Elaborate Narration

Reported Speech

 

 

DIRECT AND INDIRECT (OR REPORTED) SPEECH.

INTRODUCTION

There are two ways of relating what a person has said: direct and indirect.

In direct speech we repeat the original speaker’s exact words:

He said, “I have lost my umbrella.”

Remarks thus repeated are placed between inverted commas, and a comma is placed immediately before the remark. Direct speech is found in conversations in books, in plays and in quotations.

In  indirect  speech  we  give  the  exact  meaning  of  a  remark  or  a  speech,  without  necessarily  using  the speaker’s exact words:

He said (that) he had lost his umbrella.

 

 

There is no comma after say in indirect speech. That can usually be omitted after say and tell + object. But it should be kept after other verbs: complain, explain, object, point out, protest etc. Indirect speech is normally used when conversation is reported verbally, though direct speech is sometimes here to give a more dramatic effect. When we turn direct speech into indirect, some changes are usually necessary.

 

 

PRONOUNS AND ADJECTIVES: CHANGES NECESSARY

 

A. First and second person pronouns and possessive adjectives normally change to the third person except when the speaker is reporting his own words. (I = he, she; me = him, her; my = his, her; mine = his, hers; we = they...)

She said, “he’s my son”. She said that he was her son.

 

“I’m ill”, she said. She said that she was ill.

 

B.THIS / THESE

 

This used in time expressions usually becomes that.

She said, “She’s coming this week”.

She said that she was coming that week. This and that used as adjectives usually change to the.

He said, “I bought this pearl/these pearls for my mother”.

He said that he had bought the pearl/the pearls for his mother.

This, these used as pronouns can become it, they/them  .

He came back with two knives and said, “I found these beside the king’s bed”.

He came back with two knives and said that he had found them beside the king’s bed.

He said, “We will discuss this tomorrow”.  He said that they would discuss it (the matter) the next day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPRESSIONS OF TIME AND PLACE IN INDIRECT SPEECH

 

 

A. Adverbs and adverbial phrases of time change as follows:

DIRECT SPEECH	INDIRECT SPEECH
today	that day
yesterday	the day before
the day before yesterday	two days before
tomorrow	the next day/the following day
the day after tomorrow	in two day’s time
next week/year etc.	the following week/year etc.
last week/year etc.	the previous week/year etc.
a year etc. ago	a year before/the previous year

 

 

 

 

“I saw her the day before yesterday”, he said.  He said he’d seen her two days before.

 

“I’ll do it tomorrow”, he promised. He promised that he would do it the next day.

She said, “My father died a year ago”. She said that her father had died a year before/the previous year.

 

B. But if the speech is made and reported on the same day these time changes are not necessary:

 

At  breakfast  this  morning  he said,  “I’ll be very busy  today”. At breakfast this morning he said that he would be very busy that day.

 

C.here can become there but only when it is clear what place is meant:

 

At the station he said, “I’ll be here again tomorrow”.  He said that he’d be there again the next day.

Usually here has to be replaced by some phrase:

She said, “You can sit here, Tom”.  She told Tom that he could sit beside her.

 

STATEMENTS IN INDIRECT SPEECH: TENSE CHANGES NECESSARY

 

A. Indirect speech can be introduced by a verb in a present tense:

 

He says that ... This is usual when we are:

A. reporting a conversation that is still going on

B. reading a letter and reporting what it says

C. reading instructions and reporting them

D. reporting a statement that someone makes very often, e.g. Tom says that he’ll never get married.

When the introductory verb is in a present, present perfect or future tense we can report the direct

Speech without any change of tense:

PAUL (phoning from the station): I’m trying to get a taxi.

ANN  (to  Mary,  who  is  standing  beside  her): Paul  says  he  is  trying  to  get a taxi.

 

B. But indirect speech is usually introduced by a verb in the past tense. Verbs in the direct speech have then to be changed into a corresponding past tense. The changes are shown in the following table.

 

 

DIRECT SPEECH	INDIRECT SPEECH
Simple Present “I never eat meat”, he explained.	Simple Past = He explained (that) he never ate meat.
Present Continuous “I’m waiting for Ann”, he said.	Past Continuous = He said (that) he was waiting for Ann.
Present Perfect “I have found a flat”, he said.	Past Perfect = He said (that) he had found a flat.
Present Perfect Continuous He said, “I’ve been waiting for ages”.	Past Perfect Continuous = He said (that) he had been waiting for ages.
Simple Past “I took it home with me”, she said.	Past Perfect = She said (that) she had taken it home with her.
Future He said, “I will/shall be in Paris on Monday”.	Future Conditional = He said (that) he would be in Paris on Monday.
Future Continuous “I will/shall be using the car myself on the 24h”, she said.	Conditional Continuous = She said (that) she’d been using the car herself on the 24th.
Conditional I said, “I would like to see it”.	Conditional = I said (that) I would like to see it.

 

 

All those changes represent the distancing effect of the reported speech. Common sense, together

with the time aspect from the speaker’s point of view, are more important than the rules when

making the usual changes.

 

QUESTIONS IN INDIRECT SPEECH

 

Direct question:

He said, “Where is she going?”

Indirect question:

He asked where she was going.

 

A. When we turn direct questions into indirect speech, the following changes are necessary:

 

a. tenses,  pronouns  and  possessive  adjectives,  and  adverbs  of  time  and  place  change  as  in statements.

b. the interrogative form of the verb changes to the affirmative form.

c. the question mark is omitted in indirect questions.

B. If the introductory verb is say, it must be changed to a verb of inquiry, e.g. ask, wonder, want to knowetc.

He said, “Where is the station?”

He asked where the station was.

 

C.ask can be followed by the person addressed (indirect object):

He asked, “What have you got in your bag?”

He asked (me) what I had got in my bag.

But wonder and want to know cannot take an indirect object, so if we wish to report a question where the person addressed is mentioned, we must use ask.He said, “Mary, when is the next train?”

He asked Mary when the next train was.

 

D. If the direct question begins with a question word (when, where, who, how, why etc.) the question

 

word is repeated in the indirect question:

He said, “Why didn’t you put on the brake?”

He asked (her) why she hadn’t put on the brake.

She said, “What do you want?”

She asked (them) what they wanted.

 

E. If there is no question word,   or if whether must be used:

“Is anyone there?” he asked

He asked if/whether anyone was there.

 

COMMANDS, REQUESTS, ADVICE IN INDIRECT SPEECH

 

Direct command:

Taseen said, “Lie down, Irfan”

Indirect command:

Taseen told Irfan to lie down.

 

Indirect commands, requests, advice are usually expressed by a verb of command/request/advice + object + infinitive.

 

A. The following verbs can be used:

 

advise, ask, beg, command, order, remind, tell, warn etc.

He said, “Get your coat, Farhad!”

He told Farhad to get his coat.

 

B. Negative commands, requests etc. are usually reported by not + infinitive:

“Don’t swim out too far, boys”, I said

I warned/told the boys not to swim out too far.

 

EXCLAMATIONS IN INDIRECT SPEECH

 

Exclamations usually become statements in indirect speech. The exclamation mark disappears.

 

 

 

 

 

a. Exclamations beginning what (a) ... or how ... can be reported by: -

Exclaim/say that:

Sporshi said, “What a dreadful idea!”   “How dreadful!” or Sporshi exclaimed that it was a dreadful idea/was dreadful.

give an exclamation of delight/disgust/horror/relief/surprise etc.

if the exclamation is followed  by an action we can use the construction with an exclamation of delight/disgust etc. + he/she etc. + verb.

 

b. Other types of exclamation such as

 

Good! Marvelous(অবিশ্বাস্য)! Splendid(PgrKvi)! Heavens! Oh! Ugh(বিতৃষ্ণা)! etc. can be reported as in (b) or (c) above:

“Good!” he exclaimed.

He gave an exclamation of pleasure/satisfaction.

“Ugh!” she exclaimed, and turned the programme off.

With an exclamation of disgust she turned the programme off.

 

c. Note also:

 

Sadia said, “Thank you!”

Sadia thanked me.

Mansib said, “Good luck!”

Mansib wished me luck.

Faija said, “Happy Birthday!”

Faija wished me a happy birthday.

Raghib said, “Congratulations!”

Raghib congratulated me.

Johan said, “Liar!”

Johan called me a liar.

Sumaia said, “Damn(Kmg)!” etc.

Sumaia swore(Kmg).

The notice said: WELCOME TO COX’S BAZAR!

The notice welcomed visitors to Cox’s Bazar.

 

YES AND NO IN INDIRECT SPEECH

 

Yes and no are expressed in indirect speech by subject + appropriate auxiliary verb.

He said, “Can you swim?” and I said “No”

He asked (me) if I could swim and I said I couldn’t.

He said, “Will you have time to do it?” and I said “Yes”

He asked if I would have time to do it and I said that I would.

 

OFFERS AND SUGGESTIONS IN INDIRECT SPEECH

A.      OFFERS

“Shall I bring you some tea?” he said.

could be reported

He offered to bring me some tea.

B.      SUGGESTIONS

“Shall we meet at the theatre? he said. Could be reported

He suggested meeting at the theatre.

 

INDIRECT SPEECH: MIXED TYPES

 

Direct speech may consist of statement + question, question + command, command + statement, or all three together. Normally each requires its own introductory verb.

“I don’t know the way. Do you?” he asked.

He said he didn’t know the way and asked her if she did/if she knew it.

He said, “Someone is coming. Get behind the screen.”

He said that someone was coming and told me to get behind the screen.

 

REPORTED SPEECH: OTHER POINTS

 

A.      MUST:

after a past reporting verb, must does not usually change:

He said, “It must be pretty late, I really must go”.

He said that it must be pretty late and he really must go.

had to is also possible in reported speech, but this is really the past of

have to, not must.

He said, “I have to go. I have an appointment in half an hour”

He said that he had to go because he had an appointment in half an hour.

B.      MODAL VERBS:Past modal verbs (could, might, ought to, should, used to, etc. ) do not normally

change in reported speech.

Shahriar said, “I might come”.

Shahriar said that he might come.

Ramisa said, “I would help him if I could”.

Ramisasaid  thatshe  would  help him if he could.

Nusratsaid,“You needn’t wait”.

Nusrat said that I needn’t wait.

 

C.

CONDITIONALS: Conditional sentences type two remain unchanged.

MrEsa said,  “If  my  children  were  older  I  would  emigrate”.

MrShahidullah said that if his children were older he would emigrate.

 

SAY AND TELL AS INTRODUCTORY VERBS

A.      Say and tell with direct speech.

1. Say can introduce a statement or follow it.

Bithi said, “I’ve just heard the news”.   “I’ve just heard the news”, Bithi said. Or

Inversion of say and noun subject is possible when say follows the statement.

“I’ve just heard the news”, said Bithi. Say + to + person addressed is possible, but this phrase must follow the direct statement; it cannot introduce it.

“I’m leaving at once”, Farzana said to me.

Inversion is not possible here.

 

2. tell requires the person addressed.

 

Tell me.

He told us.

I’ll tell Farzana.

Except with tell lies/stories/the truth/the time, when the person addressed need not to be mentioned.

He told (me) lies.

I’ll tell (you) a story.

Tell used with direct speech must be placed after the direct statement:

“I’m leaving at once”, Farzana told me.

Inversion is not possible with tell.

B.

say and tell with indirect speech

Indirect statements are normally introduced by say, or tell + object. Say   to + object is possible but less usual than tell + object.

He said he’d just heard the news.

He told me that he’d just heard the news.

Note also

tell ... how/about:

He told us how he had crossed the mountains.

He told us about crossing the mountains.

He told us about his journeys.

 

 

 

EXERCISES

 

STATEMENTS

1. These people are saying these things. Report them, using

says that.

a. Alif: “Atlanta is a wonderful city.” ______________________________________________________

b. Ruhin: “I go jogging every morning.” ____________________________________________________

c. Afsana: “Jenny isn’t studying for her exams.” _____________________________________________

d. Anika: “I used to be very fat.” _________________________________________________________

e. Jim: “I can’t swim.” __________________________________________________________________

 

2. People made these statements. Report them, using said.

 

a. “Ahona works in a bank”, Boishakhi said.__________________________________________________

b. “I’m staying with some friends”, Jim said. _________________________________________________

c. “I’ve never been to Russia”, Maliha said. _________________________________________________

d. “Sadia can’t use a computer”, Marzia said. ________________________________________________

e. “Everybody must try to do their best”, Maksuda said. _______________________________________

f. “Taslima may move to a new flat”, Majhar said. ____________________________________________

g. “I’ll stay at home on Sunday”, Sahera said. _______________________________________________

 

 

 

3. Report what the guests said at a wedding last Sunday.

 

a. Miss Ayesha: “They’ll make a lovely couple.” _____________________________________________

b. MrFarhan: “They’re going to live in Mymensingh.”__________________________________________

c. Mrs Chowdhury: “The bride and the groom are very nice young people.”________________________

d. Mr Rashid: “The bride is wearing a beautiful wedding dress.” _________________________________

e. Mr Imran: “The couple’s parents look happy.” _____________________________________________

f. Miss Sheuli: “The bride’s father has bought them a big flat.” __________________________________

4. Change the following statements into the reported speech.

 

a. “I have something to show you”, Marzia said to her._________________________________________

b. “I’m going away tomorrow”, Tania said. _________________________________________________

c. “I’ve been in London for a month but I haven’t had time to visit the Tower”, said Rupert.___________

d. “I’ll come with you as soon as I’m ready”, Prity replied.______________________________________

e. “We have a lift but very often it doesn’t work”, they said. ____________________________________

f. “I must go to the dentist tomorrow”, MrArif said. _________________________________________

g. “I found an old Roman coin in the garden yesterday and I am going to take it to the museum this

afternoon”, Tasnia said.________________________________________________________________

 

5. Write these sentences in indirect speech.

 

a. “I’m very tired”, Asma said. ____________________________________________________________

b. “I’ll see them soon”, Hosna said._________________________________________________________

c. “I’m going to the cinema”, Apple said. ____________________________________________________

d. “I see the children quite often”, he said. __________________________________________________

e. “I’m having a bath”, Siam said. __________________________________________________________

f. “I’ve already met their parents”, Zinnah said. ______________________________________________

g. “I stayed in a hotel for a few weeks”, Akter said. ____________________________________________

h. “I must go home to make dinner”, Abrity said. _____________________________________________

i. “I haven’t been waiting long”, Samiha said. ______________________________________________

j. “I’m listening to the radio”, he said. ______________________________________________________

k. “I’ll tell them the news on Saturday”, Riya said. ____________________________________________

l. “I like swimming, dancing and playing tennis”, Keya said. _____________________________________

m. “I can drive”, Tamanna said. __________________________________________________________

n. “I walked home after the party”, Robin said. ______________________________________________

o. “I’m going to be sick”, Shahnaz said. ____________________________________________________

p. “I must go out to post a letter”, Samia said. _______________________________________________

q. “I spoke to Lamia last week”, Mim said. __________________________________________________

r. “I’m trying to listen to the music”, Ashir said._______________________________________________

s. “I’ll phone the office from the airport”, Alpona said. _________________________________________

t. “I can’t speak any foreign languages”, Kolpona said. ________________________________________

 

 

6. Write these sentences in indirect speech, changing words where necessary.

 

a. “I’ll see you tomorrow”, Sharmin said. ____________________________________________________

b. “I saw her today”, Tawhid said. _________________________________________________________

c. “I don’t like this film”, Himanish said. ___________________________________________________

d. Putul said, “We went swimming today.”_________________________________________________

e. “I met her about three months ago”, Mohibul said.__________________________________________

f. “I’ll see Mary on Sunday”, she said. _____________________________________________________

g. “Pete and Sue are getting married tomorrow”, she said. ___________________________________

h. “Stephen’s bringing some records  tothe party tomorrow”, she said.__________________________

i. “I really like this furniture”, she said. ____________________________________________________

j. “My parents are arriving tomorrow”, she said.____________________________________________

k. “We visited her this morning” they said. ________________________________________________

l. “We’ll see her next summer” they said. _________________________________________________

m. “They were here three months ago”, he said.____________________________________________

n. “I’m meeting them at four o’clock today”, he said. ________________________________________

o. “I can see you tomorrow”, she said____________________________________________________

 

QUESTIONS

7. Report the police-officer’s questions to the shop owner.

 

a. What’s your name? _________________________________________________________________

b. Did you see the robbers? ____________________________________________________________

c. What were they wearing? ___________________________________________________________

d. How do you think they got in? ________________________________________________________

e. What did they take? ________________________________________________________________

f. Has this ever happened before? ______________________________________________________

 

8. Write these sentences as reported questions using the words given.

 

a. “What’s your name?”, he asked. (wanted to know) ________________________________________

b. “Do you like Marlon Brandon?”, she asked. _______________________________________________

c. “How old are you?”, she said. (asked) ____________________________________________________

d. “When does the train leave?”, I asked. ___________________________________________________

e. “Are you enjoying yourself?”, he asked___________________________________________________

f. “How are you?”, he said. (asked) ________________________________________________________

g. “Does your father work here?”, she asked.________________________________________________

h. “Do you live near your father?”, he asked. ________________________________________________

i. “Who did you see at the meeting?”, my mother asked._______________________________________

j. “Why did you take my wallet?”, he asked. _________________________________________________

k. “How did you get to school?”, she asked. _________________________________________________

l. “Are you a foreigner?”, she asked._______________________________________________________

m. “Where do you live?”, the boy asked. ____________________________________________________

n. “Have you met Danny before?”, he asked. ________________________________________________

o. “Are you hungry?”, he asked. ___________________________________________________________

p. “Why wasn’t Judy at the party?”, she asked._______________________________________________

q. “Why didn’t you telephone?”, my father asked. ____________________________________________

r. “Did you borrow my dictionary?”, he asked. _______________________________________________

s. “Why are you so late?”, the teacher asked. ________________________________________________

t. “Have you finished your exams?”, she asked. ______________________________________________

u. “Did you invite Judy and Mitch?”, he asked. _______________________________________________

v. “Does your brother live in London?”, she asked. ____________________________________________

w. “Why didn’t the police report the crime?”, the judge asked.__________________________________

x. “Do you know who broke the window?”, he asked.________________________________________

y. “Why you won’t let me in?”, he shouted. ________________________________________________

 

COMMANDS, REQUESTS AND ADVICE

 

9. Rewrite these sentences in reported speech.

 

a. “Make some coffee, Ahona”, Father said.(ask) ____________________________________________

b. “You must do the homework soon, Jamil”, she said.(tell) _____________________________________

c. “Remember to buy a map, Ann” he said.(remind) ___________________________________________

d. “You should see a doctor, MrsAlmina”, he said.(advise)______________________________________

e. “Keep all the windows closed, Bill” they said.(warn) _________________________________________

f. “Go home, Akib”, Rakib said.(tell) _______________________________________________________

g. “Please stay for supper, Sumaia”, he said.(try to persuade) __________________________________

 

10. Report the following sentences.

 

a. “Don’t try to be funny.” _____________________________________________________________

b. “Wait here till I come.” _____________________________________________________________

c. “Go to bed and don’t get up till you’re called.”___________________________________________

d. “Be a good girl and sit quietly for five minutes.”__________________________________________

e. “Watch the milk and don’t let it boil over.” _____________________________________________

f. “Don’t take your coat off.”___________________________________________________________

g. “Don’t forget to thank MrsRifat when you’re saying good bye to her.”_______________________

h. “Stop that dog.” ___________________________________________________________________

11. Write the sentences in reported speech using the words given.

 

a. “Sit down, Fairoz.” (he told) ___________________________________________________________

b. “Would you pass my suitcase?” (he asked)_______________________________________________

c. “Don’t go near the sea, children.” (the children’s mother warned)_____________________________

d. “Don’t be late, Jim.” (Jim’s father told) _________________________________________________

e. “Be quiet, children.” (the librarian told)__________________________________________________

f. “Have your tickets ready, please.” (the inspector told us)  ___________________________________

 

SAY AND TELL

12. Use the correct form of SAY and TELL in these sentences.

a. She _______________________ me she didn’t agree.

b. He _______________________ , “Have we met before?”

c. I _______________________ them I wasn’t happy with their work.

d. She smiled and _______________________ to me, “I’m very pleased to meet you.”

e. She _______________________ me a story about her parents.

f. He _______________________, “Are you feeling OK?”

g. I didn’t hear. What did he _______________________?

h. Could you _______________________ me the time, please?

i. They _______________________ me they were going to a meeting.

j. I _______________________ the police my address.

k. I _______________________ I wanted to buy a magazine.

l. He _______________________ he wasn’t interested in politics.

m. Could you _______________________ me your name again?

n. Do you think he is _______________________ the truth?

o. Would you _______________________ him to come early tomorrow?

p. If he _______________________ that again there’ll be trouble.

q. I _______________________ them it was dangerous to swim here.

r. Did you _______________________ anything to him about your problem at work?

s. _______________________ me what happened.

t. I think he is _______________________ lies.

u. The policeman _______________________ the man was lying.

v. Boishakhi _______________________ it would probably rain tomorrow.

w. Susana _______________________, “Let’s go out for dinner tonight.”

x. Jim _______________________ me about the party last night.

y. Our teacher _______________________ he was pleased with our work.

z. Stop _______________________ lies!

 

OFFERS AND SUGGESTIONS

13. Rewrite the sentences with the gerund or the infinitive and the in reported speech.

a. “I’ll bring my CDs to the party.”

He promised to bring his CDs to the party.

b. “Let’s go to the cinema tonight, shall we?

She suggested _____________________________________________________________________

c. “Yes, I stole the wallet.”

He admitted ______________________________________________________________________

d. “Be careful! The water is boiling.”

She warned us _____________________________________________________________________

e. “You must apologies to your teacher.”

My father insisted (on) ______________________________________________________________

f. “All right! I’ll share the expenses with you.”

My friend agreed ___________________________________________________________________

g. “Have your tickets ready, please.” (the inspector told us) _________________________________