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Reported Speech

Reported Speech, or Indirect Speech, conveys what someone said without quoting their exact words, involving changes in pronouns, tenses, and time/place references. Key reporting verbs include 'say' and 'tell,' and there are specific structures for reported questions and commands. The document also outlines exceptions to tense changes when the reporting verb is in the present or when stating general truths.

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23 views4 pages

Reported Speech

Reported Speech, or Indirect Speech, conveys what someone said without quoting their exact words, involving changes in pronouns, tenses, and time/place references. Key reporting verbs include 'say' and 'tell,' and there are specific structures for reported questions and commands. The document also outlines exceptions to tense changes when the reporting verb is in the present or when stating general truths.

Uploaded by

ephremtaye24
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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REPORTED SPEECH (Indirect Speech)

What is Reported Speech?

Reported Speech (or Indirect Speech) is when we tell someone what another
person said, without quoting their exact words.

Direct Speech: He said, "I am tired."

Reported Speech: He said that he was tired.

KEY CHANGES in Reported Speech

1. Pronoun Changes

Pronouns change according to the context.

Direct Speech Reported Speech


I he/she
you I/he/she/they
we they
my his/her
our their

Example:

She said, "I love my job."


→ She said that she loved her job.

2. Tense Changes (Backshifting)

When the reporting verb is in the past (e.g., said, told), the tense usually shifts one
step back in time.

Direct Speech Reported Speech


present simple past simple
present continuous past continuous
present perfect past perfect
past simple past perfect
future (will) would
can / may could / might
Examples:

He said, "I work hard."


→ He said that he worked hard.

She said, "I am watching TV."


→ She said that she was watching TV.

They said, "We have finished."


→ They said that they had finished.

3. Time and Place Changes

Direct Speech Reported Speech


today that day
tomorrow the next/following day
yesterday the day before
now then
here there
this that
these those

Example:

She said, "I'll call you tomorrow."


→ She said she would call me the next day.

Reporting Verbs

The most common are:

say (to someone)

tell (someone)

ask, advise, suggest, explain, promise, warn, etc.

Note:

Use "say" without a person:


He said that...

Use "tell" with a person:


He told me that...
4. Reported Questions

Yes/No Questions:

Use if or whether

Example:
"Do you like pizza?" → She asked if I liked pizza.

WH- Questions:

Keep the question word, but the word order becomes like a statement.

Example:
"Where do you live?" → He asked where I lived.

Remove question marks and auxiliary verbs like do/does/did.

5.Reported Commands & Requests

Structure:
verb + (not) to + base verb

Direct Command Reported Command


"Sit down," he said. He told me to sit down.
"Don’t talk!" she said. She told me not to talk.

Other reporting verbs:


ask, tell, order, advise, warn, beg, invite, remind, encourage

No Change of Tense (When?)

I.The reporting verb is in present/future:

He says, “I love you.”


He says that he loves me.

Ii.The statement is a general truth:

She said, “The sun rises in the east.”


She said the sun rises in the east.

o
Summary Chart

Direct Speech Reported Speech


"I go." (present simple) He said he went.
"I am going." He said he was going.
"I have gone." He said he had gone.
"I went." He said he had gone.
"I will go." He said he would go.
"Can you help?" He asked if I could help.
"Don’t shout!" He told me not to shout.

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