Unit 21 Grammar

Reported speech/ reported questions/ reporting verbs

Reported speech: Tense and model changes



We use reported speech when we want to say what someone else said.

Eg Jason said he was going to buy a new pair trainers



If the reporting verb is in the past (eg said), we usually have to change the tense of what the

person actually said.

Direct speech

Reported speech

Example

Present simple

Past simple

‘I need a credit card’ said Tim



Tim said he needed a

credit card.

Present continuous

Past continuous

I’m taking Lizzie shopping’ said Tim



Tim said he was

taking Lizzie shopping.

Present

perfect

simple

Past perfect simple

I’ve bought Tom a present’ said Tim



Tim said he’d

bought Tom a present.

Present

perfect

continuous

Past

perfect

continuous

I’ve been thinking about buying a car’ said Tim



Tim

said he’d been thinking of buying a car.

Past simple

Past perfect simple

I’ve spent six euros’ said Tim



Tim said he’d spent six

euros.

Past continuous

Past

perfect

continuous

‘I was hoping to find a new top’ said Tim



Tim said he

‘d been hoping to find a new top.

Past perfect simple

Past perfect simple

( no tense change)

I ‘d looked everywhere for my credit card before I found

it’ said Tim



Tim said he ‘d looked everywhere for his

credit card before he found it.

Past

perfect

continuous

Past

perfect

continuous

(no tense change)

I ‘d been Tim said he ‘d looked for that book for weeks

before he found it.

am/ is/ are going to

Was/were going to

I’m going to shopping’ said Tim



Tim said he was

going to go shopping

Will

Would

I ‘ll need a credit card’ said Tim



Tim said he would

need a credit card.

Can

Could

‘I can take Lizzie shopping’ said Tim



Tim said he

could take Lizzie shoppin.

Must/have to

Had to

‘I must go to the market’ said Tim



Tim said he had to