Reported Speech Rules and Examples

Reported Speech

Reported speech, also known as indirect speech or reported discourse, is a way of conveying what someone else has said by using your own words rather than directly repeating their exact words. It's commonly used when you want to summarize or paraphrase someone else's speech or thoughts without using their exact phrasing. Reported speech can come in various forms, including statements, questions, commands, and requests for action or permission.

Formatting and Word Order

In reported speech, the word order of sentences follows the subject + verb + object structure, similar to declarative sentences. The reporting clause also includes a reporting verb like "say," "ask," or "think," followed by a reported clause showing someone's original statement, question, or thought.

Reporting Statements and Thoughts

To report a statement or someone's thoughts, you use a reported clause that usually begins with the conjunction "that." However, in informal speech and writing, the conjunction "that" is often left out, especially with frequently used reporting verbs such as "say" and "think".

Reporting Questions

Questions put into report structures are referred to as reported questions or indirect questions. They do not end with question marks but are followed by a reported clause showing someone's original question.

Modal Verbs and Tenses

When reporting speech from the past, verb tenses typically shift back one tense. For example, simple present can change to simple past, past to past perfect, and present perfect to past perfect. Some modal verbs like "will," "can," "may," and "must" do not change their form when used in reported speech.

Yes/No Questions and Commands

Yes/no questions and commands can be reported using noun clauses introduced by "whether" or "if," depending on the situation.

In summary, reported speech allows us to share what others have said without directly repeating their exact words. Understanding this concept is crucial for clear communication and effective language usage in various contexts.