REPORTED (INDIRECT) SPEECHDirect speech refers to statements that are made without an intermediary. Quoted statements, for example, are a type of direct speech.Reported (indirect) speech refers to statements that are made through an intermediary. In reported speech, the sequence of tenses rule is usually employed (EXCEPT when the application of the rule would result in an ambiguous or unclear sentence).

The sequence of tenses rule: If the verb in the main clause of a sentence is in a past tense, subordinate clause verbs must also be in their respective past forms.

Examples:

DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED (INDIRECT) SPEECH

1. "I have two sisters." He says (that) he has two sisters.

2. "We live on Maple Street." She said (that) they lived on Maple Street.

3. "It is too windy to play tennis." He said (that) it was too windy to play tennis.

4. "They have 3 children." He said (that) they had 3 children.

5. "I saw her stealing the gloves." He said (that) he had seen her stealing the gloves.

6. "We have eaten dinner." They said (that) they had eaten dinner.

7. "It is raining outside." She said (that) it was raining outside.

8. "I will meet you here at 8:00." He said (that) he would meet me there at 8:00.

9. "I can finish my homework quickly." She said (that) she could finish her homework quickly.

Notes: that is usually omitted before the subordinate clause if the main clause verb is in the present tense (see ex. 1 above), the subordinate clause

verb is not changed the past of the past is past perfect (see ex. 5 above) the past of the present perfect is also past perfect (see ex. 6 above) the past forms of the modal verbs are as follows:

o can couldo will wouldo shall shouldo may mighto must had to

sometimes pronouns, possessives, and time/place references must be changed (see examples 2, 8, and 9)

EXERCISE Change the following direct statements to reported speech:

"I play inline-skate hockey for the national team."

He says .

"I want to play professionally in the future."

He said .

"I took some medicine for my cold." He said .

"I have never taken anabolic steroids." He said .

"I must go now." He said .

"The pharmacy is closing in 10 minutes."

He said .

SAY is just one of many verbs that can be used in the main clause of a reported statement. Here are some other commonly used verbs:

announce answer complain declare deny explaininsist mention predict promise remark replystate tell

Examples: (as an exercise, form the direct statements that served as the basis for the following reported statements)

Make the direct (quoted) statement: REPORTED (INDIRECT) SPEECH

The weatherman announced that it would rain.

The President insisted that he hadn't had sex with Ms. Lewinski.

The accused stated that he was innocent.

My teacher told me that I had to study more or I would fail.

The boss told us that we could leave early. Note:the verb TELL requires an indirect object (see examples 4 and 5). The verb SAY, on the other hand, takes no indirect object. REPORTED QUESTIONSReported questions usually employ the verb ASK in the main clause (also possible are the verbs INQUIRE, WONDER, or WANT TO KNOW). When reporting verb questions (yes/no questions), the subordinating conjunction IF (or WHETHER) is used to introduce the subordinate clause. For information questions, the appropriate interrogative pronoun is used (as a relative pronoun) to introduce the subordinate clause. Examples:

DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED (INDIRECT) SPEECH

"Is the bank open?" He asked (me) if the bank was open.

"Where is the nearest post office?" She asked (me) where the nearest post office was.

"Where did you put my glasses?" He asked (me) where I had put his glasses.

"When will this noise stop?" They asked (us) when the noise would stop.

"How many cats do you have?" She asked (me) how many cats I had. Note: Reported questions are technically NOT questions themselves, so they are not followed by question marks, and THERE IS NO INVERSION OF THE VERB AND THE SUBJECT.

REPORTED COMMANDSCommands (imperative sentences) are reported using the verb TELL followed by an infinitive phrase.

Examples:

DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED (INDIRECT) SPEECH

"Give me all of your money!" The robber told me to give him all of my money.

"Stop talking!" The teacher told us to stop talking.

"Eat your scrambled eggs." She told him boy to eat his scrambled eggs. REVIEW EXERCISE - REPORTED SPEECHForm reported speech statements from the following direct speech quotes:

DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED (INDIRECT) SPEECH

1. "It is not my problem," said John. He said .

2. "There are too many people," said Helen. She said .

3. "Can I have another piece?" asked the little boy. He asked .

4. "Do you buy the Montreal Gazette?" asked the telemarketer.

He asked .

5. "Did you go to high school in Laval?" asked the teacher.

.

6. "Where is the library?" asked the new student. .

7. "How long is break?" asked all the students. .

8. "It is ten minutes like always," said the teacher. .

9. "Have you seen the magnificent Rockies?" asked Mr. Gratton.

.

10."Go west, young man," said Horace Greely. .

11."Fuck off!" said the punk. .

12."The Prime Minister will lose the election," the journalist predicted.

.

13."When are you going to fix the sink?" asked his wife.

.

14."We are considering all possible options," said the politician.

.

15."Come out with your hands in the air!" said the policeman.

.

16."Is this all just a dream?" wondered the philosopher.

.

17."Who was the first man on the moon?" asked the historian.

.

18."Where did you find my wallet?" asked Steven. . Change the following sentences from direct to reported speech.

1. "When was the last time you saw her?"Alice asked …

2. "Has Israel sent any films to the Cannes Film Festival this year?"The film reviewer asked …

3. "Did you enjoy her birthday party last night?"My friend wanted to know …

4. "Have you ever dyed your hair?'Tali asked …

5." Roses are my favourite flowers."Nicole said …

6. "Summer in Israel is very hot."The weather man said …

7. " Are you going to visit her in hospital?"My mother asked …

8. "I have a collection of masks hanging on the wall."Nicole told her friend …

9. "Can you dance the Salsa?"The dancing instructor asked …

10. "May I please be excused?"The pupil politely asked the teacher …

11. "Will you give me her phone number so I can phone her later?"Gil asked me …

12. "I am looking forward to seeing you soon."Sam said …

13. "Drive carefully!"My mother told me …

14. "I hope you will do well on the English exam next week."Nicole said …

15. "Where have I put my glasses?"My grandmother asked …

16. "Why can't I ever switch on this television?"Talia wanted to know …

Change the following into reported speech.

1. “I’ve applied for a few jobs this week,” he said.______________________________________________________

2. “Do not run in the aisles,” the teacher said to the students. ______________________________________________________

3. “I saw him yesterday but he didn’t recognize me,” she said.______________________________________________________

4. “Go to your room and stay there,” said his father. ______________________________________________________

5. “Let’s play football,” he said.______________________________________________________

6. “Don’t leave the hall until you are told to do so,” the teacher said to us. ______________________________________________________

7. “Would you like me to drive you home?” he asked.______________________________________________________

8. “I was reading the children a story when the lights went out last night,”

said the mother. ______________________________________________________

Turn the following dialogue into REPORTED SPEECH

Sally: Have you applied for the job? Diane: Yes, I had an interview yesterday. Sally: How did it go? Diane: Fine, but I’m wondering if I want the job because I will have to move to Manchester. Sally: What will you do then? Diane: If they offer me the job, I can’t accept it.

Sally asked Diane if she had applied for the job Diane told her…………………………………….