Grammar Reference. Unit 12

12.1 Tense changes in reported statements

1. It's usual for the verb in the reported clause to "move one tense back" if the reporting verb is in the past tense (e.g., said, told).

The verb is also "moves one tense back" when we are reporting thoughts and feelings.

I thought she was married, but she isn't.
I didn't know he was a teacher. I thought he worked in a bank.
I forgot you were coming. Never mind. Come in.
I hoped you would call.

2. There is not tense change if:

The reporting verb is in the present tense (e.g. says, asks).

"The train will be late." He says the train will be late.
"I come from Spain." She says she comes from Spain.

The reported speech is about something that is still true.

"Rain forest are being destroyed." She told him that rain forests are being destroyed.
"I hate football." I told him I hate football.

Some modal verbs change.

Other modal verbs don't change.

"You should go to bed." He told me I should go to bed.
"It might rain." She said she thought it might rain.

Must stays as must, or changes to had to.

"I must go!"
He said he must go. He said he had to go.

12.2 Reporting verbs

There are many reporting verbs.

We rarely use say with an indirect object (i.e., the person spoken to).

She said she was going.
NOT. She said to me she was going.

Tell is always used with an indirect object in reported speech.

She told me the news.
He told the doctor the news.
They told us the news.
She told her husband the news.

We can use that after say and tell.

He told her (that) he would be home late.
She said (that) sales were down from last year.

Many verbs are more descriptive than say and tell, for example,
explain, interrupt, demand, insist, admit, complain, warn.

He explained that sales were down that year.
He complained that he would be home late.
She admitted that sales were down this year.

Sometimes we report the idea, rather then the actual words.

"I'll lend you some money." He offered to lend me some money.
"I won't help you." She refused to help me.

12.3 Reporting questions

1. The word order in reported questions is different in reported speech. There is no inversion of subject and auxiliary verb and there is no do / does /did. This is similar to indirect questions.

"Why have you come here?" I asked her why she had come here.
"What time is it?" He wants to know what time it is.
"Where do you live?" She asked me where I lived.

Note: We do not use a question mark in a reported question.
We do not use say in reported questions.

He said, "How old are you?"
He asked me how old I am.

2. If there is no question word, use if or whether.

She wants to know if she should wear a dress.
She wants to know whether she should wear a dress.

12.4 Reported commands, requests, etc.

1. For reported commands, requests, offers, and advice, we use verb + person + to + infinitive.

They told us to go away.
They asked me to look after their cat.
He urged the teachers to go back to work.
She persuaded me to have my hair cut.
I advised the President to leave immediately,

Note: Say is not possible. Use ask, told, etc.

2. For negative commands, use not before to.

He told me not to tell anyone.
The police warned people not to go out.

3. We use tell for reported statements and reported commands, but the form is different.

Reported statements
He told me that he was going.
They told us that they were going abroad.
She told them what had been happening.

Reported commands
He told me to keep still.
The police told people to move on.
My parents told me to clean up my room.

We use ask before reported commands and reported questions, but the form is different.

Reported commands
I was asked to attend the interview.
He asked me to open my suitcase.
She asked me not to leave.

Reported questions
He asked me what I did for a living.
I asked her how much the rent was.
She asked me why I had come.