Present Simple Reported Speech Grammar Quiz

Study Notes

Reported Speech with Present Simple Tense

When relaying information based on someone else's words, we use reported speech, which involves changing the original sentence structure and sometimes altering verb tenses, pronouns, and time expressions. In this article, we'll focus on reported speech using the present simple tense, exploring its modifications.

Changing Tenses

In reported speech, the original present simple tense may change to the past simple tense. For example, if someone says, "I go to the gym every day," the reported speech version would be, "They said they went to the gym every day."

There are instances in which the original present simple tense can remain unchanged, such as when the reported speech refers to habitual actions that continue to hold true in the present. For example, "He says he lives in San Francisco," where the speaker's words convey a current situation.

Changing Pronouns

In reported speech, pronouns typically change to reflect the third-person singular or third-person plural forms. For example, "She always wears red lipstick" becomes "She said she always wears red lipstick." Here, the pronoun "she" in the reported speech reflects the original speaker's pronoun, not the speaker of the reported speech.

However, reported speech can also omit pronouns entirely, particularly when the context is evident or when the original sentence already starts with a third-person pronoun. For example, "John says he loves pizza," may be reported as "John said he loves pizza," where the pronoun "he" is retained. Conversely, "Sarah said she loves pizza" may be reported as "Sarah said she loves pizza," where the pronoun is also retained because it starts with a third-person pronoun.

Changing Time Expressions

In reported speech, time expressions can change to reflect the past tense. For example, "I will go to the store later today" becomes "She said she would go to the store later that day." Here, the "later that day" time expression is changed to reflect the past context.

However, as noted earlier, there are instances in which reported speech can retain the original time expression when the context implies that the action continues into the present or future. For example, "She said she always goes to the gym every day" can remain unchanged when the context suggests that this habitual action continues to hold true in the present or future.

Examples

Original: "I go to the gym every day." Reported: "She said she went to the gym every day."
Original: "He leaves work at 5 pm." Reported: "He said he leaves work at 5 pm."
Original: "She will go to the mall tomorrow." Reported: "She said she would go to the mall the next day."
Original: "We usually watch a movie on Friday nights." Reported: "They said they usually watch a movie on Friday nights."

Conclusion

Reported speech with the present simple tense involves changing verb tenses, pronouns, and time expressions. However, it's essential to maintain the original speaker's meaning as closely as possible, while also adhering to the grammatical rules of reported speech. Understanding and applying these rules helps to ensure clear and accurate communication when relaying someone else's words.

Description

Learn how to convert sentences from direct speech to reported speech using the present simple tense. Explore changes in verb tenses, pronouns, and time expressions when relaying information. Enhance your understanding of reported speech rules for accurate communication.