Direct speech Reported speech

She’ll say, ‘I can do it’. She’ll say she can do it.

‘The earth is round,’ The teacher said that the earth is round.

said the teacher.

Ø The Past Continuous does not usually change.

Example:

Direct speech:‘I was travelling to Brighton while she was flying to the USA,’ he said.

Reported speech:He said he was travelling to Brighton while she was flying to the USA.

Ø Certain modal verbs do not change in Reported speech. These are: would, could, might, should, ought to.

Example:

Direct speech:‘He might visit us,’ Mum said.

Reported speech: Mum said that he might visit us.

ü Reported Questions

Ø In Reported questions we use affirmative word order and the question mark is omitted. To report a Wh- question, we use ask followed by the question word (who, what, etc.). When there is no question word in direct questions, if or whether is used in Reported questions. Pronouns, possessive adjectives, tenses, time expressions etc. change as in statements.

Example:

Direct speech Reported speech:

He asked, ‘What time is it?’ He asked what time it was.

He asked me, ‘Do you know her?’ He asked meif/whetherI knew her.

ü Reported Commands/ Requests/ Suggestions

Ø To report commands, requests, suggestions etc. we use a reporting verb (order, ask, tell, advise, offer, warn, beg, suggest etc.) followed by to –infinitiveor not to –infinitive.

Example:

Direct speech Reported speech

He said to me, ‘Stop talking!’ He told me to stoptalking.

He said to me, ‘Don’t touch it!’ He told me not to touchit.

B. Report what the guests said at a wedding last Sunday. The first one had been done for you.

Miss Moore Mr. Smith

Mrs. Jones Miss Mayall

Mr. Roberts Mr. Clark

1. Miss Moore said (that) they would make a lovely couple.

2. Mr. Smith ______________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

3. Mrs. Jones ______________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

4. Mr. Roberts ______________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

5. Mr. Clark ______________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

6. Miss Mayall _____________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

C. Report the police-officer’s questions to the shop owner. The first one had been done for you.

POLICE OFFICER

1. The police-officer asked him what his name was.

2. ______________________________________________________________

3. ______________________________________________________________

4. ______________________________________________________________

5. ______________________________________________________________

6. ______________________________________________________________

D. Report what Mrs. Clark told her students to do. Two of them had been done for you.

MRS. CLARK

1. Mrs. Clark told her students not to smoke.

2. Mrs. Clark told her students to show respect to teachers.

3. __________________________________________________________

4. __________________________________________________________

5. __________________________________________________________

6. __________________________________________________________

7. __________________________________________________________

8. __________________________________________________________

9. __________________________________________________________

10. __________________________________________________________

11. __________________________________________________________

12. __________________________________________________________

Speaking Practice

A. Question attack.

1. What do you study?

2. What faculty are you in?

3. What year are you in?

4. What is your major/speciality?

5. Where do you study?

6. Are there any other higher schools in your town?

7. When did you enter the Academy?

8. When will you graduate from the Academy?

9. What are your basic subjects?

10. Who is good at foreign languages?

11. What is the most serious period in student's life?

12. What classes attract more students?

13. What must a student do if he or she fails in an exam?

14. What are the main areas of employment for graduates?

15. How can a young man enter the Academy?

16. Are you a full-time student?

17. Who studies part-time?

18. How many faculties are there at the Academy?

19. Who is Rector? Who is Vice-Rector?

20. Who is Head of your speciality department?

21. How to become a good student?

22. It is not easy to be an excellent student, is it?

23. Who is an ideal student in your group?