" Illll'l I IjiJlllll 11l.ook ,I( lhel' cxarnplc f dirc l speech.

Trevor: l'm tired.

Wasn'l it Greta Garbo who said, 'l want to be alone'?

'But I don't lave you, Henry,' replied Claire.

We can show that words are direct speech by putting themin quotation rnarks (' '). See page 373. Sometimes thewords are put after the speaker's na me, in the script of aplay or filrn, for exarnple. In a picture we can put thewords in a speech bubble.

B Reparted speechIn reported speech we give the meaning of what was saidrather than the exact words.

Trevor says he's tired.

Wasn't it Greta Garbo who said that she wanted to be alonei

The actress Melissa Livingstone andsupermarket owner Ron Masonhave announced that they aregetting married next month.Melissa is sure they wilI be happytogether, she told reporters.

( Tell ar say?

TELL

We use telI if we want to mention the hearer(the person spoken to).

Sarah's boss told her she could leave early.NOT Sam/z's bess telà she cellld-lefrve-et!~ly.Daniel tells me he's ready.

We use tell without an indirect object (e.g. her,me) only in the expressions teU a story, tell thetruth and tell alie.

SAY

When we do not mention the hearer, we use say.

Sarah's boss said she coutd leave early.NOT SamfH-b&SHtl-id--fleF-5i1e-ffiuld-leave-eariy.Dnniel says he's ready.

We sometimes use to after say, especially whenthe words are not reported.

The boss wanted lo say something to Sarah.What did Matthew say to yall?

REPORTED SPEECH318

1 Reparted speech (B)Why are these people at the doctor'sr What do they say is wrong with them?

I~ f..~..V;~

; ~I \

~' I

ii 2 I've hurt myi back.

[ can't sleep, 3 [feel sick al(the time.

Claire replied that she didn't love Henry.

In reported speech we often change the actual words, e.g. 'I'm tired' ---+ he's tired.Sometimes the verb tense changes,e.g. I want ---+ she wanted (see Unit 134).

In reporting we use verbs such as announce, answer, explain, mention, promise, reply, say, suggest, tell,warn. The most common of these are say and telI (see e). vVecan also report thoughts.

We think the meal Wa5expensive. Nick knew Rita wanted to be with someol1e else.

When we report statements, we often use that, but we can sometimes leave it out.YOII promised (that) yOIl wouldn't be late. Sarah was saying (that) there's a problem.

~ She says she gets pains in her leg.I She says .2 He says .

34

2 Reparted speech (B)Who said what? Match the words to the people and report what they said.If yOli can't match thern, look at the answers at the bottom of the page.~ Mrs Thatcher a) 'Ali the world's a stage,'I Stokeley Carmichael b) 'Black is beautiful,'2 Galileo c) 'Big Brother is watching you,'3 Shakespeare d) 'There is no such thing as society:4 George Orwell e) "The earth moves round the sun,'

~I234

Mrs Thatcher said that there is /la such tlcil1g as society.

3 Tell ar say? (C)Put in tell or say.~ Ali the experts 5<1." the earth is getting warmer.~ Did you tell Mark and Sara h how to find our house?I The Sales Manager is going to...... ..... everyone about the meeting.2 Vicky, why don't you just.. . what the matter is?3 They. . they're going to build a new Disney World here.4 What did Natasha about her holiday plans?5 Could you me the way to the train station, please?6 The company should . . its employees what's going on.7 You shouldn't lies, you know, Matthew.8 Did you anything to Melanie about the barbecue?

REPORTED SPEECH 319

111 IlIdlll 111111

II'S Friday .ifremoon. David is at Torn's flat. Tomhas dccided to have a party for ali his friends.

A few minutes later Nick has arrived at the flat.Now David is reporting what Tom said. 50 insteadof Torn's words I'm having, David says he's having.

The next day David is talking to Harriet. NowDavid is in a different place from where Tom firsttold him about the party, 50 instead of here, hesays at his flat. And a day has passed since he firstheard about it. It is now the day of the party. 50instead of tomorrow evening, David says thisevening.

B Changes in reported speechChanges from direct speech to reported speech depend on changes in the situation,We may have to make changes when we are reporting something another person has said,or when we report it in a different place or at a different time. Here are some typical changes.

Person: I he!shemy his/her

Place: here there, ai lhe fia I

Time: now --> then, ai the limetoday 111(!1 dar. 011 Monday, etcyesterday --> lhe day before, the previous daytomorrow --> lhe next/joílowing day, on Saturday, etethis week tliat weeklast week --> lhe week before, lhe previous week:an hour ago -, ali hour before/earíier

320 REPORTEO SPEECH

1 Changes in reported speech (A-B)Read what each person says and then complete the sentences.~ Vieky: Daniel told me on Friday that he'd had a job interview the previous day.

Daniel had a job interview on Thursday.Trevor: Laura tells me I need a haircut................................. needs a haircut.

2 Claire; My brother told me in 1997 that he expected to become Manager the following yeaLClaire s brother expected that he would become Manager in............. .

3 Aliee: I wanted to see Mark in April, but he said he was very busy that month.Mark was very busy in .

4 Harriet: I saw Nick last week. He said he'd given up smoking the week before.Nick gave up smoking ago.

2 Changes of person (A-B)Put in the missing words.

3 Changes of place and time (A-B)Put in here, that day, lhe day before, lhe nexl day, lhe week before.~ Rachei (a week ago): I'm taking my driving test tornorrow.

You (today): When I saw Rachei, she said she was taking her driving test lhe next dayEmma (two days ago): l've only had this new computer since yesterday.You (today): Emma said she'd only had the new computer since . .

2 Matthew (a week ago): l'm meeting a friend at the station later today.You (today): Matthew said he was meeting a friend at the station later

3 Mark (in the street): ['11see you in the office.You (in the office): Mark said he would see me .

4 Sarah (a month ago): The conference was last week.You (today): Sarah told me lhe conference had takcn place

REPORTEO SPEECH 321

A WII(\1l ti W(' h,1I1 ) 1'11 I' 11 c?1\11'r 11 pnst-t 'ns' vcrb (e.g. snid), I'hCI'c is oftcn a tcnse changc.

'11 "cI,IIy Is cokl today' -, Vicky said it was colei.

11'ihc .tarcrncnt is still up to date when we report it, then we have a ehoiee.Wc can either leave the tense the same, 01' we ean ehange it.

Yrw saicl you like/likecl chocolate. Claire told me her father owns/ownecl a racehorse.SCI/'ah said she's going/she was going to Rome in April.

We ean say that Sarah is going to Rome because it is still true that she will go there.

[f the statement is no longer up to elate, then we ehange the tense.Claire once tolcl me that her father ownecl a racehorse. (He may no longer own one.)Surah saicl she was going to Rome in April. (Now it is May.)

Now Sarah's trip is over, so it is no longer true that she is going to Rome.

We usually change the tense if we think the statement is untrue or may be untrue.You saicl you liked chocolate, but you aren't eating any.The Prime Minister claimed that the government had macle the right decision.

B Is -> was, like -> liked, etcLook at these examples of the tense change.

DIRECT SPEECH

'Anclrew is working.' ->

'The windows aren't lockecl.' ->

'I've fixecl the shelves.' ->

'It's been raining.' ->

'We've got plenty of time.' ->

'We like the flat.' ->

REPORTED SPEECH

[essica said Anclrew was working.Mark told me the windows weren't lockecl.Trevor said he'd fixecl the shelves.We noticed it had been taining.Rachei insisted they had plenty of time.The couple said they likecl the flat.

If the'verb phrase is more than one word (e.g. is working), then the first word changes,e.g. is working -> was working, have fixecl -> hacl fixed, don't know -> didn't know.If the verb is already in the past tense, then it ean stay the same or change to the past perfeet.

'We carne by car.' -> They saicl they came/they had come by caro'Sorry. I wasn't listening' -> I aclmittecl I wasn't ustening/hadn't been listening.

If the verb is past perfeet, it stays the same.

'Jy[y money had run out. -> Daniei said his money hacl run out.

C Modal verbs: can -> could, etcCan, may anel will ehange to could, might and would.

'You can sit over there.' The stewarcl saicl we could sit here.'1may go to Bali again. -> Claire said she might go lo Bali again.'TIl help if yOll like.' Tom saicl he would help.

Could, might, ought to, should and would stay the same. But must ean change to have to.

'Sarah would love a hotiday' -> Mark thought Sarah would lave a holiday.'1must finish this report' -> Sarah saicl she must finishlhad to fi"ish the reporto

322 REPORTED SPEECH

1 When do we change the tense? (A)Put in is or was. Some times both are possible.~ Iheard toelay that the house is for sale. Iwonder who will buy it.~ I saw David yesterday. He said he was 01'1 his wav to visit his sister.1 This wallet is made of plastie not leather. Why cÍid you tell me it . leather?2 We had to hurry yesterday morning. Iust as we arrived at the station, we heard an announcement that

the train . ..... about to leave.3 I saw Emrna just now, She saiel her tooth still aehing.4 I'm surprised Matthew lost. I thought he much better at tennis than Daniel.5 When he spoke to reporters yesterday, Mr Oouglas said that Zedca now in a much better

financial position.

2 The tense change (8)Complete lhe replies. The seeond speaker is surprised at what he or she hears.~ Matthew:

Rachel:~ Rita:

Laura:Vieky:Emma:

2 Rachei:Natasha:

3 Andrew:Daniel:

4 Matthew:Rachei:

Emma and t are getting marrieel.Really? But you said last week you weren't getting married.I like pop music more than classical music.I'rn sure you told me you liked classical music best.I haven't finished my projectoHaven't you? I thought you saidI'm on a diet.But you told me .I enjoy parties.Surely I remember you sayingI'm applying for the job.I thought you told me .

3 The tense change (B-C)A comedy show calleel 'Don't Look Now!' has just closed after five years in London's West End.Here's what the critics said when it opened five years ago.

~ 'It's a marvellous show,' Tire Daily Mail 4 'You must see it,' The Evening Srandard~ 'You'll love it.' The Guardian 'It will be a great success.' The TelegmphI 'The production is brilliant.' The Sunday Times 6 'You might die laughing,' Tire Express2 'I can't remember a funnier show.' Edward Devine 7 'It's the funniest show I've ever seen' SLlsarz Proctor3 'It rnade me laugh,' Robert Walsh 8 'You shouldn't miss it,' Time aut

Now report what the critics said.~ The Daily Mail said it lvas a matvellous ;11011'.

~ The Guardum said people would lave it.12

345678

REPORTED SPEECH 323

WIi 11111 111111

i i 1111111'1111'1'11_111111 IV 111 Ii 111 111'1' IINk, IVlIl/tll'l 111 IVIIIII to kll(lW, 1,II\ik 111"1111 111'~' wh qu .stions,

1111111 1 IJlII IIIIN

'Wlllfll lI/ti 011 H/II I IIL111I8' /'vIr/isSII?''WI/III' 1111' tuuc!''Wlllch wtly is lhe po lofJice?''How can we find out!'IW1H!re can we eati'

10(l'lll('l'1\I) I) I!~TI lN

G/./y asked Melissa when she started acting.l [ust asked what lhe time is.Someone 1V1Intsto know which way lhe pOSIoffice is.l was wondering how we can find out.

-> They're asking where they can eat.

wh-questíons have a word like when, what, which or how both in direct speech and in reported speech.

B Yes/no questions

DIRECT QUESTION

'Has the taxi arrtved yet?' - ->

'No, not yet.''Can \Ve take photos?' -

'Yes, of course.''[5 there a café nearby?' - 'No.' ->

REPORTED QUESTION

Someone was wondering iflwhether the taxi hasarrived yet.

The visitors want la know iflwhether they can takephotos.

Daniel asked iftwhether there \Vas a café nearby.

Reported yes/no questions have if or whether.

C Word orderln a reported question the subject comes before the verb, as in a statement.

Guy asked Melissa when she started acting.NOT Gu,. élsked Melissél ",lIe" did slle sUlrt Iilctillg.Someone was wondering if the taxi has arrived yet.NOT &mwme :I'élS"'o,,derillg if ~xi élrril'ed ,'et.

o Asking for informationTo ask politely for information, we sometimes use a reported question after a phrase li.keCould you tell me ... ? or Do you know ... ?

Could yOIl telI me what time the concert startsiDo you know if there's a public phone in the building?Have yOIl ally idea how much a taxi would cost?

Note the word order a taxi would cost (see C).

E The tense change: is -> was, etcIn reported speech there are often changes to the tense, to pronouns and so on.This depends on changes to the situation since the words were spoken.For details see Units 133 and 134. Here are some examples of the tense change.

'Wlwt's lhe problem?' We asked what lhe problem was.'How nwch /IIoney ltave yOll I was wondering how much money Vicky had.

got, Vicky?''Does Nick need a lift?''Can you typei'

Tom asked if Nick needed a lift.They asked /IIe if l could type.

324 REPORTED SPEECH

I.

1 R ported questions (A-C)These people are at the tourist information centre. What do they want to know?

~ She wants to know what the most interesting sights are.~ He wants to know if lhe centre has got a town plan.I234

2 Asking for information (O)You need inforrnation. Ask for it using COIIldyOll tell me ... ? or Do you know ... ?~ Where are the toilets? (tell) Could )'OUtell me where the toilets are?I Can I park here? (know) .2 How long does the film last? (tell)..... ..3 How often do the buses run? (know)4 Are we alIowed to smoke? (know)5 What time is the flight? (tell)6 How much does a ticket cost? (telI)

3 The tense change (E)Barry Douglas, Zedco Chief Executive, is talking to a reporter about his business career.He can stilI remember his first job interview after leaving school.

Interviewer:~ 'Where do you live?'~ 'Have you worked before?'1 'Wl1y do you want the job?'2 'How did you hear about it?'3 'Are you fi t?'4 'Can you work on Saturdays?'5 'How wilI you travei to work?'6 'Have you got a bicycle?'7 'How much do vou hope to earn?8 'When can you start?'

Barry:The interviewer asked me where l uved.She asked me ii I IU/d worked before.She wanted to know .I remember she askedShe wonderedThen she asked meShe wanted to knowAnd she usked me .She also askedAnd tinalI)' she asked

RE PORTED SPHCH 325

I1 I IIliI I '1111 I, 111 11 I 11,1111' li 111 i~l·11111111111 111 tllI 11111111, 111\

1111111 I 1'111 II 1(11'0'111'1""11 ( 11

'1'1"11'1' 111111'1' 11th i 111 '

'1,," 11'I111 1/1/1' /lI' nll~JI/I:'WIII/lrl yu« //1;1/(1 (/lmill!; tbc musit: dOIVII?'

1\ pllli CIII/1I1 tolt! me (O inove tlie e(l(.

Melanie is alwnys telling David to be careful.We asked our neighbours to turn the music down.

'1'11 • 11 .guiivc is tcll/nsk sorneone not to do something.

.YOII11I115(11', leave the door unlocked' -+ Mr Atkins told Mark not to leave the door unlocked.'Please don't wear those boots ;11 the house' I asked you not to wear those boots in the house.

We can also use the structure ask to do something.

'Can l see your ticket, pieasei' -+ The inspector asked to see my ticket.

We use ask for when someone asks to have sornething.

'Can l have some btochures, pleaset' I asked (the travei agent) for some brochures.

It is also possible to report an order or request like this.A po/iceman told me (that)] had to move the caroWe asked our neighbours if they would mind turning the music rlown.

B Reported offers, suggestions, etcWe can use agree, offer, promise, refuse and threaten with a to-infinitive,

DIRECT SPEECH

'We'lI pay for the damage.' -+

Til definitely finish it by the endo] next week.' -+

REPORTED SPEECH

We offered to pay for the damage.YOtlpromised to finish the work by the end of this

week.

"Ve can also use an object + to-infinitive after advise, invite, remind and wam.

'I think you should take a taxi.' -+ Mark advised us to take a taxi.'Don't forget to ring me.' -+ l reminded David to ring me.

We can use an ing-forrn after adrnit, apologize for. insist on and suggest.

'I really must have a rest.' Emma insisted on having a resto'Shall we go to a nightclubi' -+ Ciaire suggested going to a nightclub.

C Admit that, insist that, etcWe can use a clause with that after admito advise, agree, insist, promise, remind, suggest and warn.

Trevor admitted (that} he had [orgotten lhe shopping.C/aire insisted (that) IVeall went rOllnd to her flat for coffce.YOllpromised (that) yOll \VO liIdfillisll the work by the end of this wcek.l warned yall (that) Ntck': dog is very fierce.

C> 62 Verb + to-infinitivejing-form C> 65 Verb + object + to-infinitive

326 REPORTED SPHCH

1 • 11/0 k om on to do om thing (A)Trcv r isn'r fccling very happy, Everyone has bcen telling him what to do. Report the orders and requests.~ His rnother: Can you dig my garden, please, Trevor?

His mother asked him to dig her garden.

The doctor: You must take more exercise.

2 His boss: Would you mind not playing computer games in the office?

3 A traffic warden: You can't park your car in the High Street.

4 Laura: Could you put some shelves up, please, Trevor?

2 Reported offers, suggestions, etc (B)Complete the sentences. Report what was said.~ ~ 2

Would vou like to Ali right. Iwon'tstav (ar lunch, Cloire? =>

3 4 5Whydon'twe You're going to

sing a [ew songs? post the tetter, don't(orget, Vicky.

Vou ought to take aoreak, Andrew.

I'm sorrv ! {orgotthe 5hopping.

6Yes, Imodea mistake.

Laura! õon't<:': wires!

\

~ Sarah invited Claire to stay for iunch.~ Tom agreed nOI to talk: about [ootoall.I Matthew advised . _ ..2 Mike apologized__...______ __ __ . .....3 Tom suggested _.4 Rachei reminded .5 Mr Atkins admitted6 Trevor warned .

3 Admit that, insist that, etc (C)Combine each pair of sentences using that.~ The roads were dangerous. The police warned us.

The police wllTIIl'd lIS that the roads were dllflgt'rollS.Everything will be ready on time. The builders have promised.

2 We have to check the figures carefully. The boss insists.

3 Torn's story wasn't completely true. He's adrnitted ir.

4 Emrna's train was about to leave. Matthew rerninded her.

REPORTED SPEECH 327

'0111' 01 til 'N 'lI[ '1\ ' ,11' urre L ,1111.1some hnvc 11word whi h should not be there.11'til' S '11['11" is corr xt, pUI n li k (.I). Ir il is incorre r, cross lhe unnecessary wordOUI 01' lhe scutcn c anel write it in the spacc.~ Vou promísed you wouldn't be late.~ Susan thought '::[:hitf I can't understand what's happening.' itnu

I Do you know me what time the coach leaves?2 Robert wanted to know if did the price included breakfast.3 Anna insisted on showing us her photos,4 Someone asked us whether that we had eaten lunch,5 Nancy told me she had started the job the week before.6 Nigel said me he wanted to come with uso7 My friend said she did liked her new flat.8 Martin asked us for not to wake the baby.

The men explained that they (6) . ...... just discovered the prablem but that it was verysimple and (7) . . .... take long to check. The woman asked (8) . .. theservice was free, and they said yes. They (9) . . to know where the water tank was.While one man ran water in the kitchen, the other went upstairs and took several hundred pounds fram adrawer in a bedroom. The men then left saying that they would return the (10) . dayto have another look.

Test 23BDecide which word is correcto~ What did that man say to yOll?

a) at you b) for you c) to you d) youI rang my friend in Australia yesterday, and she said it . ... raining there.a) is b) should be c) to be d) was

2 The last time I saw Ionathan, he looked very relaxed. He explained that he'd been on holidaythe week.a) earlier b) following c) next d) previous

3 I wonder .. . the tickets are on sale yet.a) what b) when c) where d) whether

4 I told you switch off the computer, didn't I?a) don't b) not c) not to d) to not

5 Someone me there's been an accident on the motorway.a) asked b) said c) spoke d) told

6 When I rang Tessa some time last week, she said she was busy.......... . day.a) that b) the c) then d)this

7 When he was at Oliver's flat yesterday, Martin asked if he use the phone.a) can b) could c) may d) must

8 Iudy . going for a walk, but no one else wanted to.a) admitted b) offered c) promised d) suggested

Test 230Complete each sentence by reporting what was said to you yesterday.Use said and change the tense in the reported speech.~ Polly: I'm really tired.

When I saw Polly yesterday, she said she \Vas really tired.Tessa: I feel quite excited.When I saw Tessa yesterday, .

2 Nigel: I can't remember the code word.When I saw Nigel yesterday, .

3 Robert: I won't be at the next meeting.When I saw Robert yesterday, ..

4 The twins: We've got a prablem.When I saw the twins yesterday, .

5 Michelle: I've been swimming.When I saw Michelle yesterday, . . .

6 Your friends: We would like to be in the show.When I saw my friends yesterday, ...

7 Adrian: I don't need any help.When I saw Adrian yesterday, .

8 Susan: My sister is coming to see me.When I saw Susan yesterday, .. .

Test 23EReport the sentences. They were ali spoken last week. Use the verbs in brackets.~ Anna to Ianet: Don't forget to sign the formo (remind)

Anna reminded [anet to sign the formo~ Robert: What time will the office dose this evening? (ask)

Robert asked what time the office would dose that evening.A policeman to Christopher: Stop shouting. (tell)

Test 23CRead the news report and write the missing words. Use one word only in each space.Sometimes there is more than one possible answer.

Police have warned people (~) tu watch out for two rnen who have tricked their way into an old wornan'shome and stolen money. The men called on Mrs Iris Raine and said (1) were fram thewater company and wanted to check (2) her water was OK.Theyasked if (3). . would mind letting thern into her house.The woman didn't ask (4) see their identity cards.She said she (5) . . know about any problem with the water,

2 Tessa: lt was me. I ate ali the cake yesterday. (admit)

3 Adrian: I'rn sorry I was rude. (apologize)

4 Simon to Susan: Would you like to join me for lunch? (invite)

5 Martin to Nancy: Did someone ring you an hour ago? (ask)

6 Peter: I really must leave, (insist)

328 REPORTED 5PEECH REPORTEO SPEECH 329