Report speech

2. What is Reported Speech?

You explain what someone said.
No quotation marks.
Example:
Maria says she is happy.

By Nathaly Rodriguez

Changes at A1:

✔ Remove quotes
✔ Change pronouns
✔ Keep the same tense

By Nathaly Rodriguez

1) Complete the sentences (change to reported speech).

1. “I live here.” → Ana says she _____ here.

2. “It is cold.” → Tom says it _____ cold.

By Nathaly Rodriguez

​A2 LEVEL – BASIC BACKSHIFT
When the reporting verb is past (said),
tenses often move to the past:
Direct Reported am → was
“I am sick” → He said he was sick.
could swim

​A2 LEVEL – BASIC BACKSHIFT
want → wanted
“I want pizza” → They said they wanted pizza
will → would
“I will go” → She said she would go
can → could
“I can swim” → He said he

​B1 LEVEL – MULTIPLE CHANGES At this level students learn:

​1. Perfect tense changes
“I have finished” → He said he had finished.




2. Indirect questions “Where is the bus stop?” → He asked where the bus stop was.

​B1 LEVEL – MULTIPLE CHANGES At this level students learn:

3. Negative forms

“I don’t like it” → She said she didn’t like it.

4. Changes in expressions of time

• today → that day

• tomorrow → the next day

• last year → the year before

​B2 LEVEL – COMPLEX REPORTING 1.
Reporting verbs Students use different verbs: warn, promise, admit, suggest, explain, agree…

1. Reporting verbs

Students use different verbs:
warn, promise, admit, suggest, explain, agree…

2. Perfect continuous

“I have been working…”
→ She said she had been working…

3. Modals

• may → might

• must → had to / must

• could → could (stays the same)

4. Long and complex sentences

“I didn’t expect you to arrive early.”
→ She said she hadn’t expected me to arrive early

7) Change to reported speech.

24. “I have been working here for five years,” she said.
    → She said she _____________________________________________.

25. “We are thinking about moving to Canada,” they said.
    → They said they _____________________________________________.

7) Change to reported speech.

“I will finish the project by Monday,” he promised.
→ He promised he _____________________________________________.

• “I didn’t expect you to arrive so early,” she said.
  → She said she _____________________________________________.

• “You must not open this box,” the man warned.
  → The man warned that I _____________________________________________.

​Choose the correct word: SAY – TELL – ASK