is the Post Office?”, his uncle asked.
83. “I want to go on holiday, but I don’t know where”, he said.
84. “Andrew is working”, Melissa said to me.
84. “ I really must have a rest”, Andrew said.
85. “ This meat tastes funny”, Fanny said her mother.
86. “ What time is the meeting?”, the pupil asked.
87. “ Is there any food in the house?”, Kathleen asked me.
88. “ Her cat understands everything”, Mary told Hugh yesterday.
89. “ Would you mind turning the music down?”, the teacher asked.
90. “ It has been raining a lot”, Jonh said on Monday.
91. “ Which way is the Post Office?”, his uncle asked.
92. “ I want to go on holiday, but I don’t know where”, he said.
93. “ Andrew is working”, Melissa said to me.

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