Unit 4: Reported speech

Reported speech

We use reported speech to report what another person has said, without quoting their exact words.

              

           Direct speech--->Reported speech

I'm a witness to a crime ---> He said that he was a witness to a crime

In formal language, we use that to begin the clause that  contains the reported speech. In informal language, we can omit that.

I'm going to call the police, said the man---> The man said (that) he was going to call the police.

Remember that we don't use inverted commas('...') in reported speech.

There has been a burglary, said the police officer---> The police officer said (taht) there had been a burglary.

Reported statements: tense changes

When we convert direct speech into reported speech, we change the tense of the main verb by putting it one step further into the past.
  For exemple: I babysat for him for many years---> She said that she had babysat for him for many years.

DON'T FORGET!!

We don't change the past perfect simple in reported speech