01. Reported Speech:
i. Reported speech is when you tell somebody else what you or a person said before.
ii. Distinction must be made between direct speech and reported speech.
Direct speech vs Reported speech:
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| She says: "I like tuna fish." | She says that she likes tuna fish. |
| She said: "I'm visiting Paris next weekend" | She said that she was visiting Paris the following weekend. |
Different types of sentences:
When you use reported speech, you either report:
- Statements
- Questions
- Requests / commands
- Other types
A. Reporting Statements:
When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:
- Pronouns
- Tense
- Place and time expression
The modal verbs could, should, would, might, needn't, ought to, used to do not normally change.
Example:
He said, "She might be right." – He said that she might be right.
Other modal verbs may change:
| Modal | Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|---|
| can | "I can do it." | He said he could do it. |
| may | "May I go out?" | He wanted to know if he might go out. |
| must | "She mustapply for the job." | He said that she must/had to apply for the job. |
| will | "They willcall you." | He told her that they would call her. |
In the following table, you will find the different changes of place; demonstratives and time expressions:
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| Time Expressions | |
| Today | That day |
| Now | Then |
| Yesterday | The day before |
| … days ago | … days before |
| Last week | The week before |
| Next year | The following year |
| Tomorrow | The next day / the following day |
| Place | |
| Here | There |
| Demonstratives | |
| This | That |
| These | Those |
B. Reporting Questions:
When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:
- Pronouns.
- Place and time expressions.
- Tenses (backshift).
Also note that you have to:
- Transform the question into an indirect question.
- Use the question word (where, when, what, how) or if / whether.
| Types of questions | Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|---|
| With question word (what, why, where, how...) | "Why" don’t you speak English?” | He asked me why I didn’t speak English. |
| Without question word (yes or no questions) | “Do you speak English?” | He asked me whether / if I spoke English.C. Reporting requests / commands |
When transforming requests and commands, check whether you have to change:
- Pronouns
- Place and time expressions
Direct Speech Reported Speech “Nancy,do the exercise.“ He told Nancy to do the exercise. "Nancy, give me your pen, please." He asked Nancy to give him her pen.
Tenses are not relevant for requests: Simply use to / not to + verb (infinitive without "to")
Example:She said, “Sit down." - She asked me to sit down.
She said, "don't be lazy" - She asked me not to be lazy
For affirmative use to + infinitive (without to)
For negative requests, use not to + infinitive (without to).
D. Other transformations:
i. Expressions of advice with must, shouldand ought are usually reported using advise / urge.
Example:
"You must read this book."
He advised / urged me to read that book.
The expression let’s is usually reported using suggest. In this case, there are two possibilities for reported speech: gerund or statement with should.
Example:
"Let’s go to the cinema."
1. He suggested going to the cinema.
2. He suggested that we should go to the cinema.
