Quoted speech and reported speech

12-1 QUOTED SPEECH VS. REPORTED SPEECH

QUOTED SPEECH: Quoted speech refers to reproducing a speaker’s exact words.

Quotation marks are used.

REPORTED SPEECH: Reported speech refers to reproducing the idea of a speaker’s

words. Not all of the speaker’s exact words are used: verb

forms and pronouns may change. Quotation marks are not

used.

12-2 VERB FORM USAGE IN REPORTED SPEECH: FORMAL SEQUENCE OF TENSES

QUOTED SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH

a) He said, “I work hard” He said he worked hard.

b) He said, “I’m working hard” He said he was working hard.

c) He said, “I have worked hard” He said he had worked hard.

d) He said “I worked hard” He said he had worked hard.

e) He said, “I’m going to work hard” He said he was going to work hard.

f) He said, “I will work hard” He said he would work hard.

g) He said, “I can work hard” He said he could work hard.

h) He said, “I may work hard” He said he might work hard.

i) He said, “I have to work hard” He said he had to work hard.

j) He said, “I must work hard” He said he had to work hard.

k) He said, “ I should work hard” He said he should work hard.

l) He said, “ He ought to work hard” He said he ought to work hard.

Exercise 6: Change the quoted speech to reported speech.

1. Jim said, “I’m sleepy” _______________________________________________.

2. Sally said, “I don’t like chocolate” _____________________________________.

3. Mary said, “I’m planning to take a trip” _________________________________.

4. Tom said, “I’ve already eaten lunch” ____________________________________.

5. Linda said, “I called my doctor” _____________________________________.

6. Mr. Rice said, “I’m going to go to Chicago” ____________________________.

7. Fred said, “I will come to the meeting” _______________________________.

8. Jean said, “I can’t afford to buy a new car” ______________________________.

9. Martha said, “I may go to the library” __________________________________.

10. Tom said, “I have to finish my work” _________________________________.

11. Sue said, “ I must talk to Professor Reed” ______________________________.

12. Alice said, “I should visit my uncle” ___________________________________.

12-3 USING SAY VS. TELL

a) Ann said (that) she was hungry.	Sayis followed immediately by a noun clause.
b) Ann told me that she was hungry.	Tellis not followed immediately by a noun clause. Tellis followed immediately by a (pronoun object and then by a noun clause)

12-4 USING ASK IF

Yes/no question Noun clause a) Bob said to me, “Are you hungry?’ Bob asked me if I was hungry.	Ask,not sayor tell is used to report yes/no questions.
b)Bob asked me if I was hungry. c)Bob asked me whetherI was hungry.	Whetherhas the same meaning as if.
d) Bob wanted to know if I was hungry.	In addition to ask, want to knowis frequently used to report yes/no questions.