Understanding

Reported Speech

How to Report What

Others Say
ENG ANASZNA
 Definition: - Reported speech (also
Introduction known as indirect speech) is used to
convey what someone else has said
to Reported without quoting their exact words.
Purpose: - It allows us to share
Speech information, thoughts, or feelings
expressed by others in a more flexible
way.

ENG ANASZNA
 Direct Speech vs. Reported Speech
Direct Speech: Reported Speech:
Quoting someone's exact Paraphrasing what
words, usually enclosed someone said without
in quotation marks. using quotation marks.
Example: The ghost said, Example: The ghost said
"I haunt this house every that he haunted the
Halloween." house every Halloween.
ENG ANASZNA
 Pronouns change to match the perspective of the speaker.

I You We My

I → he/she We → they My → her/his

You → he/she or
Direct: "I love they Direct: "We are Direct: "My
Direct: "You going to the costume is
Halloween."
should try this party." scary."
Reported: She
said that she Our candy."
Reported: He told This Reported: They
said that they
Here Reported: He
said that his
loved me that I should were going to the costume was
Halloween. try that candy. party.
scary.
Our → their
This → that
Direct: "Our Here → there
Direct: "This is my
friends are favorite Halloween Direct: "I am
joining us." movie." here."
Reported: She Reported: He said Reported: She
that that was his
said that their said that she
favorite Halloween
friends were movie. was there.
joining them.
ENG ANASZNA
 Tenses shift back one step in time to reflect the change from direct to reported speech.

Present Present Present

Continuous
Simple Perfect

- Present Simple Past Present Present Perfect

→ Past Perfect
→ Past Simple
Direct: "I eat
Simple
Continuous →
Past Continuous Will Direct: "I have
Can
Direct: "I am seen that movie."
candy."
eating candy." Reported: She
Reported: She
Reported: He said that she
said that she said that he was
Past Simple → Will → Would had seen that
ate candy. eating candy. movie. Can → Could
Past Perfect Direct: "I will go
Direct: "I can
Direct: "I saw a to the party."
help you."
ghost." Reported: She
Reported: He
Reported: He said that she
said that he had
said that he
would go to the
seen a ghost. could help me.
party.

ENG ANASZNA
 Common Reporting Verbs Next
Say Used when there is no direct object.
Example: The witch said that she would cast a spell.

Tell Used when there is a direct object (the person being told).
Example: The vampire told me that he was coming to the party.

Ask
Used for questions.
Example: The ghost asked if I wanted to join the
haunting.

ENG ANASZNA
 Reporting Questions
When reporting questions, the structure changes
from a question to a statement.
Changing
the In direct speech, questions often start with a question word (who, what,
Question where, when, why, how) or an auxiliary verb (is, are, can, will).
Format In reported speech, we turn the question into a statement.

Using We typically use the verbs "ask" or "inquire" to introduce the reported
question.
"Ask" or
Example:
"Inquire"
Direct: "Where are you going?"
Reported: She asked where I was going.

ENG ANASZNA
 Reporting Questions
When reporting questions, the structure changes
from a question to a statement.
Examples of
For yes/no questions, we use "if" or "whether" in reported speech.
Reporting
Yes/No Example:
Questions Direct: "Are you coming to the party?"
Reported: He asked if I was coming to the party.

Examples of For questions starting with question words, we simply change the
Reporting structure.
Wh- Example:
Questions Direct: "What time does the movie start?"
Reported: She asked what time the movie started.

ENG ANASZNA
 Reporting Questions
When reporting questions, the structure changes
from a question to a statement.
Using Question Marks:
Common
Mistakes Remember that reported questions do not use question marks. They are
treated as statements.
Example: "He asked if I was ready." (not "He asked if I was ready?")

Just like with statements, the verb tense usually shifts back one step in
Tense time.
Changes Example:
Direct: "Can you help me?"
Reported: She asked if I could help her.

ENG ANASZNA
ENG ANASZNA

Reporting Commands and Requests

Structure: Use verbs like "tell"
or "ask" to report commands or
requests.
Example:
Direct: "Bring me the potion."
Reported: The witch told me to
bring her the potion.
Use of "to": - Commands often
use "to" in reported speech.
ENG ANASZNA

Examples of Reported Speech

Direct: "I love Direct: "What Direct: "Please
Halloween costume are you light the jack-o'-
candy." wearing?" lantern."
Reported: She Reported: He Reported: The
said that she asked what ghost asked me
loved Halloween costume I was to light the jack-
candy. wearing. o'-lantern.

Statements Questions Commands

 Reported speech is an Conclusion
important aspect of
communication that Understanding how to
allows us to share what use reported speech
others have said can enhance your
without quoting them speaking and writing
directly. skills in English.

ENG ANASZNA
 Links
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