A. 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: Tom said 'New York is more lively than London.'
reported: Tom said that New York is more lively than London.
(New
York is still more lively. The situation hasn't changed.)
*
direct: Ann said 'I want to go to New York next year.'
reported: Ann said that she wants to go to New York next year.
(Ann
still wants to go to New York next year.)
Note
that it is also correct to change the verb into the past:
* Tom
said that New York was more lively than London.
* Ann
said that she wanted to go to New York 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 example situation:
You met
Sonia a few days ago.
She
said: 'Jim is ill.' (direct speech)
Later
that day you see Jim. He is looking well and carrying a tennis racket.
You say:
'I didn't expect to see you, Jim. Sonia said you were ill.
(not
'Sonia said you are ill', because clearly he is not ill.)
B. Say
and tell
If you
say who you are talking to, use tell:
* Sonia
told me that you were ill. (not 'Sonia said me')
* What
did you tell the police? (not 'say the police')
Otherwise use say:
* Sonia
said that you were ill. (not 'Sonia told that ...')
* What
did you say?
But you
can say something to somebody':
* Ann
said goodbye to me and left. (not 'Ann said me goodbye')
* What
did you say to the police?
C.
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.
*
direct: 'Don't shout,' I said to Jim.
reported: I told Jim not to shout.
*
direct: 'Please don't tell anybody what happened,' Ann said to me.
reported: Ann asked me not to tell anybody what (had) happened.
'...
said to do something' is also possible:
* The
doctor said to stay in bed for a few days. (but not 'The doctor said me ...')
EXERCISES
47.1
Here are some things that Ann said to you:
I've
never been to the United States.
I don't
have any brothers or sisters.
Dave is
lazy.
I don't
like fish.
I can't
drive.
Jane is
a friend of mine
I'm
working tomorrow evening.
Jane has
a very well-paid job.
But
later Ann says something different to you. What do you say?
1. Dave
works very hard.
_But you
said he was lazy._
2. Let's
have fish for dinner.
3. I'm
going to buy a car.
4. Jane
is always short of money.
5. My
sister lives in London.
6. I
think New York is a fantastic place.
7. Let's
go out tomorrow evening.
8. I've
never spoken to Jane.
47.2
Complete the sentences with say or tell (in the correct form). Use only one
word each time.
1. Ann
said goodbye to me and left.
2. ---
us about your holiday. Did you have a nice time?
3. Don't
just stand there! --- something!
4. I
wonder where Sue is. She --- she would be here at 8 o'clock.
5. Jack
--- me that he was fed up with his job.
6. The
doctor --- that I should rest for at least a week.
7. Don't
--- anybody what I --- It's a secret just between us.
8. 'Did
she --- you what happened?' 'No, she didn't --- anything to me.'
9.
George couldn't help me. He --- me to ask Kate.
10.
George couldn't help me. He --- to ask Kate.
47.3
(Section C) The following sentences are direct speech:
Don't
wait for me if I'm late.
Will you
marry me?
Hurry
up!
Can you
open your bag, please?
Mind
your own business
Please
slow down!
Could
you repeat what you said,.please?
Don't
worry, sue.
Do you
think you could give me a hand, Tom?
Now
choose one of these to complete each sentence below. Use reported speech.
1. Bill
was taking a long time to get ready, so I _told him to hurry up._
2. Sarah
was driving too fast, so I asked ---
3. Sue
was very pessimistic about the situation. I told ---
4. I
couldn't move the piano alone, so I ---
5. The
customs officer looked at me suspiciously and ---
6. I had
difficulty understanding him, so I ---
7. I
didn't want to delay Ann, so I ---
8. John
was very much in love with Mary, so he ---
9. He
started asking me personal questions, so ---
the answer
47.1
2 But
you said you didn't like fish.
3 But
you said you couldn't drive.
4 But
you said Jane had a very well-paid job.
5 But
you said you didn't have any brothers or sisters.
6 But
you said you had never been to the United States.
7 But
you said you were working tomorrow evening.
8 But
you said Jane was a friend of yours.
47.2
2
Tell 3 Say 4 said
5
told 6 said
7 tell
... said
8 tell
... say
9
told 10 said
47.3
2 her to
slow down.
3 her
not to worry.
4 asked
Tom to give me a hand.
5 asked
me to open my bag.
6 asked
him to repeat what he (had) said.
7 told
her not to wait for me if I was late.
8 asked
her to marry him.
9 I told him
to mind his own business