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 whento 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 PAST PAST neverhim that the zoo, I said PRESENT CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONDITIONAL PERFECT reported speech. These tenses new Mary told she liked his 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 TODAY NOW YESTERDAY TOMORROW NEXT WEEK/MONTH LAST WEEK/MONTH AGO THIS (TIME) THIS/THAT / + NOUN HERE GO

also changed in reported speech: THAT DAY THEN THE DAY BEFORE THE NEXT DAY THE FOLLOWING WEEK/MONTH THE WEEK/MONTH BEFORE BEFORE THAT THE + NOUN THERE COME

Put the following statements into reported speech. Use the introductory verb in the past. Then, match the sentences with the right picture.
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 often use Time/place references are also changed in reported original In reported statements we speech: Mary wants to go to the disco, He said that he waswas about something statement tired. the verbs say TODAY THAT DAY and 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, with Mary He said that he was YESTERDAY THE DAYwants to tired. the Peter says that Mary wants to go indirect object): BEFORE Peter says. Always use 'tell' when you say who THE NEXT DAY to the disco. TOMORROW He told me that he was tired. was spoken to WEEK/MONTH NEXT in Paris, THE FOLLOWING (i.e. with Marys boyfriend lives WEEK/MONTH When webeingsay with an indirectan use 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 to BEFORE indirect object: in Paris, before the Marys say with an When we THIS (TIME) THAT useboyfriend lives indirect Sue told me that Marys He said to me that she was very me. object + must to Sue toldhim. boyfriend lives THIS/THAT / + NOUNhappy THE weNOUNuse the preposition in Paris. 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 married nextbirthday, she said. If Mary and Paul are going to a cake for your 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. He I often ask my father to help me with my homework, Bill said. spent the afternoon reading before his wife arrived, Mary He spent the afternoon reading before his wife arrived, I said. 5. 4. Im very happy because I have just got my driving license,Mary said. 6. 5. WeIm very happy because afternoon, got my driving license, I said. have been shopping this I have just my friends said. 7. 6. she accepts me, shopping this afternoon, my Peter told me. If We have been we will get married in June, friends said. If she he loves playing computer games, my brother told me. 8. 7. Dave saysaccepts me, we will get married in June, Peter 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. I cant gets the party. Ive son arrives late, they said. 10. 9. Bills father go to angry when his got a terrible headache, Jim 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 his last birthday!, his brother said. John got a big present for the 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, hisMarta said. If Hes got the biggest nose I have ever seen, friend 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 to be a basketball and got an excellentup, Timhis teacher said. I He studied very hard player when I grow mark, said. 18. 17. I want three people waiting at the bus stop, she said. said. There are to be a basketball player when I grow up, Tim 18. There are three people waiting at the bus stop, she said.

Put the following statements into reported speech. Use the introductory Mary the past. Then, match the sentences week, Jim said. verb inand Paul are going to get married next with the right picture.