47. Reported sppech 1 (He said that)
Compare:
direct | reported |
---|---|
Paul said ‘I am feeling ill’ | Paul said that he was feeling ill. |
In writing we use these quotation marks to shou direct speech |
When we use reported speech, the main verb of the sentence is usually past (Paul said that … / I told her that … etc). Tje rest of the sentence is usually past too:
- Paul said that he was feeling ill.
- I told Lisa that I didn’t have any money.
You can leave out that. So you can say:
Paul said that he was feeling ill. or Paul said he was feeling ill.
The past simple (did / saw / knew etc.) can usually stay the same in reported speech, or you can change it to the past perfect (had done / had seem / had known etc.):
direct | reported |
---|---|
Paul said ‘I woke up feeling ill, so I din’t go to work.’ | Paul said (that) he woke up feeling ill, so he didn’t go to work. or Paul said (that) he had woken up feeling ill, so he hadn’t gone to work. |
48. Reported sppech 2
It is not always necessary to change the verb in reported speech. If the situation is still the same, you do not need to change the bern to the past. For example:
direct | reported |
---|---|
Paul said ‘My new job is boring’ | Paul said that his new job is boring (The situation is still the same. His job is still boring now.) |
Helen said ‘I want to go to Canada next year.’ | Helen told me that she wants to go to Canada next year. |
You can also change the verbs to the past:
But if the situation has changed or finished, you must use a past verb:
Paul left the room suddenly, He said he had to go. (not has to go)
You need to use a past form when where is a difference between what was said and what is really true:
You met Sonia a few days ago
She said: Joe is in hospital
Later that day you meet Joe in the street. You say:
Hi, Joe. I didn’t expect to see you. Sonia said you were in hospital. (not ‘Sonia said you are in hospital,’ because clearly he is not)
Say and tell
If you say who somebody is talking to, use well
Otherwise use say:
But you can ‘say something to somebody’
- Sonia told me that you were in hospital. (not Sonia said me)
- Sonia said that you were in hospital. (not say the police)
- Ann said goodbye to me and left. (not Ann said me good bye)
Tell / ask somebody to do something
We also use the infinitive (to do / to be etc.) in reported speech, especially with tell and ask (for orders and requests):
- ‘Don’t be late,’ I said to Joe.
I told Joe not to be late
‘Can you help me, please,’ Jackie said to me.
- Jackie asked me to help her
You can also say ‘Somebody said (not) to do something’
Paul said not to worry about him. (but not Paul said me)