6 Questions
What happens to the pronoun 'I' when converting direct speech to indirect speech?
It changes to 'he' or 'she' or 'they'
What is the correct backshift of tense in the sentence: 'She said, 'I am going to the store.' '?'
She said she was going to the store.
Which of the following is an example of direct speech?
He said, 'I'm going to the store.'
What happens to the modal verb 'can' when converting direct speech to indirect speech?
It changes to 'could'
What is the correct indirect speech for the sentence: 'She said, 'I will meet you at 5.' '?'
She said she would meet us at 5.
What happens to the verb tense in the sentence: 'She said, 'I have been studying for three hours.' '?'
It changes to the past perfect continuous
Study Notes
Reported Speech
Direct Speech vs. Indirect Speech
- Direct Speech: exact words spoken, enclosed in quotation marks
- Indirect Speech: reported speech, not exact words spoken, no quotation marks
Pronominal Changes
- Changes in pronouns when converting direct speech to indirect speech:
- I -> he/she/they
- me -> him/her/them
- my -> his/her/their
- you -> him/her/them
- he/she/it -> he/she/it (no change)
Backshift of Tenses
- Changes in verb tenses when converting direct speech to indirect speech:
- Present Simple -> Past Simple
- Present Continuous -> Past Continuous
- Present Perfect -> Past Perfect
- Past Simple -> Past Perfect
- Past Continuous -> Past Perfect Continuous
- Future Simple -> Conditional
- Future Continuous -> Conditional Continuous
- Future Perfect -> Conditional Perfect
Modality Changes
- Changes in modal verbs when converting direct speech to indirect speech:
- can -> could
- may -> might
- must -> had to
- shall -> should
- will -> would
- would -> would
Examples
- Direct Speech: "I'm going to the store," she said.
- Indirect Speech: She said she was going to the store.
- Direct Speech: "I'll meet you at 5," he said.
- Indirect Speech: He said he would meet us at 5.
Reported Speech
Direct and Indirect Speech
- Direct Speech: exact words spoken, enclosed in quotation marks
- Indirect Speech: reported speech, not exact words spoken, no quotation marks
Pronominal Changes in Reported Speech
- I changes to he/she/they in indirect speech
- me changes to him/her/them in indirect speech
- my changes to his/her/their in indirect speech
- you changes to him/her/them in indirect speech
- he/she/it remains the same in indirect speech
Backshift of Tenses in Reported Speech
- Present Simple changes to Past Simple in indirect speech
- Present Continuous changes to Past Continuous in indirect speech
- Present Perfect changes to Past Perfect in indirect speech
- Past Simple changes to Past Perfect in indirect speech
- Past Continuous changes to Past Perfect Continuous in indirect speech
- Future Simple changes to Conditional in indirect speech
- Future Continuous changes to Conditional Continuous in indirect speech
- Future Perfect changes to Conditional Perfect in indirect speech
Modality Changes in Reported Speech
- can changes to could in indirect speech
- may changes to might in indirect speech
- must changes to had to in indirect speech
- shall changes to should in indirect speech
- will changes to would in indirect speech
- would remains the same in indirect speech
Examples of Reported Speech
- "I'm going to the store" becomes "She said she was going to the store"
- "I'll meet you at 5" becomes "He said he would meet us at 5"
Test your knowledge of reported speech rules, including direct and indirect speech, pronominal changes, and backshift of tenses.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
