REPORTED SPEECH

Utilizamos el estilo indirecto cuando queremos comunicar a alguien lo que otra

persona ha dicho, sin usar las palabras exactas que ésta utilizó.

a) Reported statements (oraciones declarativas)

 Cambios de los tiempos verbales:

ESTILO DIRECTO ESTILO INDIRECTO

Presente simple Pasado simple
I train every day He said (that) he trained every day
Presente continuo Pasado continuo
I’m having a shower He said (that) he was having a shower
Pretérito Perfecto Pretérito pluscuamperfecto
We haven’t seen it yet They said they hadn’t met her
Pasado simple Pretérito pluscuamperfecto
I met her at 3 He said he had met her at 3
Imperativo Infinitivo
Be quiet He told us to be quiet

 Cambios de los verbos modales:

ESTILO DIRECTO ESTILO INDIRECTO

Can Could
I can’t swim He said (that) he couldn’t swim.
Will Would
I’ll send you a postcard He said (that) he would send us a
postcard.
Must / have (got) Had to
You must study more He said (that) we had study more
May Might
It may be true He said (that) it might be true

Los otros verbos modales no cambian.

 El verbo introductor en los estilos directo e indirecto suele ser say . En el

estilo directo, cuando el verbo va sseguido de un objeto de persona, podemos
emplear say to, o bien tell.
Ejemplo:
‘I’m hungry’, he said to me
‘I’m working tonight’, he told me.
Sin embargo en el estilo indirecto , sólo se utilizaría told.
 Los pronombres y adjetivos posesivos de primera persona cambian a tercera
persona.
Ej: He said ‘I can’t find my keys’.
He said (that) he couldn’t find his keys

 El pronombre you cambia a I.

Ej: He said ‘You look tired’
He said I looked tired.
Nota: He said, ‘You look tired, Jane’. – He told Jane she looked tired

 Otras expresiones que cambian:

ESTILO DIRECTO ESTILO INDIRECTO

THIS THAT

HERE THERE

TODAY THAT DAY

YESTERDAY THE DAY BEFORE

THE NEXT DAY/THE FOLLOWING
TOMORROW
DAY
TONIGHT THAT NIGHT

TOMORROW MORNING THE FOLLOWING MORNING

YESTERDAY AFTERNOON THE PREVIOUS AFTERNOON

NEXT THE FOLLOWING
WEEK/MONTH/YEAR WEEK/MONTH/YEAR
LAST WEEK/MONTH/YEAR THE PREVIOUS WEEK/MONTH/YEAR
A WEEK/MONTH/YEAR
A WEEK/MONTH/YEAR BEFORE
AGO

b)Reported questions (Oraciones interrogativas)

ASK KNOW (NOT) KNOW WANT WONDER

Los cambios de los tiempos verbales son los mismos que los de las oraciones
declarativas indirectas
Nota: El orden de las palabras de la pregunta original cambia al orden de una
oración declarativa. El sujeto va inmediatamente detrás del pronombre
interrogativo, y el verbo, detrás del sujeto.
Ejemplo:
He said ‘What is her name?’

Asked
Wondered
He What her name was.
Wanted to know
Didn’t know

Las Yes/no questions van introducidas por las conjunciones if o whether.

Ejemplo:
He said, ‘Can I use your pen?’
He asked me if / whether he could use my pen.

b)Reporting verbs (Verbos introductores del estilo indirecto)

 Oración introducida por that:

Say – tell (+ objeto) – explain – suggest – insist – promise – warn – admit –

agree – remind claim – complain – reply

Ejemplos:
He promised that he would paint the house the followin week.
She suggested we should stay at home.
She told me that she would arrive late

 Verbo + objeto + to + infinitivo:

Ask – tell – order – advise – warn – invite

Ejemplos:
They asked us to stay longer.
She warned me to be careful

 Verbo acabado en –ing.

Apologise for – suggest – recommend – admit – insit on – accuse someone of

Ejemplos:
They acused him of robbing the bank.
They admitted stealing the money.

REPORTED SPEECH: COMMANDS.-

Introductory verbs: the verb “say” may introduced commands in direct speech but
it must be changed to a verb of command in reported speech, e.g.: beg, command,
forbid, order, tell, know, ask... + personal object without preposition.
Indirect commands are usually expressed by a verb of command + object without
preposition + to infinitive.
Negative commands are usually reported by not + to infinitive.
When we turn a command into reported speech, it is necessary to change the
pronouns and possessive adjectives and adverbs of time and place as in the
statements.

EJERCICIOS PARA LA PRÁCTICA

1. Andrew is working.
2. The windows aren’t locked
3. I have fixed the shelves
4. It has been raining
5. We have got plenty of time
6. You can sit over there
7. I may go to Bali again
8. I will help if you like
9. I must finish this report
10. I wasn’t listening
11. When did you start acting, Melissa?
12. Has the taxi arrived yet?
13. What’s the time?
14. Can we take photos?
15. Which way is the Post office?
16. Does Nick need a lift?
17. How can we find out?
18. Can you type?
19. Where can we eat?
20. Have you got a plan?
21. We will pay for the damage
22. You really must be careful
23. I will definitely finish it by next week
24. Would you mind turning the music down?
25. I think you should take a taxi
26. You mustn’t leave the door unlocked
27. I really must have a rest
28. Can I see your ticket?
29. Shall we go to a night club?
30. Can I have some brochures?
31. My parents are very well
32. I’m going to give up my job.
33. Ann has bought a new car
34. I can’t come to the party on Friday.
35. I want to go on holiday, but I don’t know where.
36. I’m going away for a few days.
37. I will see you tomorrow.
38. Do you like it here?
39. My uncle died last week.
40. This meat tastes funny.
41. I’m leaving you now.
42. The train leaves at 11:00 tonight.
43. I’ll phone you this evening.
44. Pete phoned me yesterday
45. What’s Peter address?
46. How does she know my name?
47. Why are all the windows opened?
48. How many books does he want?
49. Where do they keep the money?
50. What time is the meeting?
51. When does the last train leave?
52. How often does Ann go shopping?
53. Do they like me?
54. Will I be ready in time?
55. Is there any food in the house?
56. Is service included or not?
57. Can I pay by cheque?
58. Does my hair look funny?
59. Do they speak English?
60. Am I doing the right thing?
61. Is the meeting on Tuesday or Wednesday?
62. How old are you?
63. He’s ill
64. I’ll be back tomorrow
65. I don’t like this music
66. Where’s the bus station?
67. Have you finished?
68. Nobody loves me.
69. Do you want tea or coffee?
70. I’ll clean the flat.
71. What am I doing here?
72. Her cat understands everything
73. Would you like a drink?
74. “I really must have a rest”, Andrew said.
75. “This meat tastes funny”, Fanny said her mother.
76. “What time is the meeting?”, the pupil asked.
77. “Is there any food in the house?”, Kathleen asked me.
78. “Her cat understands everything”, Mary told Hugh yesterday.
79. “Would you mind turning the music down?”, the teacher asked.
80. “It has been raining a lot”, John said on Monday.
81. “Which way is the Post Office?”, his uncle asked.
82. “I want to go on holiday, but I don’t know where”, he said.
83. “Andrew is working”, Melissa said to me.
84. “ I really must have a rest”, Andrew said.
85. “ This meat tastes funny”, Fanny said her mother.
86. “ What time is the meeting?”, the pupil asked.
87. “ Is there any food in the house?”, Kathleen asked me.
88. “ Her cat understands everything”, Mary told Hugh yesterday.
89. “ Would you mind turning the music down?”, the teacher asked.
90. “ It has been raining a lot”, Jonh said on Monday.
91. “ Which way is the Post Office?”, his uncle asked.
92. “ I want to go on holiday, but I don’t know where”, he said.
93. “ Andrew is working”, Melissa said to me.