1. IES Peñalba REPORTED SPEECH 4º ESO
We use the Reported Speech when we want to report what another person
said but without using the speaker’s exact words.
When we report someone’s words, some changes are necessary:
a) TENSES
Direct speech Reported speech
 Present Simple:  Past Simple:
“I never eat meat”, he explained. He explained that he never ate meat.
“ I don’t eat meat” he explained. He explained that he didn’t eat meat.
 Present continuous:  Past continuous;
“I’m waiting for Ann” he said. He said (that) he was waiting for Ann.
“I’m not waiting for Carol”, he said. He said (that) he wasn’t waiting for Carol
 Future:  Conditional:
“I will/shall be in Paris on Monday”, she said. She said she would be in Paris on Monday.
“I won’t be in Paris on Sunday”, she said. She said she wouldn’t be in Paris in Sunday.
 Future with BE going to:  Future with WAS/WERE going to:
“I’m going to go to the cinema”, he told me. He told me he was going to go to the cinema.
“I’m not going to go to the park”, he told me. He told me he wasn’t going to go to the park.
 Modals verb CAN / MUST  COULD / HAD TO:
They said, “We can do it” They said they could do it.
They said, “We can’t visit you later”. They said they couldn’t visit us later.
“I must study every day”, she explained. She explained that she had to study every day.
“You mustn’t park here” she said. She said that I didn’t have to park there.
b) TIME EXPRESSIONS AND PLACE EXPRESSIONS
Direct speech Reported speech
Now Then
Today That day
Tonight That night
Tomorrow The next/ following day
Next week, month… The next/ following week, month…
This That
These Those
Here There
c) PRONOUNS AND POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES
They change according to the context.
DS: He told me, “I’ll lend you my laptop” RS: He told me (that) he would lend me his laptop.

2. IES Peñalba REPORTED SPEECH 4º ESO
Apart from these changes, we must always take into account if we are transforming a statement, a
question or a request/ command (type of sentence):
 They are affirmative and negative sentences.
 We often use these reporting verbs: say that / tell sb that / explain
1. Turn these statements into reported speech.
1. “We like your attitude this year”, the teachers told me.
The teachers told me that________________________________________________________________
2. “We don’t want to watch TV in our bedroom”, the children told me.
The children told me that________________________________________________________________
3. “I’m getting bored of reading this book”, he said.
He said that___________________________________________________________________________
4. “We are taking an exam tomorrow”, they explained.
They explained that_____________________________________________________________________
5. “This place is absolutely gorgeous”, Samantha said.
Samantha said that_____________________________________________________________________
6. “The weather will be better next week”, the weatherman explained.
The weatherman explained that___________________________________________________________
7. “My dad can’t take me to school today”, Charles told me.
Charles told me that ____________________________________________________________________
8. “You must tidy your bedroom before going out with your friends”, my mother told me.
My mother told me that _________________________________________________________________
9. “I’m studying French now”, she explained.
She explained that______________________________________________________________________
10. “We are going to the disco with our friends tonight”, the girls said.
The girls said that ______________________________________________________________________
11. “This is my favourite film”, Susan told me.
Susan told me_________________________________________________________________________
12. “I don’t know your address”, Peter told Carol.
Peter told Carol that ___________________________________________________________________
13. “You mustn’t eat so much sugar”, the doctor told Ann.
The doctor told Ann ____________________________________________________________________
14. “I won’t phone you tonight”, Betty explained Carl.
Betty told Carl_________________________________________________________________________
15. “We aren’t going to go to the beach this summer”, they said.
They said _____________________________________________________________________________
REMEMBER
Say + (that) + clause - He said that his parents were working.
Tell + someone + (that) + clause - He told me that his parents were working.
2. Fill in the gaps with said or told.
1. She _________ that she was tired. 5. She _________ she didn’t like Peter.
2. He _________ me that he was bored. 6. Lucy _________ she would be late.
3. I _________ her that it was important. 7. He _________ he was a reporter.
4. Jack _________ me you were ill. 8. She _________ them she didn’t know their names.

3. IES Peñalba REPORTED SPEECH 4º ESO
 The question mark is omitted.
 We always use affirmative word order: subject + verb + objects
 We often use these reporting verbs: ask (sb) , wonder, want to know
YES / NO QUESTIONS REPORTED SPEECH: IF / WHETHER
“Are you a student?”, he asked. He asked if/whether I was a student.
“Do you live with your parents?”, he asked me. He asked me if/whether I lived with my parents.
“Are you studying in Moral?”, she asked. She wanted to know if/whether I was living in Moral
“Will you study abroad?”, she asked. She asked if/whether I would study abroad.
“Are you going to stay out late today?”, he asked. He wondered if/whether I was going to stay out
late that night.
“Can you drive?”, she asked. She wanted to know if/whether I could drive.
WH-WORD QUESTIONS REPORTED SPEECH: WH + SUB + VERB
“When is your birthday?”, she asked me. She asked me when my birthday was.
“How often do you brush your teeth”, he asked. He asked how often I brushed my teeth.
“What time are you seeing the doctor”, she asked. She wanted to know what time I was seeing the
doctor.
“What will you do next weekend?”, he asked. She wondered what I would do the next weekend.
“Where are you going to go today?”, she asked. She asked where I was going to go that day.
“Who can play the guitar in this class?, he asked us. He asked us who could play the guitar in that class.
2. Turn these questions into reported speech.
1. “Are you usually at home in the afternoon?” / She asked me ………….…….………………………………………………
2. “Where are you going to spend your holiday this summer, Sue?”
Mary asked Sue ………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………
3. “How long is it from London to Cambridge?”
Tom asked me …………………………………………………………………………………………………...………………………………………
4. “Is Sue coming to the library with you, Paul?” / Tina asked Paul………………….…………………………………………
5. “Do the children play football in the park every day?”
Grandma wanted to know……………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………
6. “How much does the ticket for the concert cost?”
Father wondered ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………....
7. “Can you help me with the housework tomorrow, Linda?”
He asked Linda ……………………………………………………………………………………………..……………………………………………
8. “What time does the new TV series begin tonight?”
Terry asked ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
9. “Are you going to buy a new computer next month, Lewis?”
I wanted to know ……………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………..
10. “When is Tim celebrating his birthday? / Sarah asked me ……………………………………………………………………
11. “Will you phone me as soon as you arrive in Oxford, Carol?”
Cindy asked Carol ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
12. “How often do you play chess with your brother, Alice?”
Sam wanted to know ………………………………………….…………………………………………………………………………………..…
13. “Are you revising for tomorrow’s exam?”/ The teacher asked the students ……………………………………..

4. IES Peñalba REPORTED SPEECH 4º ESO
 In commands there isn’t any subject.
 We often use these reporting verbs: order sb, ask sb, tell sb
 The reporting verb is always followed by a “to infinitive” or “not to infinitive”.
DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH
Eat your food. Rachel’s mother ordered her TO EAT her food.
Don’t speak with your partner. The teacher told us NOT TO SPEAK with our partners.
3. Turn these requests and commands into reported speech.
1. “Sleep eight hour a day” /The doctor told me……………………………………………………..…………………………
2. “Don’t fish in this river”. / The farmer told the children…………………………………………………………….....
3. “Take this parcel to my office”. / The boss ordered Susan …………………………………………………………….……..
4. “Stay away from me” / Peter told his sister…………………………………………………………………….………..
5. “Call me in the morning” / Bob asked Sue………………………………………………………………………………………
6. “Don’t shout at me” /She told him……………………………………………..……………………………………………
7. “Be careful crossing the road. / He told his daughter…………………………………………………………………………….
8. “Don’t run in the corridors”. / The teacher told the students……………………………………………………………..
9. “Dance with me” / Philip told Rose…………………………………………………………………………………….
10. “Show me your driving licence” / The policeman asked the driver………………….………………………….
11. “Come to my party tomorrow”. / My friend asked me…………………………………………………………………
12. ”Make your beds and have breakfast quickly”.
Anne asked her children……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
13. “Don’t speak to your mother like this”
Tom’s father ordered him………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
14. “Bring your literature books tomorrow”.
The teacher asked the students…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
15. “Don't bathe when the red flag is flying".
The lifeguard ordered us…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..