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Lesson 5

Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is used to convey what someone else has said. When using reported speech, the form of the original statement is modified to reflect the perspective of the reporting speaker. This involves changing pronouns, verb tenses, and sometimes time or place expressions. Common reporting verbs like "said", "told", and "asked" are used to introduce reported speech. It is important to identify the original speaker's perspective and then make appropriate adjustments to pronouns, verb tenses, and expressions when shifting a statement into reported speech.

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14 views4 pages

Lesson 5

Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is used to convey what someone else has said. When using reported speech, the form of the original statement is modified to reflect the perspective of the reporting speaker. This involves changing pronouns, verb tenses, and sometimes time or place expressions. Common reporting verbs like "said", "told", and "asked" are used to introduce reported speech. It is important to identify the original speaker's perspective and then make appropriate adjustments to pronouns, verb tenses, and expressions when shifting a statement into reported speech.

Uploaded by

pablo.creeper.2.0.1
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lesson 5

Reported Speech in English

Definition:

Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is used in English to convey or narrate what
someone else has said. When quoting someone else’s expression, the form of the speech is usually
modified to fit the reporting speaker’s perspective.

Basic Structure of Reported Speech:

The structure of reported speech involves changes in pronouns, verb tenses, and sometimes in
time and place expressions. Here’s a basic breakdown of how it’s done:

Changes in Pronouns:

• First-person pronouns in direct speech (I, me, my) change to the corresponding
form of the reporting person (he, him, his).

Example: Direct: “I like this book.”Reported: He said that he liked that book.

2. Changes in Verb Tenses:

• Direct speech verb tenses change based on the context and the speaker’s
viewpoint.

Example: Direct: “I am reading a book.”Reported: She said that she was reading a book.

3. Changes in Time and Place Expressions:

• Time and place expressions may change based on the situation.

Example: Direct: “I will visit you tomorrow here.”Reported: She said that she would visit
me the next day there.

Use of Reported Speech Introductory Words:

• Words like “said,” “told,” “asked,” among others, are used to introduce reported
speech.
Example: She said, “I have finished my work.”Reported Speech: She said that she had finished her
work.

Tips for Shifting to Reported Speech:

1. Identify the Original Speaker’s Perspective: Understand who originally spoke and
from what viewpoint.

2. Adjust Pronouns and Verb Tenses: Make changes in pronouns and verb tenses to
reflect the original speaker’s perspective.

3. Adapt Time and Place Expressions: Adjust time and place expressions as needed.

Types of Reporting Verbs:

Reporting verbs play a crucial role in reported speech. They can indicate whether the speaker is
providing a statement, asking a question, giving advice, etc. Here are some common reporting
verbs:

• Say: Used for general statements.

• Direct: She said, “I’ll be there.”

• Reported: She said that she would be there.

• Tell: Often used for giving information or commands.

• Direct: He told me, “Don’t be late.”

• Reported: He told me not to be late.

• Ask: Indicates a question.

• Direct: She asked, “Can you help me?”

• Reported: She asked if I could help her.

• Explain: Used for providing explanations or details.

• Direct: He explained, “The project is due tomorrow.”

• Reported: He explained that the project was due the next day.

• Advise: Indicates advice given.

• Direct: She advised, “You should study more.”

• Reported: She advised me to study more.


Changes in Pronouns and Possessives:

In reported speech, pronouns and possessives often shift to match the reporting speaker’s
perspective. Here’s a general guide:

• Direct: “She said, ‘I love my job.’”

• Reported: She said that she loved her job.

Changes in Time Expressions:

Time expressions are adjusted to reflect the time perspective of the reporting speaker:

• Direct: “He said, ‘I will call you tonight.’”

• Reported: He said that he would call me that night.

Reporting Yes/No and Wh-Questions:

For yes/no questions, we often use “if” or “whether” in reported speech:

• Direct Yes/No Question: “Are you coming?”

• Reported Yes/No Question: She asked if I was coming.

For wh-questions, the question word is often retained:

• Direct Wh-Question: “What did you eat?”

• Reported Wh-Question: She asked what I had eaten.

Direct and Indirect Commands:

Direct commands are transformed into indirect commands:

• Direct Command: “Shut the door.”

• Indirect Command: He told me to shut the door.

Backshifting in Verb Tenses:

When reporting speech, the past tense of the reporting verb often causes a backshift in verb
tenses:

• Direct: “She said, ‘I am leaving.’”


• Reported: She said that she was leaving.

Conclusion:

Reported speech is an effective way to convey what others have said in English. By making
adjustments in pronouns, verb tenses, and expressions, the original message can be accurately
transmitted. Understanding how to make these adjustments is essential for effective
communication in situations where you are reporting what others have said.

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