V. Retell the text

SSW 15

Grammar: Indirect Speech/Reported speech

(1) (He said that …) (косвеннаяречь1)

Study this example situation:

You want to tell somebody else what Tom said. There are two ways of doing this: You can repeat Tom's words (direct speech): Tom said ‘I'm feeling ill.’ Or you can use reported speech: Tom said that he was feeling ill. Compare: direct: reported: Том said Tom said that ‘I am feeling ill.’ he was feeling ill. In writing we use ‘ and ’ to show direct speech.

When we use reported speech, the main verb of the sentence is usually past (Tom said that… / I told her that… etc.). The rest of the sentence is usually past too: Tom said that he was feeling ill.

You can leave out that: Tom said (that) he was feeling il

In general, the Present form in direct speech changes to the Past form in reported speech:

Compare direct speech and reported speech:

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 seen / had known etc.):

It is not always necessary to change the verb when you use reported speech. If you report something and it is still true, you do not need to change the verb:

Note that it is also correct to change the verb into the past:

Tom said that New York was more lively than London.

· Ann said that she wanted to go to New York next year.

But you must use a past form when there is a difference between what was said and what is really true. Study this example situation:

You met Sonia a few days ago. She said: ‘Jim is ill.’ (direct speech) Later that day you see Jim. He is looking well and carrying a tennis racket. You say: ‘I didn't expect to see you, Jim. Sonia said you were ill.’   (not ‘Sonia said you are ill’, because clearly he is not ill.)
Say and tell If you say who you are talking to, use tell: · Sonia told me that you were ill. (not ‘Sonia said me’)
Otherwise use say: Sonia said that you were ill. (not ‘Sonia told that…’) What did you say?
But you can ‘say something to somebody’: · Ann said goodbye to me and left. (not ‘Ann said me goodbye’) What did you say to the police?

Tell/ask somebody to do something We also use the infinitive (to do / to stay etc.) in reported speech, especially with tell and ask (for orders and requests):

‘…said to do something’ is also possible:

The doctor said to stay in bed for a few days. (but not ‘The doctor said me…’)

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