Reported speech

When we report what someone has said, we have to make several changes to the original words. Study the examples and notice what happens to:

The tense

Time expressions, e.g. next week

Pronouns, e.g. we

'You 'II have to change the filters next week, 'said Mr. Bran. Mr. Bran said we would have to change the filters the following week. 7 usually check the pipes for cracks once a month, 'the

Inspector explained. The Inspector explained that he usually checked the pipes for cracks once a month. 'After the heavy rain yesterday the drains overflowed, ’ the Engineer said. The Engineer said that after the heavy rain the previous day, the drains had overflowed.

Complete the rules. Verb tense

Present Continuous → Past Continuous

Present Simple → _______________1

Past Simple → _________________2

Present Perfect → _______________3

will → would

can → _______

must →

Time expressions

today → that day

yesterday →

this week→

next month →

Report what the following people said.

1. We will improve efficiency, ' explained the Engineer.

2. Jon has tested yesterday's samples, ' said the Supervisor.

3. 'You will be fined if you pollute the river, ' warned the Inspector.

4. Our design team has won this year's prize for innovative technology, ' announced the Director.

● When a question begins with who, which, what, etc., we use that question word when we report the question.

● For yes/no questions we make sentences with if ox whether.

● The word order in the reported question is the same as for a statement, not a question. We change the tense of the verb as in l.

'How do you dispose of the waste paint? '

The Inspector asked how we disposed of the waste paint

Do you add chlorine to the water? '

The Engineer asked if we added chlorine to the water.

'Will you be able to repair the sewage pipe today? '

The Foreman asked whether we would be able to repair

the sewage pipe that day.

Read the report. Then complete the dialogue.

I asked the engineer how he applied paint to the products. He explained they sprayed the paint in a ventilated closed room. When I asked him how much of the paint actually reached the product he said they estimated about 40%. He explained that the excess was removed in the air stream and paint particles were absorbed in a water curtain. I asked if this was stored. He said this settled in a tank and the resulting sludge had to be disposed of.

Interviewer How _____________________ paint to the product?

Engineer We _______________________in a ventilated, closed room?

Interviewer How much of the paint ____________________________________ ____________________ the product?

Engineer The excess ________________________________________ in the air stream and paint particles ___________________________________ _________________________________________________ in a water curtain.

Interviewer _______________________________________________?

Engineer This ___________________________________________________ in a tank and the resulting sludge _________________________________

Vocabulary