タビスタ | まったく新しいオンライン英会話
[D-C] Reported Speech

LET'S READ! 📖

Direction: Read the passage below then answer the questions being asked.

Reported Speech-01


Sophie Brown’s 18th birthday was really bad. A radio station told listeners that there was going to be a party next day, so many teenagers thought the party was open to everyone. The teenagers caused 30, 0000 euros of damage to the Brown’s expensive house. One teenagers said he didn't know Sophie but he liked parties. Sophie said that she felt terrible and that she would never have another party again. Her father told reporters that he was thinking of getting the radio station to pay for the damage. Sophie’s mother said she couldn’t understand why the teenagers wanted to damage their lovely house. We tried to talk to Sophie again today but her father said she is not talking to reporters any more.

Comprehension questions

1. What caused the chaos at Sophie Brown's 18th birthday party?

2. What were Sophie's parents' reactions to the situation, and what actions did they consider taking afterward?

LET'S UNDERSTAND! 📚

I. Reported Speech

1. We can talk about what people said or thought by using reported speech.

    Example:

  • Sophie said that she wanted a party.


2. If the verb of saying or thinking is in present, there is no charge of tense for the words reported.

    Example:

  • Her father says that she is ill.


3. When the verb of saying or thinking is in the past, the verb in the reported speech usually moves into the past.

    Example:

  • Sophie told her mom she was sorry.

direct speechreported speech

present simple

"It seems strange."

past simple

He thought that it seemed strange.

present continuous

"I am staying for a few days."

past continuous

She said that she was staying for a few days.

can

"We can swim very well."

could

They said that they could swim very well.

will

"It will be great!"

would

She thought that it would be great.

NOTES
  1. Used to and would do not change in reported speech.

  2. I used to be Sophie's friend. ➡ She said she used to be Sophie's friend.

4. The verb in the reported speech does not need to change if the information is still true or relevant now.

    Example:

  • Sophie told me that she is 18.


5. That often links the verb of saying or thinking to the reported speech. That can be left out, especially in speaking and informal language.

    Example:

  • She said that she wanted a big party

  • She said she wanted a big party


6. Pronouns and time and place expressions may change in reported speech.

    Example:

  • we ➡ they

  • now ➡ then

  • next week ➡ the week after

  • this morning ➡ that morning

  • tomorrow ➡ the next day

  • here ➡ there

  • John: "I love parties." ➡ John said he loved parties.

  • "There will be a party tomorrow." ➡ A radio station told listeners that there would be a party the next day.

LET'S PRACTICE! 📝

A. Direction: Pick five numbers from 1-10. For each number you have chosen, your mentor will send a sentence in the chatbox. These sentences are problems written in direct speech and you're going to share what the problem is all about in indirect speech. Then, offer a short advice.


Reported Speech


B. Direction: Choose one of the three situations below and respond using reported speech.

  1. Gathering: Reflect on a conversation you had with a family member or friend about a gathering or event. Report what was discussed, including the date, location, and any special arrangements.

  2. Meeting: Talk about a business meeting you attended where important decisions were made. Report the key points discussed, including any agreements or future plans.

  3. Current events: Think about a recent news article you read ( or online news you watched) . Summarize the key points using reported speech.