Reported speech
Tense changes, reported questions and reporting verbs like advise, warn, deny and suggest.
In Part 4 you often have to report what someone said: a question, an order or a piece of advice. Choose the right reporting verb, and the rest is easy!
Statements: one step back
When the reporting verb is in the past (said, told), the tenses usually go one step back.
Reported questions
Use statement word order, with no do / does / did. Yes / no questions use if or whether.
Reporting verbs
Instead of 'said', Part 4 often uses a verb that shows why the person spoke. Learn the pattern after each one.
How it comes up in Part 4
In Part 4 you complete the second sentence with the key word, so that it means the same as the first one (2–5 words).
REMINDED
Maria reminded me to bring my passport.
Remind + person + to-infinitive.
WHERE
Tom asked me where I had bought my jacket.
Reported question: statement word order, no 'did', and past simple → past perfect.
DENIED
Sam denied breaking the window.
Deny + -ing. (Also possible: denied having broken.)
Common mistakes
- ✗ He said me that he was tired.✓ He told me that he was tired.'Tell' needs a person; 'say' doesn't.
- ✗ She asked me where did I live.✓ She asked me where I lived.No question word order in reported questions.
- ✗ He suggested to go by train.✓ He suggested going by train.'Suggest' is never followed by a to-infinitive.
First find the right pattern for the reporting verb: to-infinitive, -ing or a preposition. Then check negatives: 'Don't touch it' becomes 'told us not to touch it' – 'not' goes before 'to'.
Quick check
Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first. Use the key word and write 2–5 words.
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