Reported Speech

• We are reporting a ​past perfect verb, would, could, should or had better.

  • ​He said that I should get some sleep.

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We don't normally change the tense when:

• The reporting verb is in present or present perfect.

  • ​She says that she likes fast cars.

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• She said she had done it that night!​

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• We told him​ not to do it the following month...

The object of TELL is always the person who is dressed. We don't use the preposition to.

• ​She told me the shop was closed.

The object of SAY is always what was said. it is often a clause.

• ​She said she would like to go home.

We also can use TELL + NOUN in set phrases like: tell a lie, tell the truth, tell a story...

• ​She told the story three times in one hour!

When using SAY... If we want to mention the person dressed, we use the preposition to.

• ​She said to her parents she would like to go home.

FELICIA: "Aaah! My leg hurts so bad!"​

We can use other verbs instead of say and tell when we report statements.

FELICIA: "You broke my leg! I will tell your mom about this!"​

We can use other structures when we report. They will often follow the verb patterns determined in English.

Other verbs follow by the gerund are:

ADMIT DENY RECOMMEND SUGGEST

These verbs can also be used with the THAT clause...

APOLOGISE FOR

CONFESS TO

INSIST ON

ACCUSED sb OF

CONGRATULATE sb ON

WARN sb AGAINST​

Finally, Fernanda apologised for breaking Felicia's leg.