Английский язык. Правила построения предложений в косвенной речи

Reported statements

You have to change:

• pronouns

• tenses (backshift)

• place and time expressions

Present Simple

Past Simple

He said: “ I speak English.”

He said, “ I am happy.”

He said that he spoke English.

He said that he was happy.

• They said, "We are busy.“ They said that _______________
• He said, "I know a better restaurant.“ He said that ______________
• She said, "It is very quiet here.“ She said ______________
• He said, “I come here every day. ” He said that ____________
• She said, "I don't know where my shoes are.“ She said that ________
• They said, "This is our book.“ They said _______________
• She said,“I am a nurse and work in a hospital.“ He said that ________

Past Continuous

Present Continuous

She said, “I am finishing my work.”

They said, “We aren’t fighting !”

She said that she was finishing her work.

They said that they were not fighting .

• She said, "I am reading.“ She said that ________________
• He said, "I am writing a test.“ He said __________________
• Susan: "I'm watching TV.“ Susan said that ____________
• Richard: "I am going to ride a skateboard.“ Richard said that ______
• Mum: “She’s talking on the telephone”. My mum said that _______
• He said, “I'm listening to my new CD”. He said that __________
• Teacher: “They are visiting the museum”. Their teacher said that ___

Future Simple

Future in the Past (Conditional)

She said: “I' ll go to the cinema later.”

They said: “She’ ll be late.”

She said that she would go to the cinema later.

They said that she would be late.

• Mum: “Lucy will definitely come.” __________________
• He: “I will stop smoking on Tuesday.” __________________
• I: “John won't do it.” _________________________
• She: “It won't rain I'm sure.” __________________
• Teacher: “That girl will never pass the exam.” _________________
• They: “It will be cold tonight.” _______________
• He: “Jenny will cook dinner.” _______________

Present Simple, Present Continuous, Future Simple

• I’ m having a party next week. He said ____________
• Someone is following me. I said ____________
• I can’t see you. She said ___________
• I ’ll have to write to your parents. She told the boys _______
• You are the best girl in the world. He told her __________
• We are still packing our suitcases. The girls said _________
• Mrs. Green will send it to me. He said ______________
• I know a man who can do it. He told me ___________
• They are waiting outside. I told him _____________
• I’ ll never forget him! She told me ___________

Present Simple, Present Continuous, Future Simple

• The news will be on TV at 6 o’clock. Chris said _________
• They are going to meet Susie at four. She said __________
• I think the work isn’t very interesting. I told her _________
• We ’ll have to wait till she comes. They said_________
• I’ m not doing my homework. She said _________
• I know we don’t have enough money. He said _________
• We are planning our wedding. They said _______
• Breakfast is ready. She said _________
• I am doing the washing up. Mum said ________
• I don’t know what they will say . She said _________

Past Simple

Past Perfect

He said, “Jane left the party early.”

Sam: “She didn't buy the dress.”

He said that Jane had left the party early.

Sam said that she hadn’t bought the dress.

• She said: “Jane left the party early.” ______________
• Mary said: “They visited Japan.” ______________
• I said: “He met his girlfriend in a café.” _____________
• They said: “She forgot to bring the CDs.” _______________
• Dad said: “He didn't take a shower.” __________________
• Teacher: “John never studied German.” _____________
• I: “I didn't like the food in the restaurant.” ______________

Past Perfect

Present Perfect

She said: “I' ve never been to Brazil.”

He said: “I haven't seen Julie for ages.”

She said that she had never been to Brazil.

He said that he hadn’t seen Julie.

• Teacher: “He hasn't been to school this week.” _______________
• He: “I've never tried skateboarding.” _______________
• She: “Mr Black has written three books.” ___________________
• Doctor: “He has eaten too much chocolate.” _____________
• Mum: “Lucy has drunk six cups of coffee today.” __________
• Lucy: “She has never swum in the sea.” _______________
• I: “I haven't met Richard before.” __________________

Past Perfect Continuous

Past Continuous

He said: “We were going down the street.”

He said that they had been going down the street.

• He: “They were watching TV!” He said that _____________
• She: “I was doing my homework.” _______________
• We: “We weren’t playing computer games!” ___________
• Mum: “I was waiting for you at the bus stop.” _____________
• He: “It was raining when I came out.” ______________
• He: “She was talking on the phone. _____________________
• They: “We were listening to music.” _________________

Direct Speech

Reported Speech

Present Simple

Past Simple

Present Continuous

Past Continuous

Past Simple

Past Perfect

Present Perfect

Past Perfect

Past Continuous

Past Perfect Continuous

Present Perfect Continuous

Past Perfect Continuous

Future I (going to)

was / were going to

Future I (will)

Conditional I (would)

Conditional I (would)

Place and time expressions

For place and time expressions you have to check whether place and time are the same in direct and reported speech or not . Check out the following example:

It is Friday and you meet James at a restaurant. James tells you that he saw Caroline in this restaurant today. (“I saw Caroline here today.”) A few minutes later, Helen joins you and you want to report what James has told you. Place (here) and time (today) are the same and you can say:

→ James said that he had seen Caroline here today .

One day later, you meet Mary at the same restaurant. Again, you want to report to her what James has told you. The place is the same, but not the time (it happened yesterday). So you would say:

→ James said that he had seen Caroline here yesterday .

Place and time expressions

Still a few days later, Tom rings you at home. Again, you want to report to him what James has told you. However, now you are not at the restaurant (but at home) and a few days have passed since then. So you would say:

→ James said that he had seen Caroline at the restaurant on Friday .

or

→ I met James in a restaurant on Friday and he said that he had seen Caroline there that day .

Direct Speech

Reported Speech

today

that day

now

then

yesterday

the day before

…  days ago

…  days before

last week

the week before

next year

the following year

tomorrow

the next day /

the following day

here

there

this

that

these

those

Verbs to use instead of said & told

HOW?

WHERE FROM?

INFORMATION

WHAT?

where information comes from

• He said that he needed to talk to you.
• She heard that we were going on vacation.
• He thought that the picture was beautiful.
• They read that aliens had landed in New York.
• She wrote that she would come later.

He thought it looked like his mother.

thought

My mum will like it!

• “ It was a waste of time.”
• “ This is the ugliest thing I have ever seen!”
• “ I can buy this if I save my money.”
• “ It is too expensive!”
• “ I could hang this on my wall.”

heard

• “ A hurricane is coming.”
• “ The weather will be hot and sunny.”
• “ A new planet has been discovered.”
• “ The war is over!”

He heard that Mr. Smith was getting married

read

“ There is a big sale on Wednesday .”

“ The bank was robbed.”

“ The new play “Dogs” is a big success.”

“ There will be a blizzard on Saturday.”

“ Electricity lines have been blown down by the wind.”

She read (in the newspaper) that the museum would open on Thursday.

wrote

“ Students have to bring their own lunch.”

“ We will meet in front of the school.”

“ We have already chosen the place.”

“ We went to the same place last year.”

“ We will go even if it rains.”

He wrote (a memo) that there would be a picnic on Monday.

the way something was said

• Yelled
• Whispered
• Shouted
• Insisted
• Joked
• Screamed
• Groaned
• Stammered
• Sobbed
• Sigh

“ It wasn’t my fault!”

what was said

• Threatened
• Promised
• Agreed
• Refused
• Encouraged

promised

The knight said that he would slay the dragon.

“ I’ll take you to a movie for your birthday.”

“ I’ll bake you some cookies.”

“ I’ll buy you an ice-cream if you eat your dinner.”

She promised to buy her son a bike for Christmas (if he was a good boy).

threatened

“ If you don’t do your homework, I’ll give you an ‘F’.”

“ If I see you around here again, I’ll call the police.”

“ If you don’t do what I want, then you’ll be grounded.”

He threatened to kill him (if he didn’t do that)