Reported Speech - Part 3

I. Reported Speech using Empty Subject ‘It’:

Example: “You were such a selfish person.” – he says to her.

It is said that she was such a selfish person.

“The world is a flat surface.” – people believed in the 14th century.

In the 14th century, it was believed that the world was a flat surface.

II. Reported Speech using S + be + said/believed/told… + to-V

Example: “Dave is a great father” she said.

She said (that) Dave was a great father.

Dave was said to be a great father.

III. Reported Speech using Verbs + Prep. + V-ing

dream of, think of, object to, insist on, complain about, look forward to, …

Example: “I can’t wait to see you on Sunday.” she said. (look forward)

She looked forward to seeing me on Sunday.

Note: If the subject of the "V-ing" is different from the main subject, we use possessive adjectives + V-ing to make a noun phrase.

“You are always smoking!” she said to him. (complain)

She complained about his smoking.

thank s.o for V-ing, apologize to s.o for V-ing, congratulate s.o on V-ing, warn s.o about/against/of V-ing, prevent s.o from V-ing, ban s.o from V-ing, accuse s.o of V-ing

Example: “Thank you for making me a cake last week.” – she told me. (thank)

She thanked me for making her a cake the previous week.

“You are the one who stole my wallet!” – she shouted at the man. (accuse)

She accused the man of stealing her wallet.

The man WAS accused of stealing her wallet.

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Reported Speech - Part 3.5