Page 75 - Grasp English B1+ (Grammar Book)

Regrets 12

Reported speech (statements)

We use reported speech to tell others what someone else has said. We are reporting their words to others.
• We go one tense back (backshift) to write sentences in the reported speech.
• We change pronouns so that it is clear who/what we are talking about.
• We change the time expressions and place accordingly.

Tense changes

Direct speech Indirect speech
Present simple Jane said, “They paint the walls Past simple Jane said that they painted the
regularly.” walls regularly.
Present Mark said, “I am talking to Mary Past continuous Mark said that he was talking to
continuous at the moment.” Mary at that moment.
Past simple Sam said, “We did the packing Past perfect Sam said that they had done
ourselves.” the packing themselves.
Past continuous Sue said, “I wasn’t sleeping at Past perfect Sue said that she hadn’t been
7 last night.” continuous sleeping at 7 the previous night.
Present perfect Suzy said, “I haven’t seen Mark Past perfect Suzy said that she hadn’t seen
lately.” Mark lately.
Present perfect Sandy said, “My parents have Past perfect Sandy said that her parents had
continuous been running since 10 o’clock continuous been running since 10 o’clock
this morning.” that morning.
Past perfect Mia said, “Andy had done all Past perfect Mia said that Andy had done all
the work himself.” the work himself.
Past perfect The teacher said, “We had Past perfect The teacher said that they had
continuous been living here for ten years continuous been living there for ten years
when they came to demolish when they came to demolish
the houses.” the houses.

Modal verbs Modal verbs
Andrew said, “It will be a rainy day today.” Andrew said that it would be a rainy day that day.

Time expressions and place changes
We use verbs like say, tell, and ask to
Direct Speech Indirect speech report sentences.
now then We use an object pronoun after tell.

today that day He told me (that)…
He said (that)…
tomorrow the following day/the next day/the day after
We can use different verbs to report
yesterday the previous day/the day before
a sentence instead of say and tell,
next week the following week/the week after for example, complain, deny, explain,

last week the previous week/the week before exclaim, remark, promise, boast,
inform somebody, claim, agree,
ago before/previously
suggest.
here there

this that

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