Tense choice in reporting
If the action reported happened in the past, there is no doubt which tense to use. however, when the action in direct speech is always true or was told some time ago and it has not happened yet then the tense we should use is usually the same as the action told in direct speech.
direct speech: I love chocolate = things we love/like/hate/dislike do not usually change. I have probably always loved chocolate and I still love it. In this case, the reported speech will look like this:
he said that he loves chocolate.
However, if the person who said ” I love chocolate” is dead, then we should report what this person said following the rules of tenses changes.
direct speech: I love chocolate.
reported speech: he said that he loved chocolate.
another example:
direct speech: I will buy milk later today.
it is the same day and the action has not occurred yet. in this case, we will say:
reported speech: she said that she will buy milk later today.
Open questions
open questions or wh-questions in reported speech are a bit complex. the good point to remember is that you can not have auxiliary verbs – do/does/has been/have/been/had/had been/will/will be – in the reported question. let's look at some examples:
direct speech: where do you live?
reported speech: she wanted to know where I lived.
direct speech: when will they come home?
reported speech: I wanted to know when they would come home.
direct speech: who has won the race?
reported speech: I wanted to know who had won the race.
yes/no questions
yes/no questions when reported require the use of if or whether in the reported speech.
direct speech: have you done your homework?
reported speech: he asked me if I had done my homework.
direct speech: do you speak Chinese?
reported speech: he asked me if I spoke Chinese.
direct speech: will you cook soup for dinner?
reported speech: they asked me if I would cook soup for dinner.
direct speech: didn't you come home late?
reported speech: he asked me if I didn't come home late.
Modal verbs
modal verbs that do not change in reported speech:
could, would, should, might, needn't, ought to, used to, could have, should have, would have
modal verbs that change in reported speech:
will > would
can > could
may > might
when modal verbs are used in reference to present or future situations as well as when they are used in the present tense:
will > will
can > can
may > may
other changes:
shall > would, should (offers, suggestions)
must > had to
Offers/suggestions/orders/intentions/promises
offers, suggestions, orders, intentions, and promises in reported speech can be followed by some verbs in the reporting clause. they include:
a to-infinitive clause
direct speech: I'll do the grocery shopping
reported speech: she offered to do the grocery shopping.
verbs which are directly followed by a to-infinitive clause include:
propose, agree, demand, guarantee, promise, swear, threaten, volunteer
an object + to-infinitive clause:
direct speech: be careful, Martin!
reported speech: they told Martin to be careful.
verbs that are directly followed by an object + to-infinitive clause include: encourage, advise, ask, call on, command, instruct, invite, order, persuade, recommend, remind, request, urge, warn
-
ATTENTION!
SAY VS TELL
I SAID TO HER THAT SHE SHOULD DO IT.
I SAID THAT SHE SHOULD DO IT.
BUT
I TOLD HER TO DO IT
I TOLD HER THAT SHE SHOULD DO IT.
Compare:
I asked to water the plants = I asked someone to water the plants
they asked me to water the plants = someone asked me to water the plants
she promised to repair my bike = she promised that she would repair my bike
they demanded to be heard = they demanded that they (should) be heard
verbs insist, suggest, order, and say are not followed by a to-infinitive clause
she said that I had to wash my hands.
when we met he suggested that we eat at that restaurant.
verbs advise and order can be followed either by an object + to-infinitive clause or that-clause
I ordered them to leave my office = I ordered that they leave my office
verbs such as intend, want, long, offer, refuse, volunteer are followed by a to-infinitive but not a that-clause
I refused to remain silent.
a reporting clause when reporting a suggestion with verbs advise, propose, recommend, suggest can be followed by an – ing or that-clause
he suggested vising that museum = he suggested that i should visit that museum.