1.INTRODUCTION  Direct speech (DS): we use direct speech when we report s.o’s words by repeating them. Eg: “ I’ll go and heat some milk”, said Agnes.

 Indirect speech (IS): we use indirect speech when we use our own words to report what s.o says. Eg: Agnes said she could go and heat some milk.

2. Tenses in IS  When the reporting verbs are in the present tense, there is no change in the verb tense when reported. Eg: There’ll be a delay.  He says there’ll be a delay.

Tenses in IS  When the reporting verbs is in the past tense, the verbs of the original speech usually “ move back” one tense when reported.

S.Present  S.Past Present cont.  Past cont. Present perfect  Past Perfect. S.Past  Past Perfect. Past perfect  past perfect.

Eg: 1. I watch TV everyday.  She said she watched TV everyday. 2. I am watching TV.  She said that she was watching TV.

3. I have watched TV.  She said she had watched TV. 4. I watched TV yesterday.  She said she had watched TV yesterday. 5.I had watched TV by the time you came.  She said she had watched TV by the time I had come.

3. Changes in IS People: when changing from DS to IS, you have to change the pronouns to match the subject of the sentence. Eg: Tom said, “ you will go to the party with me, Mary.”  Tom said that Mary would go to the party with him.

Change in IS Place: This  that Here  there Eg: “ I will wait for you here,” John said to me.  John told he would wait for me there.

Change in IS Adverbial of time: Now  then Today  that day Yesterday  the day before, the previous day Tomorrow  the next day, the following day

Change in IS This week  that week Last week  the week before, the previous week. Next month  the month after, the following month. An hour ago  an hour before

Change in IS Modal Verbs: Will  would Would /could / should / might : stay the same in reported speech. Must  stay the same or change to “ had to ” May : stay the same or change to “ might ”

4. Reporting questions In a reported question, the word order is like a statement: -Don’t have the word order of direct question. -The auxiliary is no longer necessary. - we don’t use the question mark.

In a reported question, the tense change from present to past in the same way as in a statement.

To report yes/no questions we use “ if / whether ”. Eg: 1. Have you bought your ticket?  Mary wanted to know if Steve had bought his ticket. 2. Can you solve the problem?  She asked whether I could solve the problem.

To report Wh-question: -Firstly, we repeat the wh question word in the direct question. -Secondly, we change the question into the statement.

Eg: 1. Where are you staying?  He asked me where I was staying. 2. Who have you invited?  Peter wanted to know who we had invited.

5. Reporting orders/ requests tell / ask + O + to – inf Eg: 1. “ stay in bed for a week”, the doctor said.  the doctor told her to stay in bed for a week.

2. “ please wait outside”, the secretary said.  the secretary told us to wait outside. 3. “ go out,” my sister said.  My sister asked me to go out.

6. Verb of reporting We normally use an indirect object after “ tell ” but not after “say ” Eg:  Cella told me (that) she would marry the following month.  Cella said she would marry the following month.

We can use “ ask” with or without an direct object. Eg: I asked (her) when he would come.

Other verbs: wonder, want to know, announce, promise, explain…. Eg: 1. Alex wondered who I was waiting for. 2.They announced they could increase the salary.

Eg: 3.He promised he would clean his room. 4.She explained that the plane had arrived late.