REPORTED SPEECH : NOTES ,APLLICATION AND EXAMPLES

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REPORTED SPEECH : NOTES ,APLLICATION AND EXAMPLES

Reported speech (also known as indirect speech) is used to report or relay what someone else has said, without quoting their exact words.

1. What is Reported Speech?

Reported speech (also called indirect speech) is used to report what someone has said, without quoting their exact words. It involves changing the direct speech into a different form.

2. Basic Structure of Reported Speech:

In reported speech, we usually change the following elements:

  • Pronouns: Change depending on the speaker.
  • Tense: Typically back shifted.
  • Time expressions: Adjusted to fit the context.
  • Punctuation: No quotation marks.

Example (direct speech → reported speech):

  • Direct speech: She said, “I am going to the store.”
  • Reported speech: She said (that) she was going to the store.

3. Tense Changes:

When reporting speech, the tense usually changes (backshifting). However, if the reporting verb is in the present, or the information is still true, back shifting is not necessary.

Tense Back shifting:

  • Present Simple → Past Simple
    Example: He says, “I eat pizza.” → He said (that) he ate pizza.
  • Present Continuous → Past Continuous
    Example: She says, “I am studying.” → She said (that) she was studying.
  • Present Perfect → Past Perfect
    Example: They say, “We have finished.” → They said (that) they had finished.
  • Past Simple → Past Perfect
    Example: He said, “I went to the park.” → He said (that) he had gone to the park.
  • Future Simple → Would
    Example: She says, “I will help you.” → She said (that) she would help me.

4. Pronouns:

Pronouns in direct speech usually change to reflect the speaker and listener.

  • I → she/he (depending on the person speaking)
  • You → I/we (depending on the person being spoken to)
  • We → they
  • This → that
  • These → those

Example:

  • Direct speech: “I will help you with this.”
  • Reported speech: She said (that) she would help me with that.

5. Time Expressions:

Certain time expressions change in reported speech to reflect the time difference between the statement and the report.

  • Now → then
  • Today → that day
  • Tomorrow → the next day / the following day
  • Yesterday → the day before / the previous day
  • Next week → the following week
  • A week ago → a week before

Example:

  • Direct speech: “I will see you tomorrow.”
  • Reported speech: He said (that) he would see me the next day.

6. Omitting “that”:

In reported speech, the word “that” is often optional and can be omitted. Both versions are correct.

  • With “that”: She said (that) she was tired.
  • Without “that”: She said she was tired.

7. Questions in Reported Speech:

  • Yes/No questions: Use if/whether to introduce the question.
    • Example:
      • Direct speech: “Do you like chocolate?”
      • Reported speech: She asked if I liked chocolate.
  • Wh-questions: The question word (what, where, when, why, how) remains the same in reported speech.
    • Example:
      • Direct speech: “Where do you live?”
      • Reported speech: He asked where I lived.

8. Commands and Requests:

For commands or requests, use to + verb in the reported speech.

  • Direct speech: “Please pass the salt.”
  • Reported speech: She asked me to pass the salt.
  • Direct speech: “Close the window.”
  • Reported speech: He told me to close the window.

9. Reporting Verbs:

Common reporting verbs include:

  • Say (She said…)
  • Tell (He told me…)
  • Ask (He asked…)
  • Suggest (She suggested…)
  • Advise (He advised…)
  • Warn (They warned…)

10. No Change in Tense:

There is no back shifting of tenses if:

  • The reporting verb is in the present (e.g., “He says…”).
  • The information is still true or timeless.

Example:

  • Direct speech: “The Earth orbits the sun.”
  • Reported speech: He said (that) the Earth orbits the sun.

Example Sentences:

  1. Direct speech: “I have been working here for two years.” Reported speech: He said (that) he had been working there for two years.
  2. Direct speech: “Where is your book?” Reported speech: She asked where my book was.

1. Statements:

In reported speech, we often use verbs like said, told, explained, or mentioned to report statements.

Direct Speech:

  • “I am going to the cinema tonight,” she said.
    Reported Speech:
  • She said (that) she was going to the cinema that night.

Direct Speech:

  • “I have finished my homework,” John said.
    Reported Speech:
  • John said (that) he had finished his homework.

Direct Speech:

  • “I will visit my grandparents next weekend,” Maria said.
    Reported Speech:
  • Maria said (that) she would visit her grandparents the following weekend.

2. Questions:

For yes/no questions, we use if or whether in reported speech.

Direct Speech:

  • “Are you coming to the party?” she asked.
    Reported Speech:
  • She asked if I was coming to the party.

Direct Speech:

  • “Have you seen the new movie?” he asked.
    Reported Speech:
  • He asked if I had seen the new movie.

For wh-questions (questions starting with words like “what,” “where,” “how,” etc.), the question word stays the same.

Direct Speech:

  • “Where do you live?” she asked.
    Reported Speech:
  • She asked where I lived.

Direct Speech:

  • “What time does the train leave?” he asked.
    Reported Speech:
  • He asked what time the train left.

3. Commands and Requests:

When reporting commands or requests, we often use verbs like told, asked, or ordered, and the structure usually includes to + verb.

Direct Speech:

  • “Close the window,” she said.
    Reported Speech:
  • She told me to close the window.

Direct Speech:

  • “Please help me with this task,” he said.
    Reported Speech:
  • He asked me to help him with that task.

Direct Speech:

  • “Don’t forget to call me,” she said.
    Reported Speech:
  • She reminded me not to forget to call her.

4. Suggestions:

When reporting suggestions, we use verbs like suggested or recommended.

Direct Speech:

  • “Let’s go for a walk,” she said.
    Reported Speech:
  • She suggested going for a walk.

Direct Speech:

  • “You should try the chocolate cake,” he said.
    Reported Speech:
  • He recommended trying the chocolate cake.

5. Other Common Examples:

Direct Speech:

  • “I can’t find my keys,” she said.
    Reported Speech:
  • She said (that) she couldn’t find her keys.

Direct Speech:

  • “We are leaving tomorrow,” they said.
    Reported Speech:
  • They said (that) they were leaving the next day.

Direct Speech:

  • “I’ve never been to Paris,” he said.
    Reported Speech:
  • He said (that) he had never been to Paris.

6. No Change in Tense (When Reporting Present Tense Statements or Timeless Facts):

  • Direct Speech: “The sun rises in the east.”
  • Reported Speech: He said (that) the sun rises in the east.
  • Direct Speech: “Water boils at 100°C.”
  • Reported Speech: She said (that) water boils at 100°C.

READ ALSO : NOUN

1. Statements (Declarative Sentences)

  • Direct Speech:
    “I am going to the market,” he said.
  • Indirect Speech (Reported Speech):
    He said (that) he was going to the market.

Explanation:

  • The reporting verb is said.
  • Pronouns: “I” becomes “he.”
  • Tense change: “am going” changes to “was going” (present continuous to past continuous).
  • “that” is optional in informal speech but often included in formal speech.

2. Yes/No Questions

For yes/no questions, we use if or whether.

  • Direct Speech:
    “Do you like coffee?” she asked.
  • Indirect Speech (Reported Speech):
    She asked if I liked coffee.

Explanation:

  • The reporting verb is asked.
  • Pronouns: “You” changes to “I.”
  • Tense change: “Do you like” changes to “I liked” (present simple to past simple).
  • “If” is used to introduce the question in indirect speech.

3. Wh- Questions

Wh-questions (e.g., What, Where, When, Why, How) keep their question word.

  • Direct Speech:
    “Where are you going?” he asked.
  • Indirect Speech (Reported Speech):
    He asked where I was going.

Explanation:

  • The reporting verb is asked.
  • Pronouns: “You” changes to “I.”
  • Tense change: “Are going” changes to “was going” (present continuous to past continuous).
  • The question word “where” stays the same.

4. Commands or Requests

For commands or requests, use tell or ask + object + to + verb.

  • Direct Speech:
    “Please close the door,” she said.
  • Indirect Speech (Reported Speech):
    She asked me to close the door.

Explanation:

  • The reporting verb is asked.
  • Pronouns: “You” is omitted and “me” is used for the person being spoken to.
  • The verb “close” is in its base form after “to.”

5. Exclamations

Exclamations are usually reported using verbs like exclaimed or cried. The structure is often that + subject + verb.

  • Direct Speech:
    “What a beautiful day!” she exclaimed.
  • Indirect Speech (Reported Speech):
    She exclaimed that it was a beautiful day.

Explanation:

  • The reporting verb is exclaimed.
  • Pronouns: “What a” is omitted, and the sentence is changed to a statement.
  • Tense change: “What a beautiful day!” becomes “it was a beautiful day” (exclamation to statement).

6. Present Perfect to Past Perfect

When converting from direct to indirect speech, the present perfect often changes to past perfect.

  • Direct Speech:
    “I have finished my homework,” he said.
  • Indirect Speech (Reported Speech):
    He said (that) he had finished his homework.

Explanation:

  • The reporting verb is said.
  • Tense change: “Have finished” (present perfect) changes to “had finished” (past perfect).

7. Future Tense in Direct Speech

When the future tense is used in direct speech, it changes to would in indirect speech.

  • Direct Speech:
    “I will go to the party,” she said.
  • Indirect Speech (Reported Speech):
    She said (that) she would go to the party.

Explanation:

  • The reporting verb is said.
  • Tense change: “Will go” changes to “would go.”

8. Time Expressions in Reported Speech

When converting direct speech to indirect speech, time expressions like now, today, tomorrow, this week, etc., also change.

  • Direct Speech:
    “I will see you tomorrow,” he said.
  • Indirect Speech (Reported Speech):
    He said (that) he would see me the next day.

Explanation:

  • The reporting verb is said.
  • “Tomorrow” changes to “the next day” because the speech is being reported at a later time.

Examples of Direct to Indirect Speech Conversion:

  1. Direct Speech:
    “I am studying for the exam,” she said.
    Indirect Speech:
    She said (that) she was studying for the exam.
  2. Direct Speech:
    “How are you?” he asked.
    Indirect Speech:
    He asked how I was.
  3. Direct Speech:
    “Please take your seat,” the teacher said.
    Indirect Speech:
    The teacher told us to take our seat.
  4. Direct Speech:
    “We have been waiting for an hour,” they said.
    Indirect Speech:
    They said (that) they had been waiting for an hour.
  5. Direct Speech:
    “What time does the meeting start?” she asked.
    Indirect Speech:
    She asked what time the meeting started.

Key Points to Remember:

  1. Pronouns: Change according to the speaker and listener.
  2. Tense: Usually backshifted (present to past, past to past perfect).
  3. Time expressions: Adjust for the change in time context (e.g., “today” becomes “that day”).
  4. Reporting verbs: Can vary depending on the type of sentence (say, ask, tell, explain, suggest, etc.).

RESOUCE: Chatgpt.com

read more : pronoun

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