Reported speech

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

Ms. Koch said she would miss the amazing views of Earth, and being able to float around in very low gravity. She would also miss her friends from the ISS. But she said she was looking forward to many simple Earth experiences that are impossible in space, such as “the feeling of wind on my face.”

Later, you tell your friend what Jim said:

Jim said (that) he didn’t feel well.

He said (that) he couldn’t drive.

He said (that) his parents had gone on holiday.

He said (that) he was going out now so I would have to wait until he got back.

He said that he would help me.

Indirect speech/

Reported Speech

Jim says to you in a conversation:

“I don’t feel well.”

“I can’t drive.”

“My parents have gone on holiday.”

“I’m going out now so you will have to wait until I get back.”

“I’ll help you” 

How does it work?

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
Present simple	Past simple
Present continuous	Past continuous
Past simple	Past perfect
Present perfect	Past perfect
Past perfect	Past Perfect
Can	Could
Will	Would

There is more: 

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
today	that day	He told me that he had seen his sister too that day
tonight	that night	He told me that he had seen his sister that night
tomorrow	the next/following day	He told me that he would see his sister the next day
yesterday	the day before	He told me that he had seen his sister the day before
now	then	He told me he would do it then
here	there	He told me he had seen her there
this	that/the	He told me that that was his

Also:

Apart from he/she said, we can also use

- explain, agree, ask, offer, complain, point out, promise, reply, etc.....

Rewrite in reported speech: 'Today has been the worst day of my life,' admitted Ella.

1. Ella admitted that that day had been the worst day of her life.
2. Ella admitted that today has been the worst day of my life.
3. Ella admitted that that day has been the worst day of her life.
4. Ella admitted that today had been the worst day of her life.

Rewrite to reported speech: 'Before the avalanche began, we heard a rumbling noise,' the skiers pointed out.

1. The skiers pointed out that they have heard a rumbling noise before the avalanche began.
2. The skiers pointed out that they heard a rumbling noise before the avalanche began.
3. The skiers pointed out that they had heard a rumbling noise before the avalanche began.
4. The skiers pointed out that we heard a rumbling noise before the avalanche began.

Rewrite in reported speech: 'We're waiting for the rescue dogs to arrive,' explained the search leader.

Questions?

Task (classroom 4pm)

1. Write a Dear Abby letter 
2. Title: "My Dad Objects to a Pet Monkey"
3. Opening salutation: Dear Abbey,
4. In your letter to Abbey, use at least four reported sentences
5. Closing salutation: think of an interesting name