Reported Speech

We use Reported Speech (indirect style) to rephrase what someone has said but without repeating the same exact words.

THINGS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT

KINDS OF SNENTENCES:

- STATEMENTES

- QUESTIONS

- ORDERS/COMMANDS

- SUGGESTIONS

Let's see the presentation we saw in class :)

REMEMBER TO DO THESE CHANGES!

1.- ,   "   ?   ! > are taken away!

2.- Verb tense/form > change! (see the chart in the presentation) 

3.- Pronouns and possessives will change according to who said the sentence (1st person), to whom it was said (2nd person) or who it was said about (3rd person).

4.- Time expressions and demonstratives may change. (see the chart in the presentation)

5.- Reporting verbs may be changed to improve our language style.

NOTICE:

• PAST CONTINUOUS usually remains unchanged unless we know the action has been completed.

"When we were living in paris ... " > when we lived in Paris ... (we do not live there anymore)

• PAST SIMPLE changes to past perfect except in time clauses.

"when I was born ..." > when I was born ...

• CONDITIONAL SENTENCES II AND III remain unchanged

"If my children were older ..." > if my children were older

REPORTING VERB?

It is the verb we use to introduce indirect style sentences.
Basically, we often use just say, tell, ask and suggest, usually in its past simple form, that is: said, told, asked and suggested. 
However, since we are not using the same exact words, we sometimes need to use other reporting verbs just to add more infromation about the way or the context the original words were said.

HERE IS A LIST OF SOME OTHER REPORTING VERBS

- FOR STATEMENTS:
Besides say we can also use, according to the context:
admit, agree, announce, answer, apologize, boast, claim, complain, declare, deny, explain, inform, inisist, mention, promise, refuse, remind, reply and state.

- FOR QUESTIONS:
Besides ask we can also use: enquire, request, want to know and wonder.

-FOR ORDERS AND COMMANDS:
Besides tell we can use: demand, order, shout and warn

- FOR SUGGESTIONS:
Besides suggest we can also use:
advise, invite and recommend

*Some structures may change by using the reporting verb + infinitive o gerund instead of the nominal clause.
Examples:
Sara promised me that she would come = Sara promised me to come
She addmitted she had no other plans. = She admmitted not having other plans

*Don't forget: object pronoun is always needed with tell.