1. REPORTED SPEECH WITH
THE PRESENT TENSE
REPORTED SPEECH WITH
THE PRESENT TENSE
An adventure in grammar!
2. Reported speech with the present tense
Reported speech is used when we want to repeat what
someone said, thought, or wrote.
Teacher: You should read the novel.
Student: The teacher says (that) we should read the novel.
When speaking, say and tell are usually used. However, in
academic writing you will often see other verbs, such as:
mentions notes claims explains recommends
3. Reported statements with that
Here’s how it works:
Find the person who is making the statement, and create a
reporting clause:
Put what was said into a noun clause (that is optional).
Finn says (that) he thinks he has a crush.
reporting clause noun clause
4. Reported questions with wh- clauses
Reported speech doesn’t make questions.
It tells what other people have said or written.
If you are reporting a question, you need to
change the order of the words into a statement.
“What should I do about my crush?”
Finn wonders what he should do about his crush.
reporting clause noun clause
5. Reported answers to questions
When you are reporting the answer to a question, you can
use reporting verbs such as explain, describe, tell, and say.
This book tells you how you can make her like you.
reporting clause noun clause
“How can you make
her like you?”
