Reported Speech Rules

Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)

• Refers to reporting what someone has said without using their exact words
• Can be used to report statements, questions, or commands
• Typically uses the following structures:
  • Verb tenses: backshift (e.g., present → past, past perfect → past perfect)
  • Pronouns: change to match the person reporting (e.g., I → he/she)
  • Adverbs: change to match the time of reporting (e.g., yesterday → the day before)
• Examples:
  • Direct Speech: "I'm going to the store."
  • Indirect Speech: "She said she was going to the store."

Conditional Tenses

• Used to express hypothetical or uncertain situations and their consequences
• Types of conditional sentences:
  • Zero Conditional: used for universal truths or scientific facts
    • Form: if + present simple, ... + present simple
    • Example: "If you heat ice, it melts."
  • First Conditional: used for future possibilities
    • Form: if + present simple, ... + future simple
    • Example: "If it rains, I will take an umbrella."
  • Second Conditional: used for hypothetical or unlikely situations
    • Form: if + past simple, ... + would + infinitive
    • Example: "If I won the lottery, I would buy a house."
  • Third Conditional: used for past hypothetical situations
    • Form: if + past perfect, ... + would have + past participle
    • Example: "If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam."
  • Mixed Conditional: used for a mix of hypothetical and factual situations
    • Form: if + past simple, ... + would have + past participle
    • Example: "If I had won the lottery, I would be rich now."

If Clauses

• Used to introduce a condition or hypothesis
• Types of if clauses:
  • Real if clauses: used for real or possible situations
    • Example: "If it rains, I will take an umbrella."
  • Unreal if clauses: used for hypothetical or unlikely situations
    • Example: "If I won the lottery, I would buy a house."
  • Past if clauses: used for past hypothetical situations
    • Example: "If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam."
• If clauses can be used in combination with other conditional sentences

Direct Speech

• Refers to quoting someone's exact words
• Typically uses quotation marks and the exact words spoken
• Examples:
  • "I'm going to the store," she said.
  • He said, "I'll meet you at 5 o'clock."

Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)

• Reports what someone has said without using their exact words
• Can be used for statements, questions, or commands
• Uses verb tenses, pronouns, and adverbs that match the person reporting and the time of reporting
• Examples:
  • "I'm going to the store." → "She said she was going to the store."

Conditional Tenses

• Used for hypothetical or uncertain situations and their consequences
• Types of conditional sentences:

  Zero Conditional

  • Used for universal truths or scientific facts
  • Form: if + present simple,...+ present simple
  • Example: "If you heat ice, it melts."

  First Conditional

  • Used for future possibilities
  • Form: if + present simple,...+ future simple
  • Example: "If it rains, I will take an umbrella."

  Second Conditional

  • Used for hypothetical or unlikely situations
  • Form: if + past simple,...+ would + infinitive
  • Example: "If I won the lottery, I would buy a house."

  Third Conditional

  • Used for past hypothetical situations
  • Form: if + past perfect,...+ would have + past participle
  • Example: "If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam."

  Mixed Conditional

  • Used for a mix of hypothetical and factual situations
  • Form: if + past simple,...+ would have + past participle
  • Example: "If I had won the lottery, I would be rich now."

If Clauses

• Introduce a condition or hypothesis
• Types of if clauses:

  Real If Clauses

  • Used for real or possible situations
  • Example: "If it rains, I will take an umbrella."

  Unreal If Clauses

  • Used for hypothetical or unlikely situations
  • Example: "If I won the lottery, I would buy a house."

  Past If Clauses

  • Used for past hypothetical situations
  • Example: "If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam."

Direct Speech

• Quotes someone's exact words
• Uses quotation marks and the exact words spoken
• Examples:
  • "I'm going to the store," she said.
  • He said, "I'll meet you at 5 o'clock."