B8/JHS2.3.1.5.2. Demonstrate command of the use of reported speech

Judith Kpakpo

Indicator: B8/JHS2.3.1.5.2
Topic: Reported Speech

Lesson Objectives

By the end of the lesson, learners will be able to:

Explain what reported speech is.
Convert direct speech to reported speech.
Report questions correctly.
Use reported speech to talk or write about past events.
Write short news reports using reported speech.

This may contain: a comic strip about garfield the cat

Key Terms

Direct Speech: Tells the exact words someone said (in quotation marks).
Reported Speech (Indirect Speech): Reports what someone said without quoting their exact words.

Examples:

🔹 Direct vs. Reported Speech (Statements)

Direct: She said, “I am tired.”
Reported: She said that she was tired.

🔹 Reporting Questions

Direct: He asked, “What time is it?”
Reported: He asked what time it was.
Direct: “When will Genevieve meet Alfred at the school?”
Reported: She wanted to know when Genevieve would meet Alfred at the school.

❗ When reporting questions:

Remove question marks

Use a reporting verb (e.g., asked, wanted to know)

Change the tense back (present → past)

Tense Changes in Reported Speech

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
am/is → was	“I am happy.” → She said she was happy.
are → were	“They are ready.” → He said they were ready.
will → would	“I will go.” → She said she would go.
can → could	“I can swim.” → He said he could swim.
have/has → had	“She has a book.” → He said she had a book.
do/does → did	“He does his work.” → She said he did his work.

✏️ Activity 1 – Convert to Reported Speech

Write these sentences on the board and ask learners to rewrite them in reported speech:

Ama said, “I am going to school.”
He asked, “Where is the head teacher?”
“Will you help me?” John asked.
“I can finish the homework,” she said.
Mansa said, “I have already eaten.”

Expected Answers

Ama said, “I am going to school.”
➡️ Ama said that she was going to school.
He asked, “Where is the head teacher?”
➡️ He asked where the head teacher was.
“Will you help me?” John asked.
➡️ John asked if I would help him.
“I can finish the homework,” she said.
➡️ She said that she could finish the homework.
Mansa said, “I have already eaten.”
➡️ Mansa said that she had already eaten.

✅ Note:

The reporting verb (e.g., said, asked)
The tense change (e.g., am → was, can → could)
The removal of quotation marks and punctuation

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✍️ Activity 2 – News Report Writing (Group Work)

Example headline:

✍️ Learner Task: 📰 Headline: Heavy Rain Floods Classrooms in Prampram

Write a short news report (3–5 sentences) using reported speech.
You may include what people said, what happened, and how people reacted.

✅ Example News Report (Model Answer):

A teacher said that the classrooms were filled with water early in the morning.
A student reported that their books and schoolbags got wet.
The headteacher stated that they had informed the District Education Office.
Another teacher mentioned that lessons were delayed because of the flood.
A parent explained that the school needed urgent repairs.

NOTE: Practice tense shifting

Use reporting verbs like said, reported, stated, explained, mentioned
Build real-world writing skills

Sample Report:

A witness said that the fire started in one of the rooms.
Another resident explained that people were sleeping when the fire began.
A police officer stated that the cause of the fire was not yet known.

Assessment (10 minutes)

Write 3 sentences in direct speech and rewrite them in reported speech.
Report a question you’ve heard someone ask today.
Write a 2-sentence news update using reported speech.

Conclusion (5 minutes)

Review:
✅ What is reported speech?
✅ How do we change the tense?
✅ How do we report questions?

Ask:
🗣 “Can you tell me a sentence someone said today and report it in your own words?