Reported Speech

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REPORTED SPEECH The incredible process of BACKSHIFTING

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REPORTED SPEECH      

Introduction Reporting verbs I: SAY, TELL & ASK Statements Questions Orders Reportin verbs II

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INTRODUCTION SPEECH DIRECT The exact words that someone else says in inverted commas

REPORTED The message that someone else has said without using the speaker’s original words but a reporting clause followed by a reported clause

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THE REPORTING CLAUSE 

It is the main clause and introduces the other person’s words. It includes the REPORTING VERB, which is the main verb of the sentence. The most frequently verbs are To tell someone something He told me the truth TELL

SAY

ASK

To tell someone to do something He told me to say the truth To say something He said it was raining To say to someone something He said to me (that) it was raining To ask if /QW something He asked me if I was OK / where I was To ask someone to do something He asked me to go Edu Arcas - IES Diego Torrente Pérez


REPORTING A STATEMENT We have to consider whether the reporting verb is in the present or in the past. If it is in the present, we have to bear in mind that the moment when the words are reported is the same, so fewer changes will be required. However, if the reporting verb is in the past, everything will change because our reference of time has been modified. This process is called

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DIRECT

REPORTED

Present Simple Present Continuous Past Simple Past continuous Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Simple Past Perfect Continuous Future Simple Future Continuous Future Perfect Can Will / Shall May Have to / Must

Past Simple Past Continuous Past Perfect Simple Past Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Simple Past Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Simple Past Perfect Continuous Conditional Simple Conditional Continuous Conditional Perfect Could Would / Should Might Had to

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Sometimes, the time and place references also change when we report someone else’s words

DIRECT 1st / 2nd person This These That Those Here There Now Today Tomorrow Yesterday Last (month) A (week) ago Next (week)

REPORTED 3rd person That Those That Those There There Then That day The next day / The following day / The day after The day before / The previous day The (month) before / The previous (month) The (week) before The following (week) / The (week) after

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I will create a lot of jobs in my country! He said that he would create a lot of jobs in his country

I will create a lot of jobs in my country

He said that

he

would create

Edu Arcas - IES Diego Torrente PĂŠrez

in his country


Questions There are two types of Questions YES / NO Qs

Wh- Qs

They begin with the AUXILIARY VERB

They begin with a Wh- WORD Where did you travel?

Did you travel? He asked me… IF

WHERE I had travelled

• BACKSHIFTING: Past simple > Past Perfect •Personal pronouns change – 1st person > 3rd person •Statement order Edu Arcas - IES Diego Torrente Pérez


Orders When we want to reproduce an order, we use the reporting verb ASK followed by a to infinitive. If the original sentence is negative, ASK will be followed by NOT to infinitive. Don’t forget personal changes. Listen to me!

Don’t talk to me! He asked me…

to listen to him

not to talk to him

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Other reporting verbs Apart from TELL, SAY and ASK, there are many other verbs that may function as a reporting verb. They also introduce a particular intention. We should be careful with the structure they require. GENERAL

QUESTIONS ORDERS

PLEAS SUGGESTIONS

ADMIT He admitted that he broke the window / having broken ANNOUNCE ANSWER REPLY DECLARE EXPLAIN STATE MENTION THAT INFORM That / about APOLOGISE He apologised for interrupting BOAST He boasted of having won the competition CLAIM He claimed to have found the cure COMPLAIN They complained about the weather INSIST He insisted on inviting me OFFER She offered to pay for the drinks REMIND He reminded me to water the plants ENQUIRE REQUEST WONDER WANT TO KNOW ASK He asked me to go DEMAND She demanded to know the reason ORDER He ordered me to go SHOUT She shouted to her to come back WARN He warned me not to take that way BEG He begged me to help him ADVISE He advised starting INVITE He invited me to go to the museum Arcas - IESgoing Diego Torrente PĂŠrez RECOMMEND WeEdu recommended to the park SUGGEST We suggested going to the cinema


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