ВУЗ:
Составители:
Рубрика:
5
PART I. RULES OF REPORTING
1. REPORTING STATEMENTS
When the statement in direct speech is converted into reported
speech the following rules must be observed:
♦ If the verb to say introducing the indirect statement is fol-
lowed by an object, use the preposition to (to say to smb.), though the
expression to tell smb. is more preferable in this case.
Direct Speech Reported Speech
Tom said, “I'm awfully tired.” Tom said that he was awfully tired.
Tom said to Bob, “I'm awfully
tired.”
Tom said to Bob that he was awfully
tired.
Or: Tom told Bob that he was aw-
fully tired.
To say is usually used without an object to introduce the subor-
dinate clause while to tell is followed by a direct object. Compare:
¾ She told me that she would be late.
¾ She said that she would be late.
The verb to tell can be a part of set expressions where a direct
object can be omitted: to tell (somebody) a lie; to tell (somebody) a
story; to tell fortunes (= to say what will happen to somebody in the
future).
♦ No inverted commas are used in the reported statements.
♦ All personal and possessive pronouns are changed accord-
ing to the person referring to the speaker.
♦ So and such are replaced by very, exceedingly etc. In ex-
clamatory sentences:
Direct Speech Reported Speech
She said, “Jane plays the pi-
ano so well!”
She said Jane played the piano very
well.
She said, “Jane is such a
good pianist!”
She said Jane was an exceedingly
(very) good pianist.
6
♦ The rules of the sequence of tenses are observed in the re-
ported statements:
Direct Speech Reported Speech
The Present Indefinite
“I like peaches.”
The Past Indefinite
He said he liked peaches.
The Present Continuous
“Is it raining?”
The Past Continuous
He asked if it was raining.
The Past Indefinite
“I didn't recognize you.”
The Past Perfect
She explained that she hadn't recognized
me.
The Present Perfect
“You've annoyed the dog.”
The Past Perfect
I told her she had annoyed the dog.
The Past Continuous
“I was joking about the
price.”
The Past Continuous or the Past Perfect
Continuous: He said he was joking (or:
he had been joking) about the price.
The Past Perfect
“I hadn't seen her before.”
The Past Perfect
You said you hadn't seen her before that
day.
The Future Indefinite
“We'll be late.”
The Future-Indefinite-in-the-Past
I was afraid we should (would) be late.
♦ If the time or the place of the events described in the direct
statement has changed, replace the demonstrative pronouns and the
adverbs of time and place in the following way:
Direct Speech Reported Speech
Now then
Today that day, at the time
Tomorrow the next day
the day after tomorrow two days later, in two days' time
Yesterday the day before, on the previous day
the day before yesterday two days before
Ago before
Next year the next year, the following year
Last week/year the previous week/year
PART I. RULES OF REPORTING ♦ The rules of the sequence of tenses are observed in the re-
ported statements:
1. REPORTING STATEMENTS Direct Speech Reported Speech
When the statement in direct speech is converted into reported The Present Indefinite The Past Indefinite
speech the following rules must be observed: “I like peaches.” He said he liked peaches.
The Present Continuous The Past Continuous
♦ If the verb to say introducing the indirect statement is fol- “Is it raining?” He asked if it was raining.
lowed by an object, use the preposition to (to say to smb.), though the The Past Indefinite The Past Perfect
expression to tell smb. is more preferable in this case. “I didn't recognize you.” She explained that she hadn't recognized
me.
Direct Speech Reported Speech
The Present Perfect The Past Perfect
Tom said, “I'm awfully tired.” Tom said that he was awfully tired.
“You've annoyed the dog.” I told her she had annoyed the dog.
Tom said to Bob, “I'm awfully Tom said to Bob that he was awfully
The Past Continuous The Past Continuous or the Past Perfect
tired.” tired.
“I was joking about the Continuous: He said he was joking (or:
Or: Tom told Bob that he was aw-
fully tired. price.” he had been joking) about the price.
The Past Perfect The Past Perfect
To say is usually used without an object to introduce the subor- “I hadn't seen her before.” You said you hadn't seen her before that
dinate clause while to tell is followed by a direct object. Compare: day.
¾ She told me that she would be late. The Future Indefinite The Future-Indefinite-in-the-Past
¾ She said that she would be late. “We'll be late.” I was afraid we should (would) be late.
The verb to tell can be a part of set expressions where a direct
object can be omitted: to tell (somebody) a lie; to tell (somebody) a ♦ If the time or the place of the events described in the direct
story; to tell fortunes (= to say what will happen to somebody in the statement has changed, replace the demonstrative pronouns and the
future). adverbs of time and place in the following way:
♦ No inverted commas are used in the reported statements. Direct Speech Reported Speech
♦ All personal and possessive pronouns are changed accord- Now then
ing to the person referring to the speaker. Today that day, at the time
♦ So and such are replaced by very, exceedingly etc. In ex- Tomorrow the next day
clamatory sentences:
the day after tomorrow two days later, in two days' time
Yesterday the day before, on the previous day
Direct Speech Reported Speech
She said, “Jane plays the pi- She said Jane played the piano very the day before yesterday two days before
ano so well!” well. Ago before
She said, “Jane is such a She said Jane was an exceedingly Next year the next year, the following year
good pianist!” (very) good pianist. Last week/year the previous week/year
5 6
