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High Beginner

GRAMMAR

LESSON 15:

Reported Speech 1

Goal

I can use reported speech to talk about requests, orders, and statements.

Grammar Point

Read the grammar point with your tutor.

Use reported speech with ask, tell, and say to talk about someone’s words.

  • Use ask to talk about requests. The form is ask + [person] + [to-infinitive].

DIRECT SPEECH

REPORTED SPEECH

“Can you open the door?”

Jill asked me to open the door.

“Could you call Amanda?”

Kyle asked me to call Amanda.

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ex

My mom asked us to do the laundry.

ex

I asked Jenna to turn on the air conditioner.

  • Use tell to talk about orders. The form is tell + [person] + [to-infinitive].

DIRECT SPEECH

REPORTED SPEECH

“Open the door.”

Jill told me to open the door.

“Call Amanda.”

Kyle told me to call Amanda.

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ex

My mom told us to do the laundry.

ex

I told Jenna to turn on the air conditioner.

  • Use say to talk about statements. The form is say (that)* + [subject] + [verb].

*there is no difference in meaning between say that and say

DIRECT SPEECH

REPORTED SPEECH

“Amanda likes dogs.”

Jill said Amanda likes dogs.

“It’s not very cold.”

Kyle said that it’s not very cold.

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ex

My friend said that Misako is from Japan.

ex

I said Dylan needs help.

  • When reporting speech with say, it is common to shift verbs back one tense. In many cases, this backshift is optional and does not affect the meaning.** Please use the same verb tense as the direct speech throughout this lesson.***

**backshifting verbs will be covered in a future Grammar lesson

***all reported speech in this lesson is correct even without backshifting

DIRECT SPEECH

REPORTED SPEECH

“Daisy lives in London.”

Jill said Daisy lives in London.

“Cleopatra lived in Alexandria.”

Kyle said that Cleopatra lived in Alexandria.

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ex

My friend said that she’s having a party next week.

ex

I said I had a party last week.

  • When reporting speech with ask, tell, and say, be careful with pronouns and possessive adjectives. You may have to change them.

DIRECT SPEECH

REPORTED SPEECH

“Could you call me back?”

Jill asked me to call her back.

“Send me your report.”

Kyle told me to send him my report.

We want to talk to you.”

Jill and Kyle said they want to talk to me.

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ex

Bill asked me to help him.

ex

I told Dave to talk to you.

ex

My friend said that her sister is in Europe right now.

Sentence Builder

Build new sentences using the grammar point, the original sentences, and the words in parentheses. The form of some words may need to be changed.
Build new sentences using the grammar point, the original sentences, and the words in parentheses. The form of some words may need to be changed.
ex

He said that he’s looking for a new job.

(made breakfast)
   He said that he made breakfast   .
(is going to take a vacation)
   He said that he’s going to take a vacation   .
  • I asked Angela to lend me a pencil.

(turn on the TV)
                            .
(open the window)
                            .
  • Jenna said she can help us.

(went to New York last year)
                            .
(likes koalas)
                            .
  • My mom told me to clean my room.

(wash the dishes)
                            .
(go to bed early)
                            .
  • He asked me to talk to you.

(buy some drinks)
                            .
(bake a cake)
                            .
  • I told my children to study more.

(take a bath)
                            .
(do their homework)
                            .

Practice

Make new sentences using the grammar point, the quotes, and the picture clues. Change the direct speech into reported speech. More than one answer may be possible.

ex

“Can you help me?” – my friend

My friend asked me to help him.
ex

“Can you help me?” – my friend

My friend asked me to help him.
  • “Call your sister.” – Anna

  • “Could you do the laundry?” – my dad

  • “Lisa likes purple.” – Greg

  • “Take out the garbage.” – my mom

  • “My great-grandma was from Mexico.” – Anna

  • “Can you buy milk?” – my dad

  • “I’m going to visit my parents for Christmas.” – my roommate

  • “Could you turn on the air conditioner?” – Greg

  • “Finish your report before the three-day weekend.” – my boss

  • “It’s going to snow.” – my friend

Q&A

Answer the questions using the grammar point and your own information.
  • What did you ask a RareJob Eikaiwa tutor to do recently (ex. explain a word, speak more slowly)?

  • What did you say to your friend recently?

  • What did you tell a family member to do recently?

  • What did the weather report say recently?

  • When you were a child, what did your mom tell you to do?

  • What did a RareJob Eikaiwa tutor tell you to do recently (ex. watch English movies, practice your pronunciation)?

  • What did your friend say to you recently?

  • What did you ask a family member to do recently?

  • When you were in school, what did your teachers tell you to do?

  • What did you say to a family member recently?