1. Module 11 MGL: Reported Speech
Units: 50 (ex.2), 51 (ex. 1exam exercise, 3), 52 (ex. 2) + review exercise 2
1.1. introduction
- Reported speech = utterance is taken out of its setting and placed in a new one
express meaning not exact words
Pronouns change
Verb phrase changes
Place indication changes
Original statement is embedded in a noun clause preceded by a reported /
reporting verb
e.g., I have lived here for 20 years. He said he had lived there for 20 years.
- Reported speech is used in academic language more often than in less formal writing
which often uses direct speech
punctuation: ‘…’ or “…” traditionally after a comma (but colon is increasingly used)
when DS is followed by a phrase, such as : she said, the comma is placed before
the second inverted comma (‘…,’ she said)
1.2. patterns in reported speech
1.2.1. say, tell, think (most frequently used in informal spoken
situations)
⚠️say ≠ tell
you say something (to someone) e.g., she told us that …
you tell someone something e.g., she said that …
- reporting verb + that ?
register “that” is often omitted in spoken Eng
ALWAYS add “that” after: reply, respond, answer, shout
1.2.2. common reporting verbs (to report statements)
Reporting verbs with (that)-clause Mention, say
“I’ve been ill”
Prof. Deconinck mentioned (that) she had been ill
Prof Deconinck said (that) she had been ill
Reporting verbs with objects (= hearer) followed by a Tell, assure, convince, inform, notify, persuade,
that-clause remind, warn
“she has gone home”
he told me that she had gone home
“she will be home”
1
, He assured me that she would be home
Reporting verbs with to + object followed by a that- Say, admit, confess, mention, propose, report
clause “she won’t be better tomorrow”
he said to me that she wouldn’t be better
tomorrow
“she has a virus”
he admitted to me that she had a virus
Reporting verbs with with + object followed by a that- Agree, argue, check, confirm, disagree
clause “you’re right. We should give her a ring”
He agreed with me that we should give her a ring
Reporting verbs with object + infinitive Invite, encourage, ask, expect, order, remind, urge,
warn
“Drink enough coffee before our grammar class”
Ms. Holtzem warned us to drink enough coffee
before our grammar class
reporting verbs with an infinitive Apply, decide, offer, decline, demand, refuse,
volunteer
“I will get us a coffee later”
She offered to get us a coffee later.
Reporting verbs with an infinitive or that-clause Promise, agree, claim, hope, propose, threaten, vow
“I will get coffee, I promise”
She promised to get coffee
She promised that she would get coffee
Reporting verbs with gerund or a that-clause Deny, suggest, admit, mention, propose, recommend,
report
“I didn’t have any coffee yet, I swear”
she denied that she had already had a coffee
she denied having had a coffee
1.2.3. reporting negative statements
- the verb within the statement negative, not the reporting verb
e.g. Calvin says: “I still haven’t been able to log onto MyGrammarLab.”
Calvin said that he still hasn’t been able to log onto MyGrammarLab
- BUT not with “thinking” verbs such as think, expect, plan, intend
in that case we make the reporting verb negative
e.g., Mother says: “Miley Cyrus is not a good role model for young girls.”
Mother doesn’t think Miley Cyrus is a good role model for young girls.
1.2.4. weak/neutral/strong reporting verbs
2
, 1.3. changes in reported speech
1.3.1. backshift
- to change the tense of the original words
present simple past simple
3
Units: 50 (ex.2), 51 (ex. 1exam exercise, 3), 52 (ex. 2) + review exercise 2
1.1. introduction
- Reported speech = utterance is taken out of its setting and placed in a new one
express meaning not exact words
Pronouns change
Verb phrase changes
Place indication changes
Original statement is embedded in a noun clause preceded by a reported /
reporting verb
e.g., I have lived here for 20 years. He said he had lived there for 20 years.
- Reported speech is used in academic language more often than in less formal writing
which often uses direct speech
punctuation: ‘…’ or “…” traditionally after a comma (but colon is increasingly used)
when DS is followed by a phrase, such as : she said, the comma is placed before
the second inverted comma (‘…,’ she said)
1.2. patterns in reported speech
1.2.1. say, tell, think (most frequently used in informal spoken
situations)
⚠️say ≠ tell
you say something (to someone) e.g., she told us that …
you tell someone something e.g., she said that …
- reporting verb + that ?
register “that” is often omitted in spoken Eng
ALWAYS add “that” after: reply, respond, answer, shout
1.2.2. common reporting verbs (to report statements)
Reporting verbs with (that)-clause Mention, say
“I’ve been ill”
Prof. Deconinck mentioned (that) she had been ill
Prof Deconinck said (that) she had been ill
Reporting verbs with objects (= hearer) followed by a Tell, assure, convince, inform, notify, persuade,
that-clause remind, warn
“she has gone home”
he told me that she had gone home
“she will be home”
1
, He assured me that she would be home
Reporting verbs with to + object followed by a that- Say, admit, confess, mention, propose, report
clause “she won’t be better tomorrow”
he said to me that she wouldn’t be better
tomorrow
“she has a virus”
he admitted to me that she had a virus
Reporting verbs with with + object followed by a that- Agree, argue, check, confirm, disagree
clause “you’re right. We should give her a ring”
He agreed with me that we should give her a ring
Reporting verbs with object + infinitive Invite, encourage, ask, expect, order, remind, urge,
warn
“Drink enough coffee before our grammar class”
Ms. Holtzem warned us to drink enough coffee
before our grammar class
reporting verbs with an infinitive Apply, decide, offer, decline, demand, refuse,
volunteer
“I will get us a coffee later”
She offered to get us a coffee later.
Reporting verbs with an infinitive or that-clause Promise, agree, claim, hope, propose, threaten, vow
“I will get coffee, I promise”
She promised to get coffee
She promised that she would get coffee
Reporting verbs with gerund or a that-clause Deny, suggest, admit, mention, propose, recommend,
report
“I didn’t have any coffee yet, I swear”
she denied that she had already had a coffee
she denied having had a coffee
1.2.3. reporting negative statements
- the verb within the statement negative, not the reporting verb
e.g. Calvin says: “I still haven’t been able to log onto MyGrammarLab.”
Calvin said that he still hasn’t been able to log onto MyGrammarLab
- BUT not with “thinking” verbs such as think, expect, plan, intend
in that case we make the reporting verb negative
e.g., Mother says: “Miley Cyrus is not a good role model for young girls.”
Mother doesn’t think Miley Cyrus is a good role model for young girls.
1.2.4. weak/neutral/strong reporting verbs
2
, 1.3. changes in reported speech
1.3.1. backshift
- to change the tense of the original words
present simple past simple
3
