THIS AND THAT
How does the word "here" change in reported speech?
"Here" changes to "there"
Apply the backshift rule for the following sentence:
"I am happy", my wife replied.
My wife replied she was happy.
If the modal in direct speech is "will", in reported speech it is ...
..."would"
Report the sentence:
"Jim's arriving at our house tomorrow", mom told me.
Mom told me that Jim was arriving at our house the next/the following day.
Report the question:
"Do you want to work for Portman Plastics?", my friend Tommy asked.
My friend Tommy asked if/whether I wanted to work for Portman Plastics.
How does the word "tomorrow" change in reported speech? Provide at least TWO answers.
"Tomorrow" changes to "the next day", "the following day", and "the day after".
Apply the backshift rule for the following sentence:
He said,"I went home."
He said he had gone home.
Report the sentence:
"I can't wait for this trip!", said Bob.
Bod said that he couldn't wait for that trip.
Report the sentence:
Steve said, "I am going to join you", but I don't think he will.
Steve said he was going to join us but I don't think he will.
Report the question:
He asked them, "Did you meet each other at school?"
He asked them if they had met each other at school.
How does the phrase "two days ago" change in reported speech?
"Two days ago" changes to "two days before"
Apply the backshift rule for the following sentence:
"I've known it!", Tim said.
Tim said he'd known it.
Report the sentence:
Helen said, "Laura must be crazy"
Helen said that Laura must be crazy.
Report the sentence:
Martin replied, "I started the job immediately after I left school."
Martin replied that he had started the job immediately after he left school. (backshift of "left" - optional)
Report the question:
The policeman asked me, "Where were you last night?"
The policeman asked me where I was the previous night.
What will the phrase "the following week" be in direct speech?
"The following week" will be "next week" in direct speech
Apply the backshift rule for the following sentence:
Martha said,"I have been running for 3 hours."
Martha said she had been running for 3 hours.
Report the sentence:
Dr. Binocs said, "I must catch that plane" (you have to give TWO options)
Dr. Binocs said that he must/had to catch that plane.
Report the sentence:
It was Copernicus who first stated, "Planets revolve around the sun."
It was Copernicus who first stated that the planets revolve around the sun. (backshift is optional)
Report the question:
The flight attendant said, "Could you switch off your mobile phones?" (you - plural)
The flight attendant asked us to switch off our mobile phones.
What will the phrase "at once" be in direct speech?
"At once" will be "now" in direct speech
Apply the backshift rule for the following sentence:
Jim told the boys,"I had cleaned the house."
Jim told the boys that he had cleaned the house.
Report the sentence:
He asked her, "Shall I phone you tonight?"
He asked her if/whether he should phone her that evening.
Report the sentence:
I've just asked the garage, "When will my car be ready?", but they don't know.
I've just asked the garage when my car will be ready, but they don't know.
Report the question:
"Are you familiar with the plastic industry or not?", she asked. (instead of "asked" use "was interested in")
She was interested in whether or not I was familiar with the plastic industry.