We use reported speech when we want to reproduce what somebody says or said.

When we report what somebody said in the past we have to change the tense(s) we use in reported speech. These tenses usually go one step back into the past. Ex: I feel tired, he said. He said that he felt tired.

PRESENT SIMPLE PAST SIMPLE Personal pronouns change to the PRESENT CONTINUOUS PAST CONTINUOUS third person singular or plural, except PAST SIMPLE PAST PERFECT when the speaker reports his own PRESENT SIMPLE PAST SIMPLE We use reported speech when to the Personal pronouns change PAST CONTINUOUS PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS words: PRESENT CONTINUOUS PAST CONTINUOUS what we want to reproduce or plural, except third person singular PRESENT PERFECT PAST PERFECT PAST SIMPLE PAST PERFECT or said. When own somebody says when the speaker reports his PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS I like your new bike, Mary told him PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS we report what somebody said words: PAST PERFECT PAST PERFECT PAST CONTINUOUS Mary told him that she liked his new PRESENT PERFECT PAST PERFECThave to change in the past we PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS bike. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS PAST new use inCONTINUOUS the tense(s) PERFECT Mary told him I like your we bike, SIMPLE FUTURE PRESENT CONDITIONAL I have PERFECT to been I said PAST PAST neverhim that the zoo, his new PRESENT CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONDITIONAL PERFECT reported speech. These tenses Mary told she liked to friend. PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS myPAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS CAN COULD usually go one step back into bike. I told my friend that I had never been SIMPLE FUTURE PRESENT CONDITIONAL MAY MIGHT the past. never been to the zoo, I said I have PERFECT CONDITIONAL MUST MUST OR HAD TO PRESENT CONDITIONAL to the zoo.friend. Ex: myfeel tired, he said. to I CAN COULD Hetold that he felt tired. I said MAY MIGHT my friend that I had never been to the zoo. We do not need to change the MUST MUST OR HAD TO

Time/place references are also changed in reported speech: TODAY THAT DAY NOW THEN YESTERDAY THE DAY BEFORE TOMORROW THE NEXT DAY NEXT WEEK/MONTH THE FOLLOWING WEEK/MONTH LAST WEEK/MONTH THE WEEK/MONTH BEFORE AGO BEFORE THIS (TIME) THAT THIS/THAT / + NOUN THE + NOUN HERE THERE GO COME

Put the following statements into reported speech. Use the introductory verb in the past. Then, match the sentences with the right picture. Put the following statements into reported speech. Use the
1.

tense if the reporting verb is in the present, or if the original In reported statements we often usethe We do not need to change statement was about something the verbstense if thetell. We use is in say and reporting verb that is still true: 'say' when there is no or if the object: the present, indirect speech: Time/place references are also changed in reported often use In reported statements weoriginal Mary wants to go to the disco, He said that he was tired. statement the verbs say and about something TODAY THAT DAY was tell. We use Peter says. Always use 'tell' when you say who 'say' that when still is no NOW THEN istheretrue: indirect object: was being spoken to (i.e.go to an disco, Mary wants to with He said that he was YESTERDAY THE DAY BEFOREtired. the Peter says that Mary wants to go indirect object): Peter says. Always use DAY THE NEXT'tell' when you say who to the disco. TOMORROW He told me that he was tired. was being spoken to WEEK/MONTH NEXT WEEK/MONTH When we use say with an indirectan THE FOLLOWING(i.e. with Marys boyfriend lives in Paris, indirect object): that Mary wants wePeter says the preposition to go Sue told me. LAST WEEK/MONTH object THE WEEK/MONTH BEFORE must to meuse He toldthe disco. he was tired. that AGO BEFORE indirect object: to before the boyfriend lives in Paris, Marys When we THIS (TIME) THAT use say with an indirect Sue told me that Marys He said to me that she was very me. object we must use to Sue toldhim. the preposition boyfriend lives THIS/THAT / + NOUN in Paris. happy THE + NOUN be with to before HERE THERE the indirect object: Sue He said told me that Marys GO COMEto me that she was very boyfriend lives in happy to be with him. Paris.

2. 1. Mum has time, she will makeget marriedyour birthday, she said. If Mary and Paul are going to a cake for next week, Jim said. 3. 2. often ask my father she will me with cakehomework, Bill said. I If Mum has time, to help make a my for your birthday, she said. 4. 3. I often ask my father to help me with my homework, Bill said. He spent the afternoon reading before his wife arrived, Mary 5. 4. He spent the because I have just got my driving license,Mary said. Im very happy afternoon reading before his wife arrived, I said. 6. 5. Im very happy because afternoon, got my driving license, I said. We have been shopping this I have just my friends said. 7. 6. she accepts me, shopping this afternoon, my friends said. If We have been we will get married in June, Peter told me. 8. 7. If saysaccepts me, we will get married in June, Peter told me. Dave she he loves playing computer games, my brother told me. 9. 8. cant go to the party. playing computer games, my Jim said. I Dave says he loves Ive got a terrible headache, brother told me. 10. 9. I cant go to angry when his got a terrible headache, Jim said. Bills father gets the party. Ive son arrives late, they said. 11. 10. Bills father gets angry housework. She says late, they said. She doesnt like doing the when his son arrives it is boring, I said. 12. 11. She doesnt like doing the last birthday!, his brother said. John got a big present for his housework. She says it is boring, I said. 13. 12. John got a big present for his last birthday!, his brother said. My father must travel a lot because hes a salesman, she said. 14. 13. My father must travel a have ever seen, a salesman, she said. Hes got the biggest nose I lot because hes Marta said. 15. 14. he drives so fast, he will have an accident, his friend said. If Hes got the biggest nose I have ever seen, Marta said. friend said. 16. 15. If he drives so fast, hegot an excellent mark, his teacher said. He studied very hard and will have an accident, 17. 16. want studied basketball and got an excellentup, Timhis teacher said. I He to be a very hard player when I grow mark, said. 18. 17. I want three people waiting at the bus I grow she said. said. There are to be a basketball player when stop, up, Tim 18. There are three people waiting at the bus stop, she said.

introductory verb in the past. Then, match the sentences with the Mary and Paul are going to get married next week, Jim said. right picture.