Reported Speech

Article excerpt · target grammar marked

Rackham told interviewers that customers who stated their own numbers were far more likely to close a deal than customers who simply heard a pitch.

Grammar Reference · Reported Speech

Reported statement

Rackham said the best sellers talked less. Present becomes past when reporting.

Reported question

He asked what the delay cost them. Word order stays normal, no question mark.

Say vs tell

He told interviewers; he said to them. Tell takes a direct object, say usually does not.

Common error

He said that customers are convinced. ✗ Should be were — shift tense back one step.

01Exercise 1 — Form · Write the Correct Form

Reported Speech

1."We watched 35,000 calls," the team said. → The team said (that) they 35,000 calls.

2."Where does the process slow down?" she asked. → She asked where the process down.

3."This book changed sales training," he said. → He said (that) the book sales training.

4."What would that be worth?" the salesperson asked. → The salesperson asked what that be worth.

5."I have read the book twice," she told him. → She told him (that) she read the book twice.

6."Customers convince themselves," Rackham argues. → Rackham argues (that) customers themselves.

02Exercise 2 — Transform

rewrite with the new structure

1."Our process is too slow," the client said.

2."Can you fix this by Friday?" she asked.

3."I have never seen a demo like this," he said.

4."What will this cost us?" the manager asked.

5."We closed the deal yesterday," the rep told me.

6."Do you understand the problem?" the trainer asked.

03Exercise 3 — About You

in your notebook

Personalise: complete five sentences about yourself using the target grammar.

Reported Speech01classplan.ai