Lesson
We use reported speech when we are saying what other people say, think or believe.- He says he wants it.
- We think you are right.
- I believe he loves her.
- Yesterday you said you didn't like it but now you do!
- She told me he had asked her to marry him.
- I told you she was ill.
- We thought he was in Australia.
- He thinks he loves her.
- I'll tell her you are coming.
- He has said he'll do it.
- You look very nice. = I told him he looked very nice.
- He's working in Siberia now. = She told me he was working in Siberia now.
- Polly has bought a new car. = She said Polly had bought a new car.
- Jo can't come for the weekend. = She said Jo couldn't come for the weekend.
- Paul called and left a message. = He told me Paul had called and had left me a message.
- I'll give you a hand. = He said he would give me a hand.
- He said the train doesn't stop here.
- He said the train didn't stop here.
- She said she likes Sarah.
- She said she liked Sarah.
- I said I didn't want to go.
- Bill said he didn't want to go.
Compare these two sentences. In each case the person actually said "I'll be there at ten tomorrow."
- (If it is later the same day) He said he would be there at ten tomorrow.
- (If it is the next day) He said he would be there at ten today.
- (If we are in a different place) He said he would be there tomorrow at ten.
- (If we are in the place he is coming to) He said he would be here at ten tomorrow.
- "What time is it?" = He asked me what time it was.
- "Why hasn't he come? = She wondered why he hadn't come.
- "When will you be arriving?" = He wanted to know when we would be arriving.
- "What were you doing?" = They questioned him about what he had been doing.
- "147 Oak Street." = I told him what my address was.
- "I didn't have time to do it." = She explained why she hadn't done it.
- "Look at this dress and bag." = She showed me what she had bought.
- "Put the paper here and press this button." = He demonstrated how the scanner worked.
Do you want a ride? = Mike asked me if I wanted a ride.
Are you coming? = They wanted to know if I was coming.
Will you be here later? = She asked me whether I would be here later.