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We use reported speech when we tell someone what another person said to us. Basically, in reported speech you have to change the tense into the past. Have a look at the following examples :

• “I play tennis every Saturday.”
• He said he played tennis every Saturday.

• “I am going away next week.”
• She said she was going away next week.

• “I’ll let you know as soon as possible.”
• He said he would let me know as soon as possible.

• “I’ve never been there.”
• She said she had never been there.

• “I went to Kyushu for a couple of days on business.”
• He said he had been to Kyushu for a couple of days on business.

There are many verbs you can use to report what someone said to you. Here is a list of some of them. Look carefully at the examples to see how the verbs are used in sentences, particularly whether they are followed by an object, and whether following verbs take the infinitive form or an -ing form.

(1) SAY - (as above)

(2) TELL - She told me she had never been there. （「me」のような目的語が必要です。）

(3) ADMIT - 認める・告白する - He admitted stealing the money.

(4) ADVISE - アドバイスをする - She advised me to reconsider. （「me」のような目的語が必要です。）

(5) ASSURE - 保証・断言する・安心させる - He assured me it would be a fun party. （「me」のような目的語が必要です。）

(6) ACCUSE - 責める・告発する - She accused me of lying. （「me」のような目的語が必要です。）

(7) BEG - 懇願する - He begged me to lend him the money. （「me」のような目的語が必要です。）

(8) CLAIM - 主張する - She claimed it was hers. （目的語なし）

(9) DENY - 否定する - He denied knowing anything about it. / He denied that he knew anything about it.

(10) EXPLAIN - 説明する - He explained (to me) that he was planning to emigrate.

(11) INSIST - 言い張る - She insisted on paying for herself.

(12) PROMISE - 約束する - He promised to return the money quickly. / He promised (me) that he would return the money quickly. （目的語は、必要ではない）

(13) POINT OUT - 指摘する - She pointed out that he had made a mistake.

(14) RECOMMEND - 推薦する・勧める - He recommended that I consider taking early retirement.

(15) REFUSE - 断る・拒絶する・拒否する - She refused to help me.

(16) SUGGEST - 提案する - He suggested (to us) that we take a taxi. / He suggested taking a taxi.

(17) THREATEN - 脅迫する・脅かす - She threatened to call the police.

(18) TRY TO PERSUADE - 説得しようとする・勧めて・・・させようとする - He tried to persuade me to take out an insurance policy.

(19) URGE - 迫る・強く求める・強く勧める - He urged her to confront her boss. (（「her」のような目的語が必要です。）

(20) WARN - 警告する - She warned me to be careful. （「me」のような目的語が必要です。）

(21) AGREE - 賛成する･応諾する・合意する - He agreed to meet me in Tokyo.

Let’s try a practice exercise. Read the remarks and then report them using one of the verbs listed above. Listen to the audio to check your ideas.

1. “I can’t tell you how important it is for you to give up smoking.”
2. “I’m sorry, but there is no way I am going to pay you the money.”
3. “If you don’t pay up, we will take legal action against you.”
4. “Maybe you should just send them the money - you’ll feel better if you do.”
5. “I think you ought to consult a lawyer.”
6. “Please, please, help me! I don’t know what to do!”
7. “I’m very sorry, sir. We will look into it immediately and get back to you later today.”
8. “No, really - there’s no need for you to pay for me; I will pay my share.”
9. “OK then. I will talk to him for you.”
10. “Why don’t you paint the ceiling yellow?”
11. “It was you who broke the window, wasn’t it.”

Next time we’ll be looking at some phrasal verbs.