Spoken English Course – Level 3 (Intermediate)
Module 8: Reported Speech (Direct → Indirect) & Voice (Active → Passive)
1. What is Reported Speech?
Reported Speech is used when we tell someone what another person said,
without using the exact words.
| Type |
Example |
| Direct Speech |
He said, “I am busy.” |
| Indirect Speech |
He said that he was busy. |
2. Basic Rule of Reported Speech
When the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tense of the reported
speech usually changes.
Reporting verbs: said, told, asked, replied, requested
3. Tense Change Table
| Direct Speech |
Indirect Speech |
| Present Simple |
Past Simple |
| Present Continuous |
Past Continuous |
| Present Perfect |
Past Perfect |
| Past Simple |
Past Perfect |
| Will |
Would |
| Can |
Could |
4. Reporting Statements
| Direct |
Indirect |
| She said, “I like tea.” |
She said that she liked tea. |
| He said, “I am working.” |
He said that he was working. |
| They said, “We have finished.” |
They said that they had finished. |
Practice:
Change 5 spoken statements into reported speech.
5. Reporting Questions
For questions:
- Use asked or inquired
- Remove question form
- Use if / whether for yes-no questions
| Direct Question |
Indirect Question |
| He said, “Where are you going?” |
He asked where I was going. |
| She said, “Do you like coffee?” |
She asked if I liked coffee. |
6. Reporting Commands & Requests
Use told, ordered, requested, advised.
| Direct |
Indirect |
| The teacher said, “Open the book.” |
The teacher told us to open the book. |
| She said, “Please help me.” |
She requested me to help her. |
7. Pronoun & Time Change
| Direct |
Indirect |
| I |
He / She |
| Now |
Then |
| Today |
That day |
| Tomorrow |
The next day |
| Yesterday |
The previous day |
8. Spoken English Usage
| Situation |
Example |
| Office |
The manager said that the meeting was postponed. |
| School |
The teacher told us to complete the work. |
| Daily Talk |
He said that he would call later. |
9. Common Mistakes
- ❌ He said me that he is tired
✅ He told me that he was tired
- ❌ She asked where was I going
✅ She asked where I was going
10. Practice Exercises
Change into Indirect Speech:
1. He said, “I am learning English.”
2. She said, “Will you help me?”
3. The teacher said, “Do your homework.”
Speaking Activity:
Listen to a conversation and report it in your own words.
1. What is Voice?
Voice shows whether the subject does the action or
receives the action.
| Voice |
Meaning |
| Active Voice |
Subject does the action |
| Passive Voice |
Subject receives the action |
2. Active Voice
In Active Voice, the subject is important.
| Structure |
Example |
| Subject + Verb + Object |
She teaches English. |
More Examples
- I write a letter.
- They play cricket.
- He completed the work.
3. Passive Voice
In Passive Voice, the action is important, not the doer.
| Structure |
Example |
| Object + is/am/are/was/were + V³ |
English is taught by her. |
Formula:
Active → Subject + Verb + Object
Passive → Object + Helping Verb + V³ + by + Subject
4. Voice Change – Tense Wise
| Tense |
Active |
Passive |
| Present Simple |
He writes a letter. |
A letter is written by him. |
| Past Simple |
She cooked food. |
Food was cooked by her. |
| Future Simple |
They will complete work. |
Work will be completed by them. |
| Present Perfect |
I have finished work. |
Work has been finished by me. |
5. Spoken English Usage
| Situation |
Sentence |
| Office |
The report has been submitted. |
| School |
The homework is checked. |
| Public Notice |
The road is closed. |
Passive voice is common in offices, notices, news, and formal speaking.
6. When to Use Passive Voice
- When doer is unknown
- When action is more important
- Formal or official communication
7. Common Mistakes
- ❌ The work is complete by me
✅ The work is completed by me
- ❌ Letter was wrote
✅ Letter was written
8. Practice Exercises
Change into Passive:
1. She writes a story.
2. He completed the task.
3. They are painting the house.
Speaking Activity:
Describe your classroom or office using passive voice.
11. Module Outcome
- Clear reporting of conversations
- Correct tense and pronoun usage
- Professional narration skills
- Confidence in formal & informal speaking
- Clear understanding of voice
- Correct sentence transformation
- Professional spoken usage
- Confidence in formal English
