Fannie Mae Foundation: How to Buy a Home

Grammar review
Review the rules for changing statements into
reported speech. Explain that with reported speech
we can report what someone says without using quotation marks. Remind the class of the changes in verb tense. If the reporting word is in the past tense, then the verb from the actual speech will
usually be in past form. Have learners change the
five statements to reported speech.

For more practice, have learners look at the
dialogue on this page. Pair the learners and have
them change the dialogue into reported speech.

1. The real estate agent said that the mortgage department at Heartland Bank would help us out.

2. The house sellers said that they could repair the roof on the house.

3. The house buyers said that they would offer less than the asking price.

4. The home inspector said that everything looked good.

5. The mortgage lender said that we would have 30 years to repay the loan.

Unit 3 : Lesson 2: How to shop for a loan

Grammar review

In a direct quotation (direct speech), we give the words of the speaker exactly as they are spoken. Quotation marks are necessary with direct speech.

With reported speech (indirect speech), we can report what someone says. In
this case, quotation marks are not necessary. If the reporting word (said) is in the past, the verb from the actual speech will usually be in a past form.

Examples: The mortgage lender said, “The interest rate will stay the same.”

The mortgage lender said that the interest rate would stay the same.

Note: The word that is optional after said in reported speech.

Change the statements below to reported speech.

1. The real estate agent said, “The mortgage department at Heartland Bank will help you.”

The real estate agent said that the mortgage department at Heartland Bank would help us out.

2. The house sellers said, “We can repair the roof on the house.”

The house sellers said that they could repair the roof on the house.

3. The house buyers said, “We will offer less than the asking price.”

The house buyers said that they would offer less than the asking price.

4. The home inspector said, “Everything looks good.”

The home inspector said that everything looked good.

5. The mortgage lender said, “You will have 30 years to repay the loan.”

The mortgage lender said that we would have 30 years to repay the loan.

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