Reported Speech: A Comprehensive Guide with Examples

Reported Speech

Types of Reported Speech

Yes/No Questions

Structure: S + reporting verb + if/whether + S + past tense verb

Example: He asked if he was late.

Wh- Questions

Structure: S + reporting verb + wh-word + S + past tense verb

Example: He asked where he had left his keys.

Orders and Requests

Structure: S + reporting verb + object + (not) + to + infinitive

Note: Use "told" for orders.

Example: He told me to be quiet.

Suggestions

Structure 1: S + suggest (tense) + (not) + verb-ing

Structure 2: S + suggest + that + S + should + infinitive

Example: She suggested going for a walk.

Reporting Verbs

Verbs followed by "to + infinitive"

Examples: agree, offer, refuse, promise, threaten

Example: We agreed not to buy a car.

Additional verbs with object: advise, invite, tell, warn, ask, encourage, order, persuade, remind

Example: He invited us to go to the party.

Verbs followed by "verb-ing" (gerund)

Examples: admit, apologize for, recommend, deny, suggest, insist on

Note: Avoid using "suggested/promised me going."

Example: He admitted making a mistake.

Verbs followed by "that + clause"

Examples: admit, agree, explain, insist, recommend, say, add, announce, claim, complain, declare, deny, mention, predict, promise, reply, reveal, state

Example: He insisted that we had to study.

Additional verbs with object: tell, warn, persuade, remind

Example: He told me that he had gone to the store.

Vocabulary: Travel and Tourism

People: campers, holidaymakers, sightseers (tourists)

Destinations: campsite, seaside resort, city center, countryside, youth hostel

Types of travel: cruise, package holiday, round-the-world trip

Verbs: hitch-hike, get on (board), get off (disembark), set off (leave), book, hire (rent)

Other: travel agent, guidebook, airfare, airline, guidelines, exchange rate, travel sickness, exchange trip, boarding card

Additional vocabulary: extracurricular, intercontinental, multilingual, overspend, reclaim, underestimate

Prepositions: worry about, pay for, choose between, learn about, queue for, complain about

Changes in Reported Speech

Verb tenses:

• Present simple to past simple
• Present continuous to past continuous
• Past simple to past perfect
• Present perfect to past perfect
• Will to would
• Can to could
• May to might
• Must to had to

Time expressions:

• Today to that day/night
• Last week to the previous week
• Next week to the following week
• Years ago to years before
• Now to then
• The day before yesterday to two days before
• Here to there
• This to that
• These to those

Pronouns: Change pronouns as needed (e.g., I to he/she, we to they, etc.)

Example: "I am going to the beach today," she said. -> She said that she was going to the beach that day.