6 Questions
Indirect speech is also known as ______ discourse or reported speech.
indirect
Reported statements typically use the structure ______ + verb of communication + that + clause.
subject
Reported questions often use the structure ______ + asked + if/whether + clause.
subject
The rule of ______ of tenses involves changing the verb tense of the original sentence in reported speech.
backshift
In reported speech, the present simple tense is typically backshifted to the ______ simple tense.
past
The original sentence 'I will be there tomorrow' becomes '______ said that he would be there the next day' in reported speech.
he
Study Notes
Reported Speech
Indirect Speech
- Also known as indirect discourse or reported speech
- A way of expressing what someone has said without quoting their exact words
- Introduced by a verb of communication (e.g., said, told, asked)
- May or may not include quotation marks
Reported Statements
- Report what someone has said
- Typically use the following structures:
- Subject + verb of communication + that + clause
- Subject + verb of communication + if/whether + clause
- Examples:
- She said that she was tired.
- He told me if he would be late.
Reported Questions
- Report what someone has asked
- Typically use the following structures:
- Subject + asked + if/whether + clause
- Subject + asked + wh- word + clause
- Examples:
- She asked if I was going to the party.
- He asked what time it was.
Backshift of Tenses
- A rule in reported speech that involves changing the verb tense of the original sentence
- The tense of the verb in the reported speech is one step back in time
- Examples:
- Original: "I am going to the store." → Reported: "She said that she was going to the store."
- Original: "I will be there tomorrow." → Reported: "He said that he would be there the next day."
- Key backshift rules:
- Present Simple → Past Simple
- Present Continuous → Past Continuous
- Past Simple → Past Perfect
- Future Simple → Conditional Simple
Reported Speech
Indirect Speech
- A way of expressing what someone has said without quoting their exact words
- Introduced by a verb of communication (e.g., said, told, asked)
- May or may not include quotation marks
Reported Statements
- Report what someone has said
- Typically use the following structures:
- Subject + verb of communication + that + clause
- Subject + verb of communication + if/whether + clause
- Examples:
- She said that she was tired.
- He told me if he would be late.
Reported Questions
- Report what someone has asked
- Typically use the following structures:
- Subject + asked + if/whether + clause
- Subject + asked + wh- word + clause
- Examples:
- She asked if I was going to the party.
- He asked what time it was.
Backshift of Tenses
- A rule in reported speech that involves changing the verb tense of the original sentence
- The tense of the verb in the reported speech is one step back in time
- Examples:
- Original: "I am going to the store." → Reported: "She said that she was going to the store."
- Original: "I will be there tomorrow." → Reported: "He said that he would be there the next day."
- Key backshift rules:
- Present Simple → Past Simple
- Present Continuous → Past Continuous
- Past Simple → Past Perfect
- Future Simple → Conditional Simple
Test your understanding of reported speech, including indirect discourse, reported statements, and their structures.
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