Back to: Summarizing information and describing places
When you paraphrase, you report someone else’s ideas in your own words using a complex sentence structure. In affirmative sentences, use the conjunction that at the beginning of the dependent clause; in questions, use the conjunction if. Make sure to change the pronouns, tenses and time or place references when appropriate.
Sam: “I have to leave now because I need to be at work in twenty minutes. Can you give me a lift?”
Sam said that he had to leave because he needed to be at work twenty minutes later. He asked if I could give him a lift.
Usually, the tense in reported speech is one tense back in time from the tense in direct speech. However, often if the speaker is reporting something soon after it has been said, there is no change in the verb tense. This is also true if the reported statement is a general truth. For example:
“The capital of Canada is Ottawa.” → Brad said that the capital of Canada is Ottawa.
Remember that in reported speech, there are no quotation marks.
| Quote | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| Simple Present: “I love tea.” |
Simple Past: She said (that) she loved tea. |
| Present Progressive: “I am studying French.” |
Past Progressive: He confirmed (that) he was studying French. |
| Simple Past: “Mike arrived on Sunday.” |
Past Perfect: Gayle pointed out (that) Mike (had) arrived on Sunday. |
| Present Perfect: “I have been to Florida.” |
Past Perfect: She acknowledged (that) she had been to Florida. |
| Past Perfect: “I had just finished my work shift.” |
Past Perfect: Paula told me (that) she had just finished her work shift. |
| Present Perfect Progressive: “We have been waiting for 3 hours.” |
Past Perfect Progressive: They mentioned (that) they had been waiting for 3 hours |
| Past Progressive: “We were living in San Diego.” |
Past Perfect Progressive: They explained to us (that) they had been living in San Diego. |
| Future with Will: “We will be in Vancouver next year.” |
Would: She informed me (that) they would be in Vancouver next year. |
| Future with Be going to: “I am going to meet her next spring.” |
Past Progressive: He said (that) he was going to meet her next spring. |
Summarizing information and describing places – Grammar