Grammar
Reported speech
REPORTED SPEECH
You want to tell someone else what Jerry said. There are two ways of doing this:
You can repeat Jerry's words (direct speech): "Jerry said, ‘I'm feeling ill.'”
Or you can use reported speech: "Jerry said that he was feeling ill.”
When we use reported speech, the reporting verb is usually in the past (Jerry said that…/ I told her that… etc.). The rest of the sentence is usually in the past as well:
Jerry said that he was feeling ill.
I told her that I didn't have any money.
You can leave out that:
Jerry said he was feeling ill.
I told her I didn't have any money.
Study the differences between direct speech and reported speech:
You met Mary. Here are some of the Later you tell somebody what Mary said.
Direct speech // Reported speech
"My parents are very well.” // Mary said that her parents were very well.
"I'm going to learn to drive.” // She said that she was going to learn to drive.
"Joe has given up his job.” // She said that Joe had given up his job.
"I can't come to the party on Friday.” // She said that she couldn't come to the party on Friday.
"I want to go away for a vacation but I don't know where to go.” // She said that she wanted to go away for vacation but (she) didn't know where to go.
The past simple (did / saw / knew etc.) can usually stay the same in reported speech, or you can change it to the past perfect (had done / had seen / had known etc.):
Direct – Joe said: "I woke up feeling ill, so I didn't go to work.”
Reported – Joe said (that) he woke up feeling ill, so he didn't go to work.
Joe said (that) he had woken up feeling ill, so he hadn't gone to work.
It is not always necessary to change the verb when you use reported speech. If you report something and it is still true, you do not need to change the verb:
Direct – Susan said "I want to go to Los Angeles next year.”
Reported – Susan said that she wants to go to Los Angeles next year.
Note that it is also correct to change the verb into the past: Susan said that she wanted to go to Los Angeles next year.
But you must use a past form when there is a difference between what was said and what is really true.
Study this situation: You met Liz a few days ago. She said: "Joe is ill.” Later that day you see Joe. He is looking well and carrying a skateboard. You say: "I didn't expect to see you, Joe. Liz said you were ill.”
SAY & TELL
Tell someone:
Betty told me that you were ill.
What did you tell the police?
Otherwise use say:
Say something:
Betty said that you were ill.
What did you say?
But you can "say something to somebody”:
Betty said goodbye to me and left.
What did you say to the police?
Tell / ask somebody to do something:
We also use the infinitive (to do / to stay etc.) in reported speech, especially with tell and ask (for orders and requests):
Direct – "Stay in bed for a few days,” the doctor said to me.
Reported – The doctor told me to stay in bed for a few days.
"…said to do something” is also possible:
The doctor said to stay in bed for a few days.
Questions in reported speech
Indirect questions can refer to two different things: questions in reported speech and questions within questions.
Questions in reported speech
When we report questions, we use the word order of an affirmative statement. In other words, the subject usually comes before the verb, and the auxiliary "do” is not used.
We use "if” or "whether” to report "yes / no” questions.
We do not put a question mark at the end of reported questions.
What do you like doing in your free time? > He asked me what I liked doing in my free time.
Are you going to the film tomorrow? > She asked if / whether we were going to the film the next day.
We sometimes avoid direct questions to people, especially if we wish to be polite. In more formal speech, this type of structure is quite common.
Do you know if / whether she is coming with us?
Could you tell me when the film begins?
Would you be so kind as to tell me if the Director has arrived yet?
There are "questions within questions” because although we are asking, for example, "Do you know?” we really want some other information.
Notice that in the "Do you know…”, "Could you tell me…,” etc., part of the question, the auxiliary verb, e.g. "do” or "could”, comes before the subject. In the "real” question, however, the same word order rules apply as for questions in reported speech. Finally, we must put a question mark at the end.