About Reported Speech ( Grammar )

Reported speech is the form we use to speak about what others tell us. Think about your day with other friends, co-workers and family. It's quite common to tell others what someone else has told you. Here are a few examples:
Jane: Mary told me she was going to the mall this afternoon to buy some clothes. She said she wanted to get a new dress and a few other things.
Peter: Oh, maybe she'll see Peter. He told me he needed to stop in at computer store to get something fixed.
In this conversation, both Jane and Peter report what their friends have told them about their days. Notice that we commonly use the verbs "say" and "tell" when using the reported speech. However, there are also other reporting verbs used in order to report conversations. Study the examples and rules below to learn how to use the reported speech in everyday conversations. Practice using this form with the reported speech worksheet that provides a quick review and exercise. There's also a reported speech quiz which provides immediate feedback on correct or incorrect answers. Teachers can use this guide on how to teach reported speech for help introducing the reported speech, as well as a reported speech lesson plan and other resources.
Reported speech refers to a sentence reporting what someone has said. It is almost always used in spoken English.

• If the reporting verb (i.e. said) is in the past, the reported clause will be in a past form. This form is usually one step back into the past from the original. For example:
  
  • He said the test was difficult.
  • She said she watched TV every day.
  • Jack said he came to school every day.
• If simple present, present perfect or the future is used in the reporting verb (i.e. says) the tense is retained. For example:
  
  • He says the test is difficult.
  • She has said that she watches TV every day.
  • Jack will say that he comes to school every day.
• If reporting a general truth the present tense will be retained. For example:The teacher said that phrasal verbs are very important.
  

Changing Pronouns and Time Expressions
When changing from direct speech to reported speech, it is often necessary to change the pronouns to match the subject of the sentence.
For example:

• She said, "I want to bring my children." BECOMES She said she wanted to bring her children.
• Jack said, "My wife went with me to the show." BECOMES Jack said his wife had gone with him to the show.

It is also important to change time expressions when referring to present, past or future time to match the moment of speaking.
For example:

• She said, "I want to bring my children tomorrow." BECOMES She said she wanted to bring her children the next day.
• Jack said, "My wife went with me to the show yesterday." BECOMES Jack said his wife had gone with him to the show the day before.

Reported Questions
When reporting questions, it is especially important to pay attention to sentence order. When reporting yes/ no questions connect the reported question using 'if'. When reporting questions using question words (why, where, when, etc.) use the question word.
For example:

• She asked, "Do you want to come with me?" BECOMES She asked me if I wanted to come with her.
• Dave asked, "Where did you go last weekend?" BECOMES Dave asked me where I had gone the previous weekend.
• He asked, "Why are you studying English?" BECOMES She asked me why I was studying English.

The following chart includes sentences changed from quoted speech to reported speech using a past form. NoteSimple past, present perfect, and past perfect allchange to past perfect in the reported form.

Softskill 4sa04 Reported Speech

Re-Softskill from dazzlyn69

Invitation Letter

January 01, 2010

Dear Family and Friends,

We would like to share with you the engagement of our son, Paulo John, to his long-time girlfriend, Pamela Grace Sy. After sharing love-filled dates and meetings within the past few years, Paulo already asked Mela’s hand for marriage. Our son finally wanted to settle down into a family life, and he would like to share that life with Mela. As it turns out, Mela is thinking of the same thing.

They were engaged last November 30, 2009 and they would want to announce it publicly to everyone. In that note, we would love to see you in their engagement party.
 

February 14, 2010 at 4:00 o’clock PM at our home, 823 Youngstown Court, Hemet, CA 92222.

Sincerely yours,

Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Li

Order Letter

August 6, 2001
Mr. Joey Yasuke
#415 Greenhills Street
San Fernando, Pampanga
Dear Mr. Yasuke:
Will you kindly send me two of the portable lunch boxes – order number 2b36 – as advertised in Daily Inquirer of yesterday, August 5.  Please charge this purchase to my account.
I shall especially appreciate your usual prompt delivery, as I plan to give one of the lunch boxes to my daughter, who is leaving on a vacation within three days.  One is to be delivered to me at my address, above, and the other to 124 Meadow Street, San Juan, Pampanga.
Very truly yours,
Abelina dela Cruz

Application Letter

March 25, 2005

Ms. Rosemarie Norbe
Personnel Manager
Milestone Company
Don Pepe, Balanga City

Dear Ms. Norbe:

Your advertisement in the March 22 issue of the Manila Bulletin calls for an executive secretary who is proficient in communication skills, computer literate, and with pleasing personality.  I sincerely believe that I meet your requirements for the position.

I am Erica J. Navarro,  a graduate of Bachelor of Science, major in Psychology at La Salle University, Manila this March, 28, 2005 as a cum laude.

I consider as my assets: my proficiency in both written and spoken English and Filipino, my computer skills, and my leadership skills which were honed in my capacity as the editor in chief of my school’s student publication and as a Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman of our Barangay.  I am hardworking, efficient, and highly driven, and I am willing to undergo training to further improve my capabilities.

For your perusal and evaluation, I have enclosed my resume which includes my special skills, training and accomplishments and awards as a student, and a photocopy of my official transcript of records for your evaluation.  Should you wish to ask about my personal traits and capabilities, I have also included a list of references for you.

I am very much willing to come over for a personal interview with you anytime during office hours.

Respectfully yours,

Erica J. Navarro

Complaint Letter

65 Market Street
Val Haven, CT 95135 

June 30, 2004

Customer Service
Cool Sports, LLC
8423 Green Terrace Road
Asterville, WA 65435

Dear Sir or Madam:

I have recently ordered a new pair of soccer cleats (item #6542951) from your website on June 21. I received the order on June 26. Unfortunately, when I opened it, I saw that the cleats were used. The cleats had dirt all over it and there was a small tear in front of the part where the left toe would go. My order number is AF26168156.

To resolve the problem, I would like you to credit my account for the amount charged for my cleats; I have already went out and bought a new pair of cleats at my local sporting goods store so sending another would result in me having two pairs of the same cleats.

Than you for taking the time to read this letter. I have been a satisfied customer of your company for many years and this is the first time I have encountered a problem. If you need to contact me, you can reach me at (555) 555-5555.

Sincerely,

Signature

Ken Thomas

Memo Letter

To: Mary McGee, Alistair Warwranka, George Lipton
CC: Dorothy Barrie
From: The Boss
Date: June 1, 2006
Re: Need for New Memo Format
I’ve noticed that we don’t seem to be able to communicate important changes, requirements and progress reports throughout the company as effectively as we should. I propose developing one consistent memo format, recognizable by all staff as the official means of communicating company directives.
While I know this seems like a simple solution, I believe it will cut down on needless e-mail, improve universal communication and allow the staff to save necessary information for later referral.
Please talk among yourselves to determine the proper points of memo writing and return the input to me by 12 noon. I will then send out a notice to the entire staff regarding the new memo format.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this.

Inquiry Letter

Layout of Business English Letter

Manor House Hotel(1)

Farnham Green, Warnside, Upminster, UB23.
Tel: 091 8976. Fax: 091 9008. E-mail: manhot@xx.itl www.man.itx

—————————————————————————————————————————————-

15 January 2011(2)

The Sales Manager,
Melody Modes Ltd.,
Carrham, Upminster UE12.(3)

Dear Sir,
Thank you for your letter of 12 January regarding our conference facilities for your sales convention in July this year.(5)
I have pleasure in enclosing our current conference brochure and tariff. You will note that we offer a variety of venues inside the hotel itself, for groups of between 20 and 150 people, with a choice of catering facilities and with or without accommodation. This year we are also able to arrange functions in marquees in the hotel grounds, with a more limited range of catering, but again with or without hotel accommodation.
We have two lecture rooms, with audiovisual equipment – overhead projectors and video and DVD facilities – which might be of interest to you. There are also product display facilities within the hotel.
If you require all or some of your delegates to be accommodated in the hotel, I recommend early booking, as July is one of our peak months. We offer 4-star accommodation, every room with en suite facilities, minibar, television, personal safe, trouser press. We have two restaurants, four bars, a fully equipped gymnasium, and an indoor/outdoor swimming pool.(6)
I look forward to hearing from you further, and I shall be happy to supply any additional information you might require; you will be very welcome to visit the hotel to see for yourself the facilities we offer.(7)

Yours faithfully,

Hector Manning
General Manager(8)

Tugas Softskill 2

this is me when i was in Beach of Ancol, well seems this beach is common to every people in Indonesia except for those who stay in Jakarta, but this beach is absolutely my best place ever. People usually come by here and play some ball in the sand or even swimming, i prefer to sit in side of the beach and enjoy those who play around, wave , and the wind all over the shore. But the bad thing is last time i went there i saw tons of trash around even in the water also swimming around along with the people who swimming but still this beach my 2nd Heaven

Gemscool Arena

ini adalah Gemscool arena (Gemscool adalah salah satu publisher game ternama di Indonesia) . Gemscool arena adalah sebuah cyber cafe yang terletak di daerah Blok M di tempat ini biasanya setiap hari minggu diadakan event berbagai game yang di publish oleh Gemscool seperti foto yang saya ambil di tempat kebetulan saat foto ini di ambil di GArena sedang berlangsung Turnamen tingkat Nasional untuk game Dragon Nest Indonesia dan juga ada beberapa cosplay dari NPC game yang bersangkutan. Saya cukup menyukai tempat ini dengan stage yang lumayan bagus dan Big Screen untuk kerperluan event jika nanti ada event Dragon Nest saya mungkin akan mengunjungi tempat ini lagi