Video Script
Anna: (to Penelope) That’s a great idea. (to Rick) Rick, I think we should use
this as the opening shot.
Penelope: Anna, did Ms. Weaver give us instructions for covering the car show?
Anna: She did. She said that we need to show lots of cars. She said we need to
interview people. And she also said that we should have fun.
Penelope: Those were her exact words?
Anna: Yeah. She said, “Have fun, Anna!” And she is the boss.
Anna: (to Rick) Okay, Rick, are you - are you ready? OK. Hello, I'm Anna Matteo.
Welcome to the Washington Car Show!
Anna: People all over town are saying that if you like cars, this is the place
to be! So, let's see what people are talking about. (at Rick) How was that?
Okay? Is that Good?
Professor Bot: Anna, Penelope and Rick are making a news story about the
Washington Car Show. Ms. Weaver gave them instructions.
We often need to tell others what someone else said.
There are two ways to do this. One is to use the person’s exact words and use
quotation marks. We call this "direct speech."
For example, Ms. Weaver had said, “You need to show lots of cars.”
The other way is to talk about what someone said. We call this "reported
speech."
Anna tells Penelope: She said that we need to show lots of cars.
In this sentence, "she," is the subject, “said” is the reporting verb, “that” is
the conjunction and “we need to show lots of cars” is the reporting clause.
Keep watching, and listen for sentences where Anna talks about what someone else
said!
Anna: This car show has many styles of vehicles. There are utility vehicles,
classic cars, trucks, sports cars, and everyday vehicles.
Penelope: Okay, I think we got good interviews.
Anna: Me too! People had very different opinions. But they all said they loved
cars.
Penelope: Anna, look -- a robot!
Anna: A robot!
Penelope: A robot!
Anna: Rick, we have to use the robot in the show!
(They walk over to the robot. Anna begins to dance like a robot.)
Robot: What is your first name?
Anna: Anna! Anna!
Robot: Anna, you know, what an effort. What an effort to robot dance. How about
a round of applause for Anna! I’ve never seen anyone try so hard.
Anna: Penelope, did you hear that? Hank the Robot said that he has never seen
anyone dance like me.
Penelope: Uh, I think many people here are saying that, Anna.
Anna: That was fun. You know what someone told me? You can test drive a Jaguar
at this car show.
Penelope: Now, that sounds fun.
Anna: Let’s go.
Penelope: Okay.
Anna: This course is smooth. So you can drive faster.
Anna: He said...that I can’t drive, unfortunately.
(They begin the test drive. Kurt, the stunt driver, does the driving.)
Anna: Oh my gosh…reverse.
Anna: That was great. This is awesome.
Kurt: Are you ready to go on the rollercoaster?
Anna: I’m ready.
Kurt: Here we go!
Anna: That’s awesome.
Anna: That was...That was awesome! I just want to go one more time. I promise.
That’s it. Just one more time.
Anna: This course is bumpy and uneven. I was told that I could drive this
course. So I am.
Anna: (to Rick) Okay, Rick, are you rolling? Awesome. Okay, this course is
uneven. But I think the ride will be smooth.
Anna: Ooh. This hill is really steep.
Anna: Oh my gosh. I can’t tell you how much fun this is.
Anna: Penelope, that was so much fun! I think I need to go again.
Penelope: Uh, Anna, I think we have enough test drive video.
Anna: Ms. Weaver said to get a lot. So, I think I should go again. (to Rick)
Rick, I’m going to go again. Until next time!
Penelope: But I want to get lunch, Anna!
Professor Bot: Penelope said she wants to go to lunch. But I don’t think that’s
going to happen soon. Visit our website for more! |
Listening
Now practice listening to only the audio portion of the conversation. |
Practice
Now, you try it! First, read about reported speech below. Then try changing a
few of these sentences into reported speech:
Anna asked, "Rick, are you ready?"
Hank said, "I've never seen anyone try so hard."
Kurt asked, "Are you ready to go on the rollercoaster?"
Anna said, "This hill is really steep."
Penelope said, "I think we have enough test drive video."
Anna said, "I think I should go again."
Write your sentences in the Facebook Comments section below. |
Reported Speech
We often need to tell others what someone else said. We can do this in two ways.
One is to say the person’s exact words and use quotation marks. We call this
“direct speech.” The other is to talk about what someone else said. We call this
“reported speech.” |
| Direct Speech |
Reported Speech |
| “You need to show lots of cars.” |
She said (that) we need show lots of
cars. |
|
|
Reported speech contains a subject, reporting verb, conjunction and reporting
clause. (The word “that” is optional.) |
| Subject noun or pronoun |
Reporting Verb |
Conjunction |
Reporting Clause |
| She |
said |
(that) |
we need to show lots of cars. |
|
Using Reported Speech
To use reported speech, choose a reporting verb, such as say, tell or ask.
Usually, the verb in direct speech moves one tense back in time in reported
speech. |
| Direct Speech |
Reported Speech |
| “I drive my car every day.” |
She said (that) she drove her car
every day. |
| “I am driving my car. |
She said (that) she was driving her
car. |
| “I have driven my car.” |
She said (that) she had driven her
car. |
| “I will drive my car.” |
She said (that) she would drive her
car. |
|
|
If the speaker is reporting something that was just said, the reporting clause
is often in present tense. This is also common for general facts. |
| Direct Speech |
Reported Speech |
| “You need to show lots of cars.” |
She said (that) we need to show lots
of cars. |
| “The sky is blue.” |
She said (that) the sky is blue. |
|
|
The modals might, should, would, could and ought to do not change in reported
speech. However, can, must and have to do change. |
| Direct Speech |
Reported Speech |
| “I can/could drive my car.” |
She said (that) she could drive her
car. |
| “I may/might drive my car.” |
She said (that) she might drive her
car. |
| “I must drive my car.” |
She said (that) she had to drive her
car. |
| “I have to drive my car.” |
She said (that) she had to drive her
car. |
| “I should drive my car.” |
She said (that) she should drive her
car. |
| “I ought to drive my car.” |
She said (that) she ought to drive
her car. |
|
|
Change the point of view. For example, the subject “I” becomes “he” or “she” and
the subject “we” becomes “they.” |
| Direct Speech |
Reported Speech |
| “I have two tickets to the Car
Show.” |
He said (that) he had two tickets to
the Car Show. |
| “We want to dance like Hank the
Robot.” |
They said (that) they wanted to
dance like Hank the Robot. |
|
|
Use if or whether to report a “yes or no” question. And use the reporting verb
“ask.” |
| Direct Speech |
Reported Speech |
| “Do you like the Washington Car
Show?” |
She asked if/whether I liked the
Washington Car Show. |
|
|
