Reported speech
( §Æng V¨n D¬ng - Trêng THCS §¹i Tù - Yªn l¹c - VÜnh Phóc)
1. Tenses:
a, Changes: Verbs used in direct speech often change their tense in reported speech,
especially when the" reporting" verb in the past
( Back one tense)
Eg: " I'll put the letters in the post", said he
=> He said he would put the letters in the post.
b, No changes:
Some verbs tenses used in direct speech do not change in reported speech. The" reporting"
verb is often in the present tense.
- Reporting a present state of affairs
Eg: " The cost of living here is high"
=> The reporter says /said that the cost of living here is high.
- Reporting things which are always true
Eg: " It's always cold at this time of year"
=> He says it's always cold at this time of year.
- Reporting something which we believe/ someone believes will happen.
- They are the modal structures: Would, could, might, ought to, should,
Eg: She said," You might be mistaken"
=> She said that he might be mistaken
- Conditional type 2,
- Structures: Would rather, as time, as if, as though, it's time
Eg: "I wish he were here now"
=> She wished he were there then.
" I'd rather we ate out"
=> She'd rather they ate out.
2. Reporting statements:
a, Verb ( + that)
( say, claim, admit, explain, insist, agree, complain, deny, reply, etc)
Eg: " I'm an art student"

+ that + S + should + V(bare)
+ that + S + V (bare)
Eg: " Let's go home"
=> He suggested going home
that they should go home
that they go home
6. Exclamation:
What + Noun/ noun phrase!
How + Adj/ adv + clause!
Eg1: " What an intelligent boy!"
=> She exclaimed that he was such an intelligent boy.
E2: " How beautiful she is!"
=> He exclaimed that she was so/ very beautiful.
Eg3: " How quickly he runs!"
=> They exclaimed that he ran very quickly.
7. Some points to notice about reported speech:
- The pronoun often changes: you => I, she, he/ we => they.....
- Words like: "please" and" now" disappear.
8. Other forms:
a, advised - advice:
- Had better
- Should
- Why don't you => advised smb to do smt
- if I were you
- Ought to
- If I were in your place/ situation/ position
b, Suggested - suggestion:
- How about
- What about => suggested that smb should do smt
- Why don't we doing smt

h, Thanks:
-" Happy new year"
=> She wished me a happy new year.
- " Congratulation!"
=> He congratulated me on passing the exam.
i,To be sorry for smt
=> Apologize for doing smt
Eg: " I am sorry for being late"
=> He apologized for being late
j, Greeting:
" Good morning"
=> He greeted me/ He said hello to me.