9.1 ■ Reported speech
We use reported speech when we want to tell someone about something that another person said. Tenses and pronouns change in reported speech if the time and the speaker change.
The tense of the main verb changes in the following ways.
| Direct speech | Reported speech | |
| Present simple She said, 'The facts are true.' |
→ | Past simple She said that the facts were true. |
| Present continuous 'I'm watching the news,' I said. |
→ | Past continuous I said that I was watching the news. |
| Present perfect 'I've seen the news,' he said. |
→ | Past perfect He said that he had seen the news. |
| Past simple 'I found my pen,' he said. |
→ | Past perfect He said that he had found his pen. |
| will You said, 'I will come.' |
→ | would You said that you would come. |
Pronouns and possessive adjectives also change.
'I've seen the news,' he said. → He said that he had seen the news.
'My birthday was very memorable,' said Louise. → Louise said that her birthday had been very memorable.
'We will go to Paris in June,' my parents said. → My parents said that they would go to Paris in June.
We sometimes leave out that in reported speech.
'There is a letter for you,' she said. → She said (that) there was a letter for me.
say and tell
We can use say or tell to introduce reported speech.
■say + (that)
Marisa said (that) she was worried.
She said (that) she had had a bad day.
We never use an object after say.
NOT She said me that …
■tell + person + (that)
Tell is always followed by a personal object.
Marisa told me (that) she was worried.
She told me (that) she had had a bad day.
NOT Marisa told that she was worried.
There are many other reporting verbs. Some examples are: announce, confirm, complain and explain. These verbs are not followed by a personal object.
They announced (that) they were getting married.
NOT They announced me that …
We confirmed (that) the details were true.
She complained (that) the radio didn't work.
He explained (that) it was broken.
1'Pete doesn't spend more than an hour on his mobile every day,' said Lawrence.
Lawrence said that Pete more than an hour on his mobile every day.
2'We're watching a chat show,' said Zak.
Zak said that they a chat show.
3'The wildlife documentary didn't start until 10 p.m.', said Marie.
Marie said that the wildlife documentary until 10 p.m.
4'Rob has written a great script for the play,' said Paul.
Paul said that Rob a great script for the play.
5'The newspaper will publish details of the event,' said the reporter.
The reporter said that the newspaper details of the event.
6'Zoe isn't watching a sitcom,' said Lara.
Lara said that Zoe a sitcom.
7'I won't finish the crossword,' said Dad.
Dad said that he the crossword.
1'I'm waiting for a package,' said Steve.
Steve said that was waiting for a package.
2'We'll wait for you both outside,' said Karen and Jack.
Karen and Jack said that would wait for outside.
3'You've passed your exam!' said my teacher.
My teacher said that had passed exam.
4'Your sister doesn't look like you,' said Marta.
Marta said that sister didn't look like .
5'Everyone had a great time at your birthday party,' said Nick.
Nick told me that he had had a great time at birthday party.
6'Jim didn't walk home with his usual friends,' said Karl.
Karl said that Jim hadn't walked home with usual friends.
3Complete the sentences with said or told.
1Everyone that the special effects in the film were spectacular.
2Caroline that her mother spoke several languages.
3The head of the theatre company her that she would be a good actress.
4The man the newspaper's editor that he was going to complain about the article.
5We that we didn't want the story to appear in the middle of the paper.
6I my friends that I was going to be on a reality TV show.
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