Reported Speech
Listen to four conversations using the grammar point.
Answer the following questions about the interview.
Grammar Notes
Point 1: There are many verbs in English we use to report the speech of another person.
- I heard that someone was getting promoted
- She say that you are leaving.
- Bill told me you are going back to school.
- Did she mention when she is coming back?
Point 2: The verb for the reported speech is connected to a "that clause" or noun clause.
- He said that he would be late.
- The newspaper reported that there will be a parade next week.
- He told me that he is not coming.
- He claimed that he had spent all of this money.
Point 3: In spoken English, the word "that" is often not said.
- He said he would be late.
- The newspaper reported there will be a parade next week.
- He told me he is not coming.
- He claimed he had spent all of this money.
Point 4: When reporting verbs are used for questions, the subject and verb are not inverted.
- Did he say when he is coming to the party?
- When is he coming to the party?
- Did he tell you why he is mad?
- Why is he mad?
Point 5 : The verbs "tell" and "ask" need an object. Most other reporting verbs do not.
- He told me he was not hungry.
- He said he was angry.
- She asked me if I was tired.
- She questioned if I a was tired.
Point 6 : The verbs "tell" and "ask"can be followed with an infinitive phrase instead of a sentence.
- He told me not to come.
- He said that I should not come.
- She told us to hurry up.
- She said that we needed to hurry.
- She asked me to help her.
- She asked me if I can could help her.
- They asked us to pay for dinner.
- They asked if we could pay for dinner.
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About the Teacher
My name is Todd Beuckens and I am an ESL teacher in Thailand. I created this site to provide teachers and students free audio lessons and learning materials not usually found in commercial textbooks.