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Reported Speech My Blog

The document discusses two ways of relating what a person says: direct speech and reported/indirect speech. Direct speech repeats the speaker's exact words, while reported speech gives the meaning without using the exact words. It describes the key differences between the two forms and the grammatical changes needed to convert direct speech into reported speech, such as backshifting verb tenses, changing pronouns and adverbs, and converting questions, commands, exclamations and statements.

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Carlos Pereadu
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1K views20 pages

Reported Speech My Blog

The document discusses two ways of relating what a person says: direct speech and reported/indirect speech. Direct speech repeats the speaker's exact words, while reported speech gives the meaning without using the exact words. It describes the key differences between the two forms and the grammatical changes needed to convert direct speech into reported speech, such as backshifting verb tenses, changing pronouns and adverbs, and converting questions, commands, exclamations and statements.

Uploaded by

Carlos Pereadu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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REPORTED SPEECH

TWO WAYS OF RELATING WHAT A PERSON SAYS

DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT/ REPORTED SPEECH

Repeating exactly the speaker's words Giving the meaning of a remark or


speech without necessarily using
the speaker's exact words.

Example Example
Bob: “I'm a good student.” Bob said that he was a good student.
USE

DIRECT SPEECH

- Actual conversation.

REPORTED SPEECH
CONVERSION FROM DIRECT
TO REPORTED - Conversations in books, plays
and quotations.
CONCEPTS
Reporting verb / introductory verb.

Ex: say, tell, ask, explain, etc.

Reporting clause.

Ex: The girl said...

Backshift: change of verbal tense.

Reported clause: what is said.

Ex: I am tired
SENTENCE TYPES
1. STATEMENTS
2. QUESTIONS
3. COMMANDS / REQUESTS
4. EXCLAMATIONS
5. MIXED TYPES
6. MODALS
1. STATEMENTS
MODEL SENTENCE

DIRECT SPEECH
Peter said: ”I am tired now”

REPORTED SPEECH
Peter said that he was tired then.
1.a) BACKSHIFT (CHANGES IN TENSES)

Direct Speech Reported speech

Present simple Past simple

Present continuous Past continuous

Past simple =Past simple / Past perfect

Past continuous Past perfect continuous

Present perfect Past perfect

Past perfect =Past perfect

Future simple Conditional simple

Conditional simple Conditional perfect


1.b) EXCEPTIONS TO BACKSHIFT
● When the verb of the reporting clause is in present, present perfect or
future tense.

Ex: He says the the train will be late

● Universal truths.

Ex: He said that love is life

● Habitual actions.

Ex: Peter said that he gets up at 7 every day.

● Conditional sentences type 2.

Ex: He said that if he had a dog he would walk it everyday.

● Verbs should, ought to, had better, might, used to, could and must.
1.c) CHANGES IN PRONOUNS

● Personal pronouns

I > he / she

● Possessives

my car > her / his car

● Demonstratives

this > that

these > those


1.d) CHANGES IN ADVERBS
now > then

today > that day

yesterday > the day before / the previous day

tomorrow > the following day / the next day

last week > the week before / the previous week

next week > the following week / the week after

Here > there

Ago > before

Go > come // come > go


2. QUESTIONS
MODEL SENTENCE

DIRECT SPEECH
Peter asked: ”Where is my book?”

REPORTED SPEECH
Peter asked where his book was.
2.a) YES / NO QUESTIONS
● Backshift, exceptions and other changes apply.(1.a, 1.b, 1.c
and 1.d)

● Reporting verb: ask, wonder, want to know..

● Reported clause introduced by “if”

● Interrogative structure changes to affirmative.

EXAMPLE
John said to me: “ Are you at home now?”

John asked me if I was at home then.


2.b) WH- QUESTIONS
● Backshift, exceptions and other changes apply.(1.a, 1.b,
1.c and 1.d)
● Reporting verb: ask, wonder, want to know..
● Reported clause introduced by “wh- word”
● Interrogative structure changes to affirmative.
EXAMPLE
John said to me: “ Where are you now?”

John asked me where I was then.


3. COMMANDS
MODEL SENTENCE

DIRECT SPEECH
Peter said: ”Sit down and be quiet, Mary”

REPORTED SPEECH
Peter told Mary to sit down and be quiet.
CHANGES IN COMMANDS
● Backshift, exceptions and other changes apply.(1.a, 1.b, 1.c
and 1.d)

● Reporting verb: tell, order, command, request …

● Imperative verbs > “To infinitive” (“not to” for the negative).

●
Add the person who is going to carry out the action.
EXAMPLE
The teacher said: “Don't sit here, Jenny”

The teacher ordered Jenny not to sit there.


4. EXCLAMATIONS
MODEL SENTENCE

DIRECT SPEECH
Bill said: ”Happy birthday!”

REPORTED SPEECH
Bill wished me a happy birthday.
CHANGES IN EXCLAMATIONS
● Backshift, exceptions and other changes apply.(1.a,
1.b, 1.c and 1.d)
● Reporting verb: according to the meaning of the
sentence.

EXAMPLE
Mary said: “Ugh, I hate canteen coffee”

Giving an exclamation of disgust, Mary complained that


She hated canteen coffee.
5. MIXED TYPES
MODEL SENTENCE
DIRECT SPEECH
Pip said: ”Hello Tom!
Where have you been all this time?”

REPORTED SPEECH
Pip greeted me and then asked
where I had been all that time.
CHANGES IN MIXED TYPES
● Backshift, exceptions and other changes apply.(1.a, 1.b, 1.c
and 1.d)

● Reporting verb and other changes according to the meaning of


the sentence.

EXAMPLE
Pip said: ”Hello Tom!
Where have you been all this time”

Pip greeted me and then asked


where I had been all that time.
6. MODALS
MODEL SENTENCE

DIRECT SPEECH
The dentist said: ”You must be quiet now”

REPORTED SPEECH
The dentist said that I had to be quiet then
CHANGES IN MODALS
● Backshift, exceptions and other changes apply.(1.a, 1.b, 1.c
and 1.d)

● Modals: may > might will / shall > would / should

can > could must > had to ( obligation)

have to > had to must > must ( deduction)

EXAMPLE
The boy said: “I can wait here”

The boy said that he could wait there.

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