Questions and Answers
What is the main purpose of reported speech?
Which of the following is the correct tense change for Present Perfect in reported speech?
How are negative statements formed in reported speech?
What structure is used for yes/no questions in reported speech?
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Which reporting verb is commonly used to express commands?
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Which of the following is a correct transformation of 'I can swim' in reported speech?
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What happens to pronouns in reported speech?
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When does no tense change occur in reported speech?
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Study Notes
Reported Speech
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Definition: Reported speech (or indirect speech) is a way to express what someone else has said without quoting their exact words.
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Key Features:
- Changes the original speaker's words into a statement.
- Uses a reporting verb (e.g., say, tell, ask).
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Tense Changes:
- Present Simple → Past Simple (e.g., "She says, 'I am happy.'" → She said she was happy.)
- Present Continuous → Past Continuous (e.g., "He says, 'I am eating.'" → He said he was eating.)
- Present Perfect → Past Perfect (e.g., "They say, 'We have finished.'" → They said they had finished.)
- Future Simple → Conditional (e.g., "I will go." → She said she would go.)
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Pronoun Changes:
- Adjust pronouns to match the perspective of the reporter (e.g., "I" becomes "he/she").
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Time and Place Changes:
- Present time indicators change (e.g., "now" → "then," "today" → "that day").
- Place indicators are also adjusted (e.g., "here" → "there").
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Negative Statements:
- Formed by adding "not" after the reporting verb (e.g., "He said he was not coming.")
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Questions:
- Reported questions do not use question marks and the structure changes to a statement form.
- Use "if" or "whether" for yes/no questions (e.g., "Do you like it?" → He asked if I liked it).
- Wh- questions retain the question word (e.g., "What are you doing?" → She asked what I was doing).
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Commands and Requests:
- Usually begins with "ask" or "tell" (e.g., "Please sit down." → He asked me to sit down).
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Common Reporting Verbs: say, tell, ask, suggest, explain, advise, warn.
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Practice Examples:
- Direct: "I can swim." → Reported: She said she could swim.
- Direct: "Don't touch that!" → Reported: He warned me not to touch that.
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Exceptions:
- Sometimes, no tense change occurs if the reporting verb is in the present (e.g., "He says he is happy.").
Reported Speech Overview
- Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, conveys what someone has said without quoting their exact words.
- Utilizes a reporting verb to convey the action of speaking (e.g., say, tell, ask).
Key Features
- Converts the speaker's words into a statement format.
Tense Changes
- Present Simple changes to Past Simple:
- Example: "She says, 'I am happy.'" becomes "She said she was happy."
- Present Continuous shifts to Past Continuous:
- Example: "He says, 'I am eating.'" becomes "He said he was eating."
- Present Perfect transforms to Past Perfect:
- Example: "They say, 'We have finished.'" becomes "They said they had finished."
- Future Simple changes to Conditional:
- Example: "I will go." becomes "She said she would go."
Pronoun Changes
- Adjust pronouns according to the reporter's perspective (e.g., "I" changes to "he/she").
Time and Place Changes
- Time indicators are adjusted:
- "now" becomes "then"
- "today" becomes "that day"
- Place indicators are modified accordingly (e.g., "here" becomes "there").
Negative Statements
- Formed by adding "not" after the reporting verb:
- Example: "He said he was not coming."
Reported Questions
- Reported questions abandon question marks and reform as statements.
- Yes/no questions use "if" or "whether":
- Example: "Do you like it?" transforms to "He asked if I liked it."
- Wh- questions retain the question word:
- Example: "What are you doing?" becomes "She asked what I was doing."
Commands and Requests
- Typically initiated with "ask" or "tell":
- Example: "Please sit down." transforms to "He asked me to sit down."
Common Reporting Verbs
- Frequently used verbs include say, tell, ask, suggest, explain, advise, and warn.
Practice Examples
- Direct: "I can swim." → Reported: "She said she could swim."
- Direct: "Don't touch that!" → Reported: "He warned me not to touch that."
Exceptions
- Occasionally, if the reporting verb is in the present tense, no tense change is necessary:
- Example: "He says he is happy." remains unchanged.
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Description
Test your knowledge on reported speech. This quiz covers the definition, key features, tense and pronoun changes, and time indicators necessary for mastering indirect speech. Perfect for students looking to enhance their understanding of English grammar.
