Reported Speech
What Excuse did they give to him?
Ð Reporting
Questions (Indirect Questions)
² When we report questions we can use
the reporting verbs: ask, want to know, wonder
and inquire.
² In reported questions we use the same
word order as in a statement: Subject + Verb:
Ex.: Teacher: “How are you?”
The teacher asked Sam how he was.
² Yes / No questions (beginning with a verb) are
reported with if or whether.
Ex.: Teacher: “Do you have a dream job, Sam?”
The teacher asked Sam if / whether he had a dream job.
² Wh-questions are reported with the same question
word used in the direct question.
Ex.: Teacher: “Which one do you prefer, Suzy?”
The teacher asked Suzy which one
she preferred.
Ð Reported
Imperatives (Indirect Imperatives)
² Imperative clauses change into infinitive clauses preceded
by a verb such as tell, command, order,
warn,
recommend,
advise.
Ex.: Teacher: “Be careful.”
The teacher recommended his students
to be careful.
² Negative imperatives (Don’t…) - “not” goes before
the infinitive.
Ex.: Teacher: “Don’t make silly mistakes
in the exam.”
The teacher advised his students not to
make silly mistakes in the exam.
Ð Exclamations
² Exclamations
become statements in
the reported speech.
Ex.: Jane: “What a wonderful job!”
Jane said that it was a wonderful job.
Exercises
Fiona Robin is calling To Mark Foster. His PA is going to tell Mark what Fiona said. Take Notes to report that
A.
Rewrite
the following sentences:
1. “ I am having a party next week.”
He
said___________________________________________________________________________________________
2. “ Someone is following me now.”
She complained
_________________________________________________________________________________
3. “ They are going to meet Susy at four tomorrow.”
She announced
_________________________________________________________________________________
B. Rewrite the following questions:
1. “ How old are you?”
He asked me
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. “ What do you do in your free time?”
The teacher asked me __________________________________________________________________________
3. “ How long have you been working in your present
job?”
The director asked Peter
______________________________________________________________________
4. “ Why did you apply for this job?”
The director asked Jane
________________________________________________________________________
C. Rewrite the following commands:
1. “ Sit down, please.”
The teacher told the students
_____________________________________________________________________
2. “ Give me some more money, please.”
“ Bob begged his parents __________________________________________________________________________
3. “ Don’t play with my toys.”
Michael said to his little brother
__________________________________________________________________
4. “ Don’t forget to say your prayers.”
Their brother advised them
_______________________________________________________________________
5. “ Look at me and listen carefully to my words.”
The Captain ordered his soldiers
_________________________________________________________________
6. “ Don’t move and keep smiling.”
The photographer went on saying to everybody
_______________________________________________
