English 24
17th May 2003
A little bit of GRAMMAR

Hi Guys!
Here we are again with another look at reported speech. This week we focused on how in reported speech it is not always necessary to change the verb. In cases where you are reporting something and you feel that it is still true, there is no need to change the tense of the verb. Look at the following example.
Direct speech: Chiara said: "London is bigger than Milan".
Reported speech: Chiara said (that) London is (or was) bigger than Milan.

Direct speech: Chiara said: "I want to go to Newcastle next year".
Reported speech: Chiara said (that) she wants (or wanted) to go to Newcastle next year.

As you have seen you can leave the verb in the present tense or change it into the past tense. However you must use a past tense when there is a difference between what was said and what is really true. Check out the example below:

You bump into Sarah. She said, " Chiara is ill". (direct speech)
Later that day you see Chiara in the pub drinking cocktails and looking very well, if a little tipsy. You say: "I'm really surprised to see you in the pub drinking cocktails, Sarah said that you were ill".
(Not "that you are ill", because she isn't!) Therefore remember to still use the past tense when there is a discrepancy between what is said and the truth.

Also remember that MUST, MIGHT, COULD, WOULD, SHOULD and OUGHT stay the same in reported speech. MAY in direct speech usually changes to might in reported speech.
Next week we will be looking at SAY and TELL.

A Short Practice Exercise

Exercise 1
Look at each situation and write what you would say if you were in them.
Tom says, "I can't swim". An hour later you see him swimming in the sea. What do you say when you see him? ………… I thought you said you couldn't swim.

1. Sean said, "I've given up smoking". Later that afternoon you see him smoking a cigarette. What do you say? …………………………………………..
2. Anna said, " I'm on a diet". At lunchtime you see her eating a huge cream cake. What do you say?…………………………………………………………………
3. Your friend says, " I feel ill, I'm going to go home". An hour later you see her laughing and joking in the centre of town. What do you say? ……………………………….
4. Molly says, " I never watch TV. I think it's a load of rubbish". The next day she is talking about a television programme she has seen. What do you say?………………………………………..
5. Your colleague says, "I'm not hungry, I think I'll skip lunch today". Then at lunchtime you see her eating lunch with someone. What do you say? …………………………….
6. You arranged to meet Elisa outside the cinema at 8pm. She said, "I won't be late". She arrives 30 minutes late. What do you say? ………

Answers

Exercise 1
1. I thought you said you had given up smoking.
2. I thought you said you were on a diet.
3. I though you said you felt ill and that you were going to go home.
4. I thought you said you never watched TV. (because you thought it was a load of rubbish.)
5. I thought you said you weren't hungry and you would be skipping lunch today.
6. I thought you said you wouldn't be late.