G10_M_UNIT 11
REPORTED SPEECH
Direct speech: He told me: ”My dad is watering the flowers in the garden now.”
He told me (that) his dad was watering the flowers in the garden then.
I. STATEMENTS
REMEMBER TO CHANGE:
1) PRONOUNS
2) PLACE & TIME EXPRESSIONS
3) TENSES (BACKSHIFTS if any)
Backshift of tenses
FROM TO
Simple Present Simple Past
Present Continuous Past Continuous
Simple Past
Present Perfect Past Perfect
Past Perfect
Past Continuous
Present Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous
Past Perfect Continuous
will would
can could
may might
must/ have to had
Shifting of expressions of time
this (evening) that (evening)
today/this day that day
these (days) those (days)
now then
(a week) ago (a week) before
last weekend the weekend before / the previous weekend
here there
next (week) the following (week)
tomorrow the next/following day
1
G10_M_UNIT 11
NO BACKSHIFT:
1. TRUE PRESENT FACTS
2. NO MORE BACKSHIFT
3. REPORTING VERB (NOT IN PAST FORM)
He told me that “The sun rises in the east.”
He told me that the sun rises in the east. (no backshift)
II. QUESTIONS
THE SAME AS IN STATEMENTS (changing of the person, backshift of tenses,
changing of expressions of time & place).
A. Question without question words (yes/no questions):
S + (ask) + O + IF / WHETHER + …
My classmate asked: “Have you ever been to Mexico?”
She asked me if I had ever been to Mexico.
B. Question with question words:
S + (ask) + O + WH-WORD + …
My mom asked: “What are you doing?”
She asked me what I was doing.
III. Commands, Requests, and Advice in Reported Speech
S + asked / told + O + (that) + S + should (not) + Vbare inf + …
S + asked / told + O + (not) to V + …
The staff told: “Please don't smoke.”
The staff told me not to smoke.
Kate asked: “Could you bring my book tonight?”
Kate asked me to bring her book that night.
Danny asked her: “Would you mind coming early tomorrow?”
Danny asked her to come early the next day.
2
G10_M_UNIT 11
A. REPORTED SPEECH WITH GERUNDS
reporting verb (+ preposition) + gerund
“Shall I carry your cases?” he asked.
He offered to carry my cases.
Reporting verbs used with a gerund
accuse somebody of insist on
admit (to) mention
advise (against) propose
apologise for recommend
blame report
confess (to) prohibit
complain about suggest
deny
B. REPORTED SPEECH WITH INFINITIVES
reporting verb + to-infinitive reporting verb + O + to-infinitive
“Don’t trust him with the money” “Let’s have lunch together.”
She warned me not to trust him with the money. He suggested having lunch togethers.
Reporting verbs used with the to-infinitive
agree offer Reporting verbs used with an object and the to-infinitive
claim prefer ask encourage permit request
decide promise advise forbid persuade tell
demand propose allow instruct prefer urge
hope refuse beg invite recommend warn
threaten command order remind want
