What is reported speech?
Reported speech is when you tell somebody else what you or a person said before.
Distinction must be made between direct speech and reported speech.
Direct speech vs. Reported speech:
| Direct speech | Reported speech |
|---|---|
| She says: "I like tuna fish." | She says / told me that she likes tuna fish. |
| She said: "I'm visiting Paris next weekend" | She said / told me that she was visiting Paris the following weekend. |
Different types of sentences
When you use reported speech, you either report:
- statements
- questions
- requests / commands
- other types
A. Reporting Statements
When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:
- pronouns
- tense
- place and time expression
1- Pronouns
In reported speech, you often have to change the pronoun depending on who says what.
Example:
She says, “My dad likes roast chicken.” – She says that her dad likes roast chicken.
2- Tenses
No backshift
Direct speech Reported speech (no backshift) “I write poems.” He says that he writes poems. (backshift) “I write poems.”
He said that he wrote poems.
ΔΕΝ ΕΧΟΥΜΕ ΑΛΛΑΓΗ ΤΩΝ ΧΡΟΝΩΝ ΌΤΑΝ:
1. Όταν έχουμε up - to - date - reporting: Report someone's words a short time after they were said.
2. When the introductory verb is in present* (Βασικά μπορούμε να κάνουμε και backshift αλλά δεν το προτιμάμε).
* The introductory verb is in the present when we:
a) pass on messages
b) report the content of a letter an article etc. while reading it.
c) refer to something someone says very often.
3. If the introductory verb is in the future or present perfect.
“I will publish my next book in October .”
– He has said that he will publish his new book in October.
3. Όταν εκφράζουμε γενική αλήθεια ή νόμο της φύσης.
(και σε αυτή την περίπτωση μπορούμε να κάνουμε και backshift αλλά δεν το προτιμάμε)
"Paris is the capital of France":
- The teacher says that Paris is the capital of France.
- The teacher says that Paris was the capital of France.
- The teacher said that Paris is the capital of France.
- The teacher said that Paris was the capital of France.
Backshift
ΕΧΟΥΜΕ ΑΛΛΑΓΗ ΤΩΝ ΧΡΟΝΩΝ ΌΤΑΝ:
1. Όταν έχουμε out - of - date - reporting: Report someone's words a long time after they were said. The introductory verb is in the past.
2. Όταν θεωρούμε αναληθές αυτό που εκφράζει ο ομιλητής.
"Mary and I are best friends"
She said to me that she and Mary were best friends but Mary had never actually met him.
3. Όταν το εισαγωγικό ρήμα είναι σε past tense.
Examples of the main changes in tense:
Direct Speech Reported Speech
He said: "I am happy"
He said that he was happy
He said: "I'm looking for my keys"
He said that he was looking for his keys
He said: "I visited New York last year"
He said that he had visited New York the previous year.
He said: " I've lived here for a long time "
He said that he had lived there for a long time
He said: "They had finished the work when I arrived"
He said that they had finished the work when he had arrived"
He said: "I was playing football when the accident occurred"
He said that he had been playing football when the accident had occurred
He said:"I have been playing football for two hours."
He said that he had been playing football for two hours
He said: "I had been reading a newspaper when the light went off"
He said that he had been reading a newspaper when the light had gone off
He said: "I will open the door."
He said that he would open the door.
He said: "I would buy Mercedes if I were rich"
He said that he would buy Mercedes if he had been rich"
Modal verbs also change:
Modal Direct speech Reported speech can "I can do it." He said he could do it. may "May I go out?" He wanted to know if he might go out. must "She must apply for the job." He said that she must/had to apply for the job. will "They will call you." He told her that they would call her.
The modal verbs would, could, might, should, ought to, had better, used to, mustn't do not change.
He said, "She might be right." – He said that she might be right.
Place, demonstratives and time expressions change if the context of the reported statement (i.e. the location and/or the period of time) is different from that of the direct speech.3- Place, demonstratives and time expressions
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| Time Expressions | |
| today, tonight | that day, that night |
| now | then, at that time, immediately |
| yesterday | the day before, the previous day |
| (2) days ago | (2) days before |
| last week / month | the week before, the previous week |
| next year / week | the following year, the year after |
| tomorrow | the next day / the following day |
| Place | |
| here | there |
| Demonstratives* | |
| this week | that week |
| these days | those days |
*Οταν τα demostratives δεν χρησιμοποιούνται σε χρονικές εκφράσεις:
αλλά χρησιμοποιούνται:
- ως επίθετα > μετατρέπονται σε the
"This film is very interesting" = She said that the film was very interesting.
- ως αντωνυμίες > μετατρέπονται σε it / they / them
"This is an unusual situation" - She said that it was an unusual situation" -
B. Reporting Questions
When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:
Also note that you have to:
- pronouns
- place and time expressions
- tenses (backshift)
- transform the question into an indirect question
- use the question word (where, when, what, how) or if / whether
Types of questions Direct speech Reported speech With question word (what, why, where, how...) "Why" don’t you speak English?” He asked me why I didn’t speak English. With auxiliary (is, do, have) or modal verb “Do you speak English?” He asked me whether / if I spoke English.
C. Requests / commands - instructions / suggestions
When transforming requests and commands, check whether you have to change:
- pronouns
- place and time expressions
| Direct speech | Reported speech |
|---|---|
| “Nancy, don't do the exercise.“ | He told Nancy not to do the exercise. |
| "Nancy, give me your pen, please." | He kindly asked Nancy to give him her pen. |
Μετά απο το εισαγωγικό ρήμα, ανάλογα με το πώς αυτό συντάσσεται, ακολουθεί άλλο ρήμα σε:
- to -infinitive: The policeman orderd him to stop the car.
- - ing form: He accused him of committing the crime.
- that clouse: She explained that she didn't like him because he was rude.
D. Other transformations
- Expressions of advice with must, should and ought are usually reported using advise / urge.
"You must read this book." He advised / urged me to read that book.
- The expression let’s is usually reported using suggest. In this case, there are two possibilities for reported speech: gerund or statement with should.
"Let’s go to the cinema."1. He suggested going to the cinema.2. He suggested that we should go to the cinema.
Ε. Reporting a dialogue
Main clauses connected with and/but
If two complete main clauses are connected with ‚and or ‚but, put ‚that after the conjunction.
Example:If the subject is dropped in the second main clause (the conjunction is followed by a verb), do not use ‚that‘.
He said,“I saw her but she didn't see me.“ – He said that he had seen her but that she hadn't seen him.“
Example:
She said,“I am a nurse and work in a hospital.“ – He said that she was a nurse and worked in a hospital.“
Exercises on the reported speech
Exclamation / Yes - No Short Answers - Question Tags
- What a beautiful dress =
He exclaimed / said that it was a beautiful dress.
He exclaimed / said that the dress was beautiful.
- Exclamations: Splendid / Great / Good / Excellent / Oh / Oh dear / Wow! =
He gave an exclamation of surprise / disgust / relief / delight
- Thank you = they thanked us
- Happy birthday = he wished a happy birthday
- Congratulations = He congratulated him
- You fool = He called him a fool
- Yes / No answers:
"Will you help me decorate the cake?" she asked him. - "Yes," he said =
She asked him to help her decorate the cake and she said that he would / he agreed.
- Tag word = παραλείπονται. Αποδίδονται με το κατάλληλο ρήμα.
"You won't tell anyone, will you?" she said to him. = She asked him not to tell anyone.
Reporting a dialogue
and
as
adding that
and (he/she) added that
because
since
and then
while
when
present participle
verb + to + infinitive | ||
agree *
|
“Yes, I’ll come with you.”
| He agreed to come with me.He demanded to be told everything.He offered to carry it.He promised to study more.He refused to come with me.He threatened to punish me if I didn’t behave myself.He claimed to have heard her say that. |
verb + sb + to + infinitive | ||
advise *
|
“You should take a coat.”
| He advised me to take a coat.He allowed me to use his phone.He asked me to put it away.He begged me to help him.He commanded the soldiers to fire.He encouraged me to phone her.He forbade me to eat sweets.He permitted me to speak.He instructed me to insert coin.He invited me to go to his house.He ordered me to sit down immediatelyHe reminded me to pay the bill.He urged me to finish my work.He warned me not to touch that switch.He wanted me to go out. |
verb + “ing” form | ||
accuse sb of
|
“You broke the vase.”
| He accused me of breaking the vase.He apologized me for upsetting/ having upset me.He admitted (to) lying/ having lied to her.He boasted about being better than me.He complained to me about my never tidying up.He denied stealing/ having stolen the car.He insisted on me/ my wearing warm clothes.He suggested going to the theatre. |
Verb + that- clause | ||
agree
|
“Yes, that is a beautiful hat.”
| He agreed that it was a beautiful hat.He boasted that he was a brilliant dentist.He claimed that he knew the answer.He complained that I never listened to him.He denied that he had spoken to her.He exclaimed that it was wonderful.He explained that it was an easy recipe to follow.He informed me that I would be called for an interview.He promised that he wouldn’t lie to me again.He suggested that I take the other road. |
Verb + how | ||
explain to sb | “This is how you make it.” | He explained to me how to make it. |
Wonder where/ what/ why/ how + clause
|
He asked himself, “How can she reach the top?”
| He wondered how she could reach the top.He wondered where Joan was.He wondered why she was crying.He wondered what she was doing. |
Wonder + whether + to- inf or clause
|
He asked himself, “Shall I buy that car?”
| He wondered whether to buy that car/ he should buy that car.He wondered where he was going.He wondered what he should tell her.He wondered how to fix it. |
* Τα ρήματα με στερίσκο ακολουθούντα ΚΑΙ από that clause.
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