Direct or Reported Speech?
What is direct speech?
Direct speech uses the exact words someone said.
Which verb needs an object: say or tell?
Tell.
Report Emma’s words: “I eat pizza every Friday.”
Emma said that she ate pizza every Friday.
Report Mia’s words: “I am studying here now.”
Mia said that she was studying there then.
Report Emma’s question: “Are you hungry?”
Emma asked me if/whether I was hungry.
What is reported speech?
Reported speech tells us what someone said earlier, often changing pronouns and verb tenses.
Complete: Mia ___ that she was busy.
Said.
Report David’s words: “I will go to the gym.”
David said that he would go to the gym.
Report Tom’s words: “I will finish this tomorrow.”
Tom said that he would finish that the following day.
Report David’s question: “Do you like music?”
David asked me if/whether I liked music.
What is the difference between said and told?
Said does not need an object; told needs an object.
Complete: Emma ___ me to open the door.
Told.
Report Laura’s words: “I wrote a letter.”
Laura said that she had written a letter.
Report Anna’s words: “I saw him yesterday.”
Anna said that she had seen him the previous day.
Report Laura’s question: “Where is the library?”
Laura asked me where the library was.
In reported speech, what happens to the subject I if the speaker is a man?
I changes to he.
Complete: Jack ___ me if I was ready.
Asked.
Report Peter’s words: “I see my friends every weekend.”
Peter said that he saw his friends every weekend.
Report the students’ words: “We have a test today in this classroom.”
The students said that they had a test that day in that classroom.
Report the teacher’s question: “Did you finish your homework?”
The teacher asked me if/whether I had finished my homework.
Why do we use reported speech?
To report what someone said earlier.
Correct: Sarah said me that she was sad.
Sarah told me that she was sad.
Report the children’s words: “We took the bus.”
The children said that they had taken the bus.
Report Jack’s words: “I bought these books here yesterday.”
Jack said that he had bought those books there the previous day.
Report the police officer’s question: “Where did you put the bag?”
The police officer asked me where I had put the bag.