Reported Speech Basics

Introduction to Reported Speech

• Also known as indirect speech
• A way of reporting what someone has said without quoting their exact words
• Used to convey the message or idea of the original speaker

Types of Reported Speech

• Direct Speech: quotes the exact words of the original speaker
• Indirect Speech (Reported Speech): conveys the message or idea of the original speaker without quoting their exact words

Changing Verb Tenses in Reported Speech

• Backshift: move the verb tense backwards in time
  • Direct speech: "I am going to the store."
  • Reported speech: "She said she was going to the store."
• No change: when the original sentence is in the present simple or past simple and the reporting verb is in the present
  • Direct speech: "I like coffee."
  • Reported speech: "She says she likes coffee."
• Optional change: when the original sentence is in the past perfect and the reporting verb is in the past
  • Direct speech: "I had eaten breakfast."
  • Reported speech: "She said she had eaten breakfast." (or) "She said she has eaten breakfast."

Changing Pronouns in Reported Speech

• First person (I/we) becomes third person (he/she/they)
• Second person (you) becomes third person (he/she/they)
• Third person (he/she/it) remains the same

Other Changes in Reported Speech

• Adverbs of time: change to match the time of reporting (e.g., "today" becomes "that day")
• Adverbs of place: change to match the location of the reporting (e.g., "here" becomes "there")
• Demonstratives: change to match the context of the reporting (e.g., "this" becomes "that")

Common Reporting Verbs

• Say
• Tell
• Ask
• Explain
• Announce

Exercises and Practice

• Practice changing direct speech to reported speech
• Practice using different reporting verbs
• Practice changing verb tenses, pronouns, and other elements in reported speech

Introduction to Reported Speech

• Also known as indirect speech, it's a way of reporting what someone has said without quoting their exact words.
• Used to convey the message or idea of the original speaker.

Types of Reported Speech

• Direct Speech: quotes the exact words of the original speaker.
• Indirect Speech (Reported Speech): conveys the message or idea of the original speaker without quoting their exact words.

Changing Verb Tenses in Reported Speech

• Backshift: move the verb tense backwards in time, e.g., direct speech: "I am going to the store." becomes reported speech: "She said she was going to the store."
• No change: when the original sentence is in the present simple or past simple and the reporting verb is in the present, e.g., direct speech: "I like coffee." becomes reported speech: "She says she likes coffee."
• Optional change: when the original sentence is in the past perfect and the reporting verb is in the past, e.g., direct speech: "I had eaten breakfast." becomes reported speech: "She said she had eaten breakfast." (or) "She said she has eaten breakfast."

Changing Pronouns in Reported Speech

• First person (I/we) becomes third person (he/she/they).
• Second person (you) becomes third person (he/she/they).
• Third person (he/she/it) remains the same.

Other Changes in Reported Speech

• Adverbs of time: change to match the time of reporting, e.g., "today" becomes "that day".
• Adverbs of place: change to match the location of the reporting, e.g., "here" becomes "there".
• Demonstratives: change to match the context of the reporting, e.g., "this" becomes "that".

Common Reporting Verbs

• Say
• Tell
• Ask
• Explain
• Announce