REPORTED SPEECH
Change of tenses
Simple Present Simple Past
Present Continuous Past Continuous
Simple Past Past Perfect
Past Continuous Past Perfect Continuous
Present Perfect Past Perfect
Present Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous
Simple Future Conditional Simple (would + inf)
“am, is, are + going to + inf. “ “was, were+ going to + inf. )
can Could
Must Had to
Other changes:
next (month)► the following (month) last (week)► the (week) before
today ► that day tonight ► that night
yesterday ►the day before this ► that
tomorrow ► the following day these ► those
now ► then here ► there
◊ ORDERS OR COMMANDS
Affirmative TO + INFINITIVE e.g. “FILL in this form, please”
She asked me TO FILL in that form.
Negative NOT TO + e.g. “DON¨T WRITE here”
INFINITIVE He told me NOT TO WRITE there”
◊ STATEMENTS ( change of tenses)
Ex. “It’s a nice room. It overlooks the sea”. (Simple Present ►Simple Past)
She told me (that) it was a nice room and it overlooked the sea.
“We won’t disturb you”. (Simple Future ► Conditional Simple)
He said (that) they wouldn’t disturb me/us.
◊ QUESTIONS (change of tenses)
1) YES/NO QUESTIONS ⇒ IF + SUBJECT + VERB
Ex. “Are you staying here?” (Present Continuous ► Past Continuous)
They wanted to know if I was /we were staying there.
2) WH- QUESTIONS ⇒ WH-WORD/S + SUBJECT + VERB
Ex. “When did the group arrive?” (Simple Past ► Past Perfect)
I asked her when the group had arrived.
Ex. “Where have they been?” (Present Perfect ► Past Perfect)
I asked them where they had been.
Reporting Verbs
* Verbs of speaking + that
say / agree / explain / reply / complain / suggest
Ex. “This food is cold”
He complained that the food was cold.
* Verbs of speaking + pronoun + to + verb
ask / tell Ex. “Would you mind signing this?”
He asked me to sign it.
* Verbs of speaking + to + verb
offer / refuse / agree Ex. “Ok. I’ll do it.”
She agreed to do it.
* Verbs of speaking + noun/pronoun
introduce / greet / accept / refuse / explain / interrupt
Ex. “Maria, meet Paul.”
She introduced Maria to Paul.
! Apologise
Ex. “I’m sorry I broke the lamp”
He apologized for breaking the lamp.
Practice:
Reported Speech
1. Fill in this form, please.
2. What’s your name?
3. This is the non-smoking area. We’ll have to sit over
there.
4. Don’t bother other guests.
5. I’m Mr Brown. I have a reservation.
6. I hope you enjoy your stay here.
7. Could you write down your passport number?
8. I’ll call the porter to take you to your room.
9. Have you stayed in this hotel before?
10. What facilities do you offer?
[Link] I get a taxi from here?
12. I’ll see if we have a vacancy.
13. I’m afraid there isn’t a beauty salon.
14. Does the price include room service?
15. You must compare the two signatures.
16. Have you used the mini-bar?
17. I’m checking out in an hour’s time.
18. The guest is worried because he hasn’t received a
fax.
19. Don’t change money in the hotel. Go to a bank.
20. What time does the exchange bureau close?
21. Guide dogs are permitted.
22. If you want an outside line, dial 9.
23. Wait a moment, I’ll have to look at the list.
24. I’ll see what I can do.
[Link]’re working as fast as we can.
26. We only accept Visa in this restaurant.
27. What are you complaining about?
28. Don’t worry, we’ll speak with the manager.
