Scribd
Upload
42 views

Reported Speech

Uploaded by

sredha255
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
42 views

Reported Speech

Uploaded by

sredha255
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
You are on page 1/ 7

REPORTED SPEECH

Objective:
★ To comprehend the concept of direct and indirect speech and their signi cance in
sentence formation.
★ Identify direct and indirect speech.
★ Demonstrate the correct formation of sentences in written and in communication.

Success Criteria:

I can :
★ comprehend the concept of direct and indirect speech and their signi cance in sentence
formation.
★ Identify direct and indirect speech.
★ Demonstrate the correct formation of sentences in written and in communication.

✦ What is Reported Speech ?


Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is used to convey what someone else has
said without quoting their exact words.

Basic Structure of Reported Speech:

Reported speech usually follows the structure: subject + reporting verb + (that) + reported clause.

Example: He said, “I am happy.” ➔ He said (that) he was happy.


fi
fi
✦ Changes in Pronouns:

Pronouns change according to the speaker’s perspective.


Example: Direct: She said, “I will call you.” ➔ Reported: She said (that) she would call me.

✦ Changes in Tenses:
When converting direct speech into reported speech, the tense generally moves one step back in time
(backshift of tenses).

Eg:

Present Simple to Past Simple:


“He says, ‘I like pizza.’” ➔ He said (that) he liked pizza.
Present Continuous to Past Continuous:
“She is reading a book.” ➔ She said (that) she was reading a book.
Present Perfect to Past Perfect:
“They have nished their homework.” ➔ They said (that) they had nished their homework.
Past Simple to Past Perfect:
“I went to the park.” ➔ He said (that) he had gone to the park.
Will to Would:
“I will see you tomorrow.” ➔ She said (that) she would see me tomorrow.
fi
fi
✦ Changes in Time Expressions:
Time expressions often change to re ect the shift in time perspective:
“Today” ➔ “That day”
“Tomorrow” ➔ “The next day” or “the following day”
“Yesterday” ➔ “The day before”
“Now” ➔ “Then”
“This” ➔ “That”
“These” ➔ “Those”

✦ Reporting Verbs:
Common reporting verbs include say, tell, ask, explain, suggest, advise, promise, remind, warn, etc.
Note: “Tell” is used when there is a speci c listener mentioned:
“He told me that he was tired.”

✦ Questions in Reported Speech:


When reporting questions, the structure changes slightly:
For yes/no questions, use if or whether:
“Are you coming?” ➔ She asked if I was coming.
For WH-questions, use the question word:
“What time is it?” ➔ He asked what time it was.

✦ Commands and Requests in Reported Speech:


Use reporting verbs like tell, order, ask, request, suggest + in nitive form:
“Please sit down.” ➔ He asked me to sit down.
“Don’t touch that.” ➔ She told him not to touch that.

✦ Modals in Reported Speech:


Some modal verbs change:
“Can” ➔ “Could”
“May” ➔ “Might”
“Must” ➔ “Had to”
“Shall” ➔ “Should”
Modals like “could,” “would,” “might,” “should,” and “ought to” remain unchanged.

✦ Exceptions to Back shifting:


No backshift is needed if the reporting verb is in the present or if the reported speech is about
something still true or universally true:
“Water boils at 100 degrees.” ➔ She said that water boils at 100 degrees.

Eg:

Convert the following sentences into Reported Speech

1.Mary said, “I will travel to France next summer.”

Ans: Mary said (that) she would travel to France the next summer.

2.The teacher asked, “Have you completed your homework?”


Ans: The teacher asked if I had completed my homework.
fl
fi
fi
3.He said, “Don’t be late for the meeting.”
Ans:He told me not to be late for the meeting.

4.She asked, “Where did you put the keys?”


Ans: She asked where I had put the keys.

5.John said, “I am feeling very tired today.”


Ans:John said (that) he was feeling very tired that day.

6. The manager asked, “Why were you absent yesterday?”


Ans:The manager asked why I had been absent the day before.

Here you go:


A: Convert the following statements into Reported Speech

1. Alice said, “I am reading a fascinating book.”


2. Tom said, “I will go to the gym tomorrow.”
3. The teacher said, “You have done well in the exam.”
4. Sarah said, “I can’t nd my keys.”
5. Mark said, “We are moving to a new house next week.”

B:Convert the following mixed sentences into Reported Speech

1. He said, “I have been waiting for you for two hours.”


2. She said, “I might visit my grandparents this weekend.”
3. They said, “We can’t come to the party tonight.”
4. The boss said, “You must complete this task by Monday.”
5. He said, “I didn’t know about the meeting.”
fi
Answers:

A) 1. Alice said (that) she was reading a fascinating book.


2. Tom said (that) he would go to the gym the next day.
3. The teacher said (that) I had done well in the exam.
4. Sarah said (that) she couldn’t nd her keys.
5. Mark said (that) they were moving to a new house the following week.

B) 1. He said (that) he had been waiting for me for two hours.


2. She said (that) she might visit her grandparents that weekend.
3. They said (that) they couldn’t come to the party that night.
4. The boss said (that) I must complete the task by Monday.
5. He said (that) he hadn’t known about the meeting.
fi

You might also like