Reported Speech Quoted speech Reported Speech He said, “I work hard.” He said (that) he worked hard. He said, ”I am working hard.” He said (that) he was working hard. He said, ”I have worked hard.” He said (that) he had worked hard. He said, “I worked hard.” He said (that) he had worked hard. He said, “I am going to work hard.” He said (that) he was going to work hard. He said, “I will work hard.” He said (that) he would work hard. He said, “I can work hard.” He said (that) he could work hard. He said, “I may work hard.” He said (that) he might work hard. He said, “I have to work hard.” He said (that) he had to work hard. He said, “I must work hard.” He said (that) he had to work hard. He said, “I should work hard.” He said (that) he should work hard. (no change)

Convince- to persuade someone or make them certain

Ex: It's useless trying to convince her (that) she doesn't need to lose

any weight.

Offer- to ask someone if they would like to have something or if they would like you to do something

Ex: He was offered a job in Paris.

Agree- to have the same opinion

Ex: I agree with you on this issue.

Insist- to say firmly or demand sth forcefully, especially when others disagree with or oppose what you

say

Ex: Greg still insists (that) he did nothing wrong.

Pretend- to behave as if something is true when you know that it is

not, especially in order to deceive people or as a game

Ex: She's not really hurt - she's only pretending.

Admit: To agree that something is true, especially unwillingly Ex: At first he denied stealing the

money but he later admitted (to) it.

Complain: to say that something is wrong or not satisfactory

Lots of people have complained (about) the noise.

When we report questions, the subject comes before the verb. Direct speech:

Direct speech: “Where are you going?" Reported speech: He asked me where I was going.

Direct speech: "Why is he shouting?" Reported speech: He asked me why he was shouting.

Direct speech: "What do you want?" Reported speech: She asked me what I wanted.

Reported Questions

When reporting questions we don't use the auxiliary verb do, except in negative questions.

Direct speech: "Who doesn't like cheese?"Reported speech: She asked me who didn't like cheese.

•"Where does Peter live?" She asked him where Peter lived.

We report yes / no questions with if or whether.

Direct speech: "Do you want me to come?"Reported speech: I asked him if he wanted me to come.Direct speech: "Have you fed the dog?"Reported speech: She asked me whether I had fed the dog.

Direct Speech:"Are you British or American?" Reported Speech: He asked me whether I was British or American.

•"Is it raining?" She asked if it was raining. •"Have you got a computer?" He wanted to know whether I had a computer. •"Can you type?" She asked if I could type. •"Did you come by train?" He enquired whether I had come by train. •"Have you been to Bristol before?" She asked if I had been to Bristol before.

When we report questions with who, what or which + to be + object, the verb be can come before or after the object.

Direct speech: "Who is the champion?"Reported speech: She asked me who the champion was . She asked me who was the champion.

Direct speech: "What is your favourite colour?"Reported speech: She asked me what my favourite colour was. She asked me what was my favourite colour.

•What is your name?" he asked me. He asked me what my name was. •"How old is your mother?", he asked. He asked how old her mother was. •The policeman said to the boy, "Where do you live?" The policeman asked the boy where he lived. •"What time does the train arrive?" she asked. She asked what time the train arrived. •"When can we have dinner?" she asked. She asked when they could have dinner. •Peter said to John, "Why are you so late?" Peter asked the John why he was so late.