Reported Speech

1. Reported Speech

He said that he
would meet us
at the game.

2.

Reported Speech is used to tell what someone has
said or written. Quotation marks are not used.
He said that he
would meet us
at the game.
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3.

Reported Speech is used to tell what someone has
said or written. Quotation marks are not used.
The test was difficult,
but I passed it.
She says that
the test was
difficult, but
she passed it.
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4.

Reported Speech is used to tell what someone has
said or written. Quotation marks are not used.
I’m really
enjoying school.
She says that
she is really
enjoying school.
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5.

Reported Speech is used to tell what someone has
said or written. Quotation marks are not used.
How is dad’s new
job going?
She wants to
know how your
new job is going.
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6.

Reported words that were said in the past are
often changed to the past tense.
I’m going to
the library for
a few hours.
Jackie called this morning.
She said that she was going
to the library for a few hours.
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7.

When the reported speech comes immediately
after the actual speech, the tense does not
have to be changed. Both ways are correct.
Mary: I’m really enjoying school.
Mary’s mom: Mary says that she is really
enjoying school.
or
Mary’s mom: Mary said that she was really
enjoying school.
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8.

Reported words that were said in the past are
often changed to the past tense.
“I’m going.”
She said that she was going.
“She has passed her test.”
He said that she had passed her test.
“My father died when I was ten.”
He told me that his father had died
when he was ten.
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9.

Reported thoughts or feelings use the past tense.
I thought they were married, but they aren’t.
She thought that he was a professor.
Sorry, I didn’t realize that you were here.
He knew that she was a kind person.
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10.

Reported speech that comes very soon after the
word spoken does not have to use past tense.
What did
she say?
She said that
the test will
be easy if we
study the list.
This exam will
be easy if you
study the things
on this list.
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11.

Reported words or thoughts are generalizations
and don’t use past tense.
Manager: All employees must have a driver’s license.
I need a job, but I
don’t have a
driver’s license.
The manager says that
all employees must have
a driver’s license. Sorry.
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12.

Reported Speech
Click on the correct form of reported speech.
Mary: I studied all weekend.
Mary said that she studies all weekend.
incorrect
Mary said that she had studied all weekend.
correct
Mary said that she wanted to study this weekend.
incorrect
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13.

Reported Speech
Click on the correct form to express a thought or feeling.
I think he is Costa Rican, but he isn’t.
incorrect
I thought he is Costa Rican, but he isn’t.
incorrect
I thought he was Costa Rican, but he isn’t.
correct
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14.

Reported Speech
The End
Created by Laurette Poulos Simmons
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