Exercises on the passive voice

Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)

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 that she likes tuna fish.
She said: "I'm visiting Paris next weekend" She said 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

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.

Tenses

  • If the sentence starts in the present, there is no backshift of tenses in reported speech.
  • If the sentence starts in the past, there is often backshift of tenses in reported speech.
  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.

No backshift

Do not change the tense if the introductory clause is in a present tense (e. g. He says). Note, however, that you might have to change the form of the present tense verb (3rd person singular).

Example:
He says, “I write poems.” – He says that he writes English.

Backshift

You must change the tense if the introductory clause is in a past tense (e. g. He said).

Example:
He said, “I am happy.” – He said that he was happy.

Examples of the main changes in tense:

Direct Speech Reported Speech
Simple Present He said: "I am happy" Simple Past He said that he was happy
Present Progressive He said: "I'm looking for my keys" Past Progressive He said that he was looking for his keys
Simple Past He said: "I visited New York last year" Past Perfect Simple He said that hehad visited New York the previous year.
Present Perfect He said: " I've lived here for a long time " Past Perfect He said that hehad lived there for a long time
Past Perfect He said: "They had finished the work when Iarrived" Past Perfect He said that theyhad finished the work when he had arrived"
Past Progressive He said: "I was playing football when the accidentoccurred" Past Perfect Progressive He said that he had been playing football when the accident had occurred
Present Perfect Progressive He said:"I have been playing football for two hours." Past Perfect Progressive He said that he had been playing football for two hours
Past Perfect Progressive He said: "I had been readinga newspaper when the light went off" Past Perfect Progressive He said that he had been reading a newspaper when the light had gone off
Future Simple (will+verb) He said: "I will open the door." Conditional (would+verb) He said thathe would open the door.
Conditional (would+verb) He said: "I would buy Mercedes if I were rich" Conditional (would+verb) He said that hewould buy Mercedes if he had been rich"

The modal verbs could, should, would, might, needn't, ought to, used to do not normally change.
Example:
He said, "She might be right." – He said that she might be right.

Other modal verbs may change: