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Using REPORTING VERBS
If you want to tell someone what another person said, you can use the form called Reported Speech, or Indirect Speech.
Example: Amy: I study English. Eugene (to you): What did she say? You: She said that she studied English.
Amy: I study English. Eugene (to you): What did she say? You: She said that she studied English.
Eugene (to you): What did she say?
You: She said that she studied English.
Reported/Indirect Speech begins with a CLAUSE that includes a REPORTING VERB.
Examples of CLAUSES with REPORTING VERBS in them: Roger said ... Roger said that ... Paula replied ... Paula replied that ... Iris advised me ... Grandpa promised him ... List of some commonly used REPORTING VERBS: These VERBS may be followed by the word 'that' (you decide!). Example 1: Roger said he wanted to eat dinner. Example 2: Roger said that he wanted to eat dinner. agree concede joke reply report respond retort say scream shout yell List of some commonly used REPORTING VERBS that can be followed by an OBJECT PRONOUN: These VERBS are be followed by an INFINITIVE. Example 1: Roger warned me to give him dinner. Example 2: Roger reminded his wife to make dinner for him. advise allow encourage order promise remind tell warn
Roger said ...
Roger said that ...
Paula replied ...
Paula replied that ...
Iris advised me ...
Grandpa promised him ...
List of some commonly used REPORTING VERBS: These VERBS may be followed by the word 'that' (you decide!). Example 1: Roger said he wanted to eat dinner. Example 2: Roger said that he wanted to eat dinner.
List of some commonly used REPORTING VERBS that can be followed by an OBJECT PRONOUN: These VERBS are be followed by an INFINITIVE. Example 1: Roger warned me to give him dinner. Example 2: Roger reminded his wife to make dinner for him.
If the REPORTING VERB is in the SIMPLE PAST TENSE, the verb in the original quotation will be changed to a past form also. Also, notice that reported speech does not use any quotation marks.
Example for each tense: Direct Quotation Reported Speech Amy said, "I study English." She said that she studied English. Amy said, "I am studying English." She said that she was studying English. Amy said, "I have studied English." She said that she had studied English. Amy said, "I studied English." She said that she had studied English. Amy said, "I had studied English." She said that she had studied English. Amy said, "I am going to study English." She said that she was going to study English. Example for each modal: Direct Quotation Reported Speech Amy said, "I may study English." She said that she might study English. Amy said, "I must study English." She said that she had to study English. Amy said, "I have to study English." She said that she had to study English. Amy said, "I can study English." She said that she could study English. Amy said, "I might study English." She said that she might study English. * Amy said, "I should study English." She said that she should study English.* Amy said, "I ought to study English." She said that she ought to study English.* *NOTE: This modal does not change to a past form.
Direct Quotation
Reported Speech
Amy said, "I study English."
She said that she studied English.
Amy said, "I am studying English."
She said that she was studying English.
Amy said, "I have studied English."
She said that she had studied English.
Amy said, "I studied English."
Amy said, "I had studied English."
Amy said, "I am going to study English."
She said that she was going to study English.
Example for each modal:
Amy said, "I may study English."
She said that she might study English.
Amy said, "I must study English."
She said that she had to study English.
Amy said, "I have to study English."
Amy said, "I can study English."
She said that she could study English.
Amy said, "I might study English."
She said that she might study English. *
Amy said, "I should study English."
She said that she should study English.*
Amy said, "I ought to study English."
She said that she ought to study English.*
*NOTE: This modal does not change to a past form.
If the REPORTING VERB is in the SIMPLE PRESENT, PRESENT PERFECT or FUTURE tense, the verb in the original quotation does not change.
Examples: Direct Quotation Reported Speech Amy says, "I study English." She says that she studies English. Amy has said, "I study English." She has said that she studies English. Amy will say, "I study English." She will say that she studies English. Amy is going to say, "I study English." She is going to say that she studies English.
Amy says, "I study English."
She says that she studies English.
Amy has said, "I study English."
She has said that she studies English.
Amy will say, "I study English."
She will say that she studies English.
Amy is going to say, "I study English."
She is going to say that she studies English.
If the quotation is in the IMPERATIVE tense, the verb in the original quotation changes to an INFINITIVE.
Examples: Direct Quotation Reported Speech Amy said, "Study English." She said to study English. Amy said to me, "Study English." She said to me to study English.* She told me to study English.* Amy said to Derek, "Study English." She said to him to study English.* She told him to study English.* *NOTE: If you use an OBJECT PRONOUN in the REPORTED CLAUSE, you must change the VERB 'say' to 'say to' or 'tell'.
Amy said, "Study English."
She said to study English.
Amy said to me, "Study English."
She said to me to study English.* She told me to study English.*
Amy said to Derek, "Study English."
She said to him to study English.* She told him to study English.*
*NOTE: If you use an OBJECT PRONOUN in the REPORTED CLAUSE, you must change the VERB 'say' to 'say to' or 'tell'.
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Copyright © 1996 Dr. Sheryl Beller-Kenner revised: 10/20/99