REPORTED SPEECH-THE 4TH OF FEBRUARY 2025

• tell has a personal direct object (e.g. me, hint, The indirect object {to me, to her, to us, etc. } is
her, etc.) used instead.
She told me she was going to be late. don't like them very much,' she said to me quietly.
'It's too late,' she told me. Why did he say that to you?
{We cannot say: Ha told the weather was nice.) There are a few special phrases in which tell does
tell is not used before questions. {We cannot say: not have to take a
He told me, 'Have we met before?') personal direct object:
tell the truth
 say never has a personal direct object: tell a lie
tell lies
She said she was going to he late.
tell the time
'It's too late,' she said.
tell a story
 76a Use the correct form of say or tell in these sentences.
1 She ..told.. me she didn't agree.
2 '1 think I've met you before,' he ..said...
3 I………….. them I wasn't happy with their work.
4 She…………………. me a story about her parents.
5 He ,………………. 'Are you feeling OK?'
6 She smiled, and…………………… to me, 'I'm very pleased to meet you.'
7 I didn't hear: what did she …………?
8 Could you ………………me the time, please?
9 They………………………… me they were going to a meeting.
10 ………………. the policeman my address.
11 I …………………..I wanted to buy a magazine.
12 He…………………………. he wasn't interested in politics.
13 Could you…………………………….. me your name again, please?
14 Do you think he's…………………….. the truth?
15 Would you ………………………………………..them to come early tomorrow?
16 If he ………………………………that again, there'll be trouble.
17 1……………. them it was dangerous to swim there.
18 Did you…………………………….. anything to him about your problems at work?
19 ………………….me what happened.
20 1 think he's ……………………..lies.
 76b Circle the correct verb, say or tell, in each sentence.
1 They [say/tell) that they're going to London to see Frank.
2 Mark (said/told) us all about his holiday in Jamaica.
3 Did you (say/tell) Sally is coming with us?
4 The teacher [said/told] the class a funny story.
5 'Don't [say/tell) lies!' [said/told) James angrily.
6 How old were you when you learned to [say/tell) the time?
7 1 can't understand what they're {saying/telling) to each other.
8 I hate speaking in public. I never know what to [say/tell).
9 Jane always [says/tells] me her secrets.
10 'Do you think anyone saw us?' she [said/told] nervously.
 77 Reported statements with no change of tense
• When the reporting verb is present, present perfect, or future, there
is no change of tense in the reported statement:
= He says he isn't going.
 = He'll say he isn't going.
= He's said he isn't going.
Note: that can be used after the main verb. The use of that is optional:
He says that he isn't going,
He says he isn't going.
 Write these sentences in indirect speech, using the words given. Remember to change the
pronouns where necessary.
1 'I haven't done my homework.' (she says)
She eays she hasn't done her homework.
2 'I haven't got any money.' (He'll tell you)
He'll tell you he hasn't got any money.
3 'I've seen the film before." (she says)
4 'I want to go home.' (he's already told you)
5 'T haven't seen my mother for years.' (he says)
6 'I don't know how much it costs.' (she says)
7 '1 don't like going to parties.' (she's told me)
8 'We've never been to Berlin.' (they say)
9 'I need the money to visit my parents.' (he'll say)
10 We can't come on Tuesday.' (they've told me)
11 'I'm going to visit Europe this year' (the President will announce that)
12 'I can't stand classical music' (Gemma tells me)
13 'The plane will land in half and hour.' (the pilot has just announced that)
14 'There are no tickets left for tonight's performance.' (the booking officesays that)
15 'We haven't had anything to eat.' (the children say)
16 'I've already seen the play.' (he's told me)
17 'I'll come again next year.' (I've told them)
18 'I'm not feeling very well.' (Simon says)
19 'I've never been to Japan.' (Jason has just said)
20 'I'm meeting the students for lunch next week.' (she'll tell you)
21 'You'll never drive a better car.' (the advertisement claims that).
 78 Reported statements with a change of tense.
Write these sentences in indirect speech, using the words given. Change the pronouns where
necessary. 1 'My name's Ian.' (he said) He said hie name was Ian. 2 'I'm writing a letter.' (she said) She said
she was writing a letter. 3 'I'm waiting for Jessie.1 (she said) 4 'I don't like the idea.' (he said) 5 'The car isn't
at my house.1 (she said) 6 'The washing machine's broken.' (he said) 7 'I'm working.' (he said) 8 'We're
worried about Peter.' (they said) 113 Reported speech 9 'I don't smoke.1 [Megan said) 10 'I'm waiting for my
exam results.' (John said) 11 'I work for an American company.' [Mrs Johnson said) 12 'I feel ill: (the little
boy said) 13 'I'm watching television.' (Fiona said) 14 'I like the new house.' (Sam said) 15 'I'm washing the
car." (Chloe said)
 Turn the following sentences into reported speech.
1."Tina was studying all evening," he said.
2 "Charles is going on holiday next week," said the manager.
3 The DJ says, "I play pop music ."
4 "I like potatoes," said Nora.
5. The lawyer will say, "My client is not guilty."
6 "Water boils at 100·C," said the Chemistry teacher.
7 "Amy has finished all her homework," said Tony.
8 My father has said, "I am very proud of my children. "
9 "My exams are starting tomorrow," said Jake .
KEY
76a 1 told 2 said 3 told 4 told 5 said 6 said 7 say 8 tell 9 told 10 told 11 said 12 said 13 tell 14 telling 15 tell 16 says 17
told 18 say 19 Tell 20 telling 76b 1 say 2 told 3 say 4 told 5 tell, said 6 tell 7 saying 8 say 9 tells 10 said 77 1 She says
(that) she hasn't done her homework. 2 He'll tell you (that) he hasn't got any money. 3 She says (that) she's seen the
film before. 4 He's already told you (that) he wants to go home. 5 He says (that) he hasn't seen his mother for years.
6 She says (that) she doesn't know how much it costs. 7 She's told me (that) she doesn't like going to parties. 8 They
say (that) they've never been to Berlin. 9 He'll say (that) he needs the money to visit his parents. 10 They've told me
(that) they can't come on Tuesday. 11 The President will announce that he's going to visit Europe this year. 12
Gemma tells me (that) she can't stand classical music. 13 The pilot has just announced that the plane will land in half
and hour. 14 The booking office says that there are no tickets left for tonight's performance. 15 The children say
(that) they haven't had anything to eat. 16 He's told me (that) he's already seen the play. 17 I've told them (that) I'll
come again next year. 18 Simon says (that) he's not feeling very well. 19 Jason has just said (that) he's never been to
Japan. 20 Shell tell you (that) she's meeting the students for lunch next week. 21 The advertisement claims (that)
you'll never drive a better car. 78 1 He said (that) his name was Ian. 2 She said (that) she was writing a letter. 3 She
said (that) she was waiting for Jessie. 4 He said (that) he didn't like the idea. 5 She said (that) the car wasn't at her
house. 6 He said (that) the washing machine was broken. 7 He said (that) he was working. 8 They said (that) they
were worried about Peter. 9 Megan said (that) she didn't smoke. 10 John said (that) he was waiting for his exam
results. 11 Mrs Johnson said (that) she worked for an American company. 12 The little boy said (that) he felt ill. 13
Fiona said (that) she was watching television. 14 Sam said (that) he liked the new house. 15 Chloe said (that) she was
washing the car.