Mastering Indirect Speech: Tense Changes and More

Indirect Speech 1. Tense changes • Tenses are moved into the past after a past tense reporting verb. • The past perfectremains the same. • 'I'm leaving.' • Jane said she was leaving. • 'No, I hadn't forgotten. ' • Greg said that he hadn't forgotten.

2. Main verb changes only • In complex sentences, only the first verb is changed. • ‘I was walking home when I saw the accident.’ • James said he had been walking home when he saw the accident. • ‘‘The car broke down while I was driving to work,’’ • He said the car had broken down while he was driving to work.

3. Reference words • Some words referring to persons, places and time change in indirect speech, because the point of reference changes. • 'I'll see you here tomorrow. Jack, ' said Mary. • Mary told Jack she would see him there the next day. • ‘ I gave you this yesterday. ‘John said. • John said he had given it to her the day before.

Reporting the tenses A. Present tense reports • If the reporting verb is in the present tense, there is no change. • Brenda says she's arriving at about 6.00. B. Past tense reports • If the reported words are 'always true', there is no change.' • Harry told me that he still likes you. • If a message is being repeated immediately, there is no change. • Mary said she's too busy to come.

1. Indirect questions • Yes/No questions are reported using if. The verb is not put into a question form, and there is no question mark. • 'Do you like hamburgers?’ • Charles asked me if I liked hamburgers. • Wh- questions are reported with the question word. There is no question mark. • 'Where are we going?' • I asked Sue where we were going.

2. Embedded questions • These are questions introduced by polite phrases. Note the word order. • 'Could you tell me where the station is?' • In indirect speech, the polite question becomes a reporting verb. • I asked him where the station was.

Imperatives (commands and requests in indirect speech) 1. Commands are reported with tell and the infinitive. • 'Go away! ' • He told me to go away. 2. Requests are reported with ask and the infinitive. • 'Please help me. ' • He asked her to help him.

Often it is impossible or unnecessary to report every word spoken. • 'Excuse me, do you think you could tell me the time?' • He asked me what the time was.

Why things change • Bill (on Saturday evening): ‘ Idon’t likethis party.Iwant to go home now.’ • Peter (on Sunday morning) : ‘Bill said that hedidn’t likethe party, and hewanted to go home right away. • Some words may be changed in indirect speech, because the original speaker’s ‘here’ and ‘now’ are not the same as the reporter’s. • The following sentence was said in Istanbul in december 1999: • ‘’ I’ve been in this part of the world since August this year.’’ • Does the first or second ‘this’ have to be changed if the sentence is reported:

‘’ I’ve been in this part of the world since August this year.’’ • A) in Istanbul a week later? • He said that hehad been in this part of the world since August this year. • B) in Istanbul a year later? • He said that hehad been to this part of the world since August that year. • C) in Paris a week later • He said that hehad been to that part of the world since August this year. • D) in Paris a year later • He said that hehad been to that part of the world since August that year.

Tenses are different from those in the original words, • Because the reporter’s time is different from the original speaker’s time. • ‘‘You look nice.’’(Direct speech) • I told her she looked nice.(Indirect speech) • ‘’ I can’t swim.’’ (Direct speech) • He pretended he couldn’t swim.(Indirect speech) • ‘’I’m learning French.’’ (Direct speech) • She said she was learning French.(Indirect speech) • ‘’Has he forgotten?’’ (Direct speech) • I wondered if he had forgotten. (Indirect speech) • John phoned. (Direct speech) • She told me that John had phoned. (Indirect speech)

Tenses do not change after present or future reporting verbs • ‘’I don’t want to play any more.’’ • He says he doesn’t want to play any more. • ‘’ Your idea is great’’ • I’ll tell her your idea is great. • ‘’Taxes will be raised.’’ • The government has announced that taxes will be raised. • Situations that have not changed:If the original speaker was talking about a present or future situation that is still present or future when the words are reported, the tenses may not change after a past reporting verb. • ‘’The earth is round.’’ (Direct speech) • He proved that the earth is / was round.(Indirect speech)

‘’How old are you?’’ ‘’What?’’ (Direct speech) • I asked how old you are / were. (Indirect speech) • ‘’Where does she work? ‘’ (Direct speech) • I’ve often wondered where she works / worked. • ‘’It will be windy tomorrow. (Direct speech) • They said it will / would be windy tomorrow. • We don’t keep the original speaker’s tenses if we do not agree what he/she , or if we want to show that the idea do not come from us. • Did you hear that? She said she was fourteen! • He announced that profits were higher than forecast. • I didn’t know she was ill.

We use infinitives to report sentences about future actions-for example promises, agreement, orders, offers, advice, requests, suggestions . • He promisedto write. • I told Alanson to be careful. • I advise you to think again. • She agreedto wait for me. • Ann has offeredto baby-sit tonight. • She asked us not to be late.

The structure question word+infinitive is common. • He asked her how to make a white sauce. • Don’t tell me what to do. • Special Introductory Verbs • ‘’I won’t tell anybody.’’ • He promisednot to tell anybody. • ‘’ I’ll cook supper.’’ • She offered me to cook supper. • ‘’ Leave early.’’ • He advised me to leave eraly.

‘’Please close the door.’’ • She asked me to close the door. • ‘’ I’ll stop smoking.’’ • She promisedto stop smoking. • ‘’ Why don’t I do the shopping?’’ • He offeredto do the shopping. • ‘’You ought to tell the police.’’ • She adviced me to tell the police. • ‘’OK, I’ll pay half. • He agreedto pay half.

‘’We’ll pay for the tickets.’’ • We offeredto pay for the tickets. • ‘’Watch out,’’ he said to me. • He told me to watch out. (command) • ‘’ Please, don’t move,’’ he said to me. • He asked me not to move. (request) • ‘’Say you are ill.’’ • I told him what to say.

Introductory verb + to-inf • ‘’ Yes, I’ll come with you.’’ • He agreed to come with me. • ‘’Tell me everything!’’ • He demanded to be told everything. • ‘’Would you like me to carry it?’’ • He offered to carry it. • ‘’ I’ll study more.’’ • He promised to study more. • ‘’ No, I won’t come with you.’’ • He refused to come with me.

‘’Behave yourself or I’ll punish you.’’ • He threatenedtopunish me if I didn’t behave myself. • ‘’ I heard her say that.’’ • He claimedtohave heard her say that. • ‘’ Yes, I’ll be happy to help you.’’ • He agreedtohelp me. • ‘’Tell me the truth!’’ • He demandedtobe told the truth.

Exercises • Choose the best answer • . Helen asked me if I liked visiting old buildings. • ‘………………. visiting old buildings ?' asked Helen. • .Do you like • .Did you like • .Will you like • . Have you liked • Do you like

2) Bill asked Mary if she had done anything the previous weekend. • '……………………anything last weekend?' • A) Have you done • B) Did you do • C) Will you do • D) Were you doing • Did you do

3.The policeman asked me if the car belonged to me. • ‘………………….to you?' asked the policeman. • A) Does this car belong • B) Did this car belong • C) Have this car belonged • D) Will this car belong • Does this car belong

4) Fiona asked me if I had seen her umbrella anywhere. • ‘ ……………my umbrella anywhere?' asked Fiona. • A) Did you see • B) Have you seen • C) Will you see • D) Would you see • Have you seen

5.Joe asked Tina when she would get back. • ' ……………... back?' asked Joe. • A) When will you get • B) When have you got • C)When did you get • D) When you will get • When will you get

6.Eddie asked Steve who he had been to the cinema with. • '………………… to the cinema with ?' asked Eddie. • A)Who did you go • B) Who had you been • C) Who you went • D) Who you had been • Who did you go

My parents asked me what time I had got home the night before. • '……. home last night?' my parents asked. • A) What time did you get • B) What time have you got • C) What time you got • D) What time you have got • What time did you get

David asked a passer-by if it was the right road for Hastings. • '…………. the right road for Hastings?' asked David. • A) Is this • B) Was this • C) Will this be • D) Can this be • Is this

'No, it's not true, I didn't steal the money!' • Jean …...….... stealing the money/that she had stolen the money. • A) denied • B) insisted • C) confessed • D) apologised • denied

'Why don’t we go to the cinema this evening?' • Peter……………….. going to the cinema/that they went to the cinema. • A) advised • B) agreed • C) suggested • D) promised • suggested

'Yes, of course, I'll give you a lift, Helen.' • Liz................. to give Helen a lift/that she would give Helen a lift. • A)insisted • B) ordered • C) agreed • D) offered • offered

The teacher complained ..............waiting for us for three hours. • That she has been • That she had been • She has been • To be • That she is • That she had been

“My friend asked if ............an earthquake in Adapazari last year.” • there had been • had there been • there was • was there • that there had been • There had been

Mastering Indirect Speech: Tense Changes and More