Now that you know some of the reported speech rules about backshift, let’s learn some exceptions.
There are two situations in which we do NOT need to change the verb tense.
For example, if someone says “I have three children” (direct speech) then we would say “He said he has three children” because the situation continues to be true.
If I tell you “I live in the United States” (direct speech) then you could tell someone else “She said she lives in the United States” (that’s reported speech) because it is still true.
When the situation is still true, then we don’t need to backshift the verb.
But when the situation is NOT still true, then we DO need to backshift the verb.
Imagine your friend says, “I have a headache.”
We also don’t need to backshift to the verb when somebody said something about the future, and the event is still in the future.
Here’s an example:
Let’s look at a different situation:
Quick review:
Those were the rules for reported statements, just regular sentences.
What about reported speech for questions, requests, and orders?
For reported requests, we use “asked (someone) to do something”:
For reported orders, we use “told (someone) to do something:”
The main verb stays in the infinitive with “to”:
For yes/no questions, we use “asked if” and “wanted to know if” in reported speech.
The main verb changes and back shifts according to the rules and exceptions we learned earlier.
Notice that we don’t use do/does/did in the reported question:
For other questions that are not yes/no questions, we use asked/wanted to know (without “if”):
Again, notice that we don’t use do/does/did in reported questions:
Also, in questions with the verb “to be,” the word order changes in the reported question:
Learn more about reported speech:
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I’ve got one last little exercise for you, and that is to write sentences using reported speech. Think about a conversation you’ve had in the past, and write about it – let’s see you put this into practice right away.
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I had an appointment with a new client yesterday. I told him that and he said . |
When turning direct speech into reported speech, we may have to change all or some of the following:
If the reporting verb is in the simple past (e.g. said, told, asked, replied … ), the tense has to be set back by one degree (see the table below). This is known as backshifting .
Direct Speech | Reported Speech | |
---|---|---|
simple present | → | simple past |
present progressive | → | past progressive |
simple past | → | past perfect simple |
present perfect simple | ||
past perfect simple | ||
past progressive | → | past perfect progressive |
present perfect progressive | ||
past perfect progressive | ||
future with going to | → | was / were going to |
future with will | → | conditional (would) |
would |
The verbs could, should, would, might, must, needn’t, ought to, used to normally do not change.
If the reporting verb is in the simple present (e.g. says, tells, asks, replies … ), then the tense remains unchanged.
While the tense remains unchanged, we often still have to change the verb form to match the new pronouns.
We often omit the word that after a reporting verb, especially in spoken language and informal contexts.
When turning questions into reported speech, we follow the same rules as for declarative sentences: we change the pronouns as well as the time and place markers and backshift the tense as needed.
In addition, we also have to bear in mind the following:
Questions in reported speech do not end in a question mark.
When turning orders, demands and requests into reported speech, we only need to change the pronouns and the time and place information.
We don’t have to pay attention to the tense – we simply use an infinitive rather than a conjugated verb.
If the imperative is negated, then we use not + infinitive .
To express what someone should or can do in reported speech, we leave out the subject and the modal verb and instead we use the construction who/what/where/how + infinitive .
Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
---|---|
today | that day |
now | then at that moment/time |
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 |
here | there |
this | that |
these | those |
The words say and tell are not interchangeable.
Head over to the vocabulary section to learn more about the difference between say and tell .
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How to use reported speech.
If you have a sentence in Direct Speech, try to follow our 5 steps to put the sentence into Reported Speech..
Mind the type of sentences when you use Reported Speech. There is more detailed information on the following pages.
If you use Reported Speech there are mostly two main differences.
The introductory sentence in Reported Speech can be in the Present or in the Past .
If the introductory sentences is in the Simple Present, there is no backshift of tenses.
If there is a pronoun in Direct Speech, it has possibly to be changed in Reported Speech, depending on the siutation.
Here I is changed to she .
If there is backshift of tenses in Reported Speech, the tenses are shifted the following way.
Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
---|---|
Simple forms | |
Simple Present | Simple Past |
Simple Past | Past Perfect |
Present Perfect | |
Past Perfect | |
will | would |
Progressive forms | |
am/are/is | was/were |
was/were | had been |
has been | |
had been |
If there is an expression of time/place in the sentence, it may be changed, depending on the situation.
Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
---|---|
this evening | that evening |
today/this day | that day |
these days | those days |
now | then |
a week ago | a week before |
last weekend | the weekend before / the previous weekend |
next week | the following week |
tomorrow | the next/following day |
here | there |
In some cases backshift of tenses is not necessary, e.g. when statements are still true. Backshift of tenses is never wrong.
when you use general statements.
* The word that is optional, that is the reason why we put it in brackets.
What is 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. |
He asked Betty: “Do you like cheese?” | He wanted to know if Betty liked cheese. |
When you use reported speech, you either report:
1- pronouns.
Shifting back tense | Direct speech | Reported speech |
---|---|---|
(no backshift) | “I poems.” | He that he poems. |
(backshift) | “I poems | He that he poems. |
Do not change the tense if the introductory clause (i.e., the reporting verb) is in the present tense (e. g. He says ). Note, however, that you might have to change the form of the present tense verb (3rd person singular).
Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
---|---|
He said: “I happy” | He said that he happy |
He said: “I for my keys” | He said that he for his keys |
He said: “I New York last year” | He said that he New York the previous year. |
He said: ” I here for a long time “ | He said that he there for a long time |
He said: “They the work when I “ | He said that they the work when he “ |
He said: “I football when the accident “ | He said that football when the accident |
He said: “I football for two hours.” | He said that football for two hours |
He said: “I a newspaper when the light “ | He said that he a newspaper when the light |
He said: “I the door.” | He said that the door. |
He said: “I a Mercedes if I rich” | He said that he a Mercedes if he rich |
Modal | Direct speech | Reported speech |
---|---|---|
can | “I do it.” | He said that he do it. |
may | “ I go out?” | He wanted to know if he go out. |
must | “She apply for the job.” | He said that she apply for the job. |
will | “They call you.” | He told her that they call her. |
Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
---|---|
Time Expressions | |
today | that day |
now | then |
yesterday | the day before |
… days ago | … days before |
last week | the week before/the previous week |
next year | the following year/the next year/ the year after |
tomorrow | the next day/the following day |
Place | |
here | there |
Demonstratives | |
this | that |
these | those |
Types of questions | Direct speech | Reported speech |
---|---|---|
With question words (what, why, where, how…) | “Why don’t you speak English?” | He asked me why I didn’t speak English. |
Without question words (yes or no questions) | “Do you speak English?” | He asked me whether/if I spoke English. |
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 / + verb (infinitive without “to”) |
For affirmative use + infinitive (without to) For negative requests, use + infinitive (without to). |
Main clauses connected with and/but, punctuation rules of the reported speech, can we omit that in the reported speech, list of reporting verbs.
Direct speech | Reported speech |
---|---|
simple present | simple past |
simple past | past perfect |
present continuous | past continuous |
past continuous | past perfect continuous |
will | would |
shall | should |
may | might |
can | could |
must | had to |
Reported speech (also known as indirect speech) is when we report what somebody has said. Native speakers use reported speech very often.
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Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is a way of conveying what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. Instead of using quotation marks , the speaker paraphrases or summarises the original statement. This transformation often involves changes in pronouns, tenses, and time expressions to fit the context of the reporting. Understanding reported speech is crucial for effective communication , as it allows you to relay information accurately and fluently in both spoken and written English.
, reported speech does not use quotation marks, since it's not quoting the speaker's exact words. |
Indirect speech or Reported speech is just a way of expressing your intent in questions, statements or other phrases, without essentially quoting them outrightly as the way it is done in indirect speech.
To understand Reported Speech Grammar and Reported Verbs, you need to first understand reported speech rules and how it works. Here are some types of reported speech:
Reported Statements
Reported speech is used when someone says a sentence, like, "I'm going to the movie tonight". Later, we want to tell a 3rd person what the first person is doing.
It works like this:
We use a reporting verb i.e 'say' or 'tell'. In the present tense, just put in 'he says.
Direct Speech: I like burgers.
Reported Speech: He says (that) he likes burgers.
You don't need to change the tense, but you do need to switch the 'person' from 'I' to 'he’. You also need to change words like 'my' and 'your'.
But, in case the reporting verb is in the past tense, then change the tenses in the reported speech itself.
Reported Questions
Reported questions to go like
Direct Speech: Where do you reside?
We make the change to reported speech by-
It is similar to reported statements. The tense changes are exact, and we keep the question’s word. But we need to change the grammar of that normal sentence into positive. For eg:
Reported Speech: He asked me where I resided.
The direct speech question is in the present simple tense. We make a present simple question with 'do' or 'does'. For that, I need to take that away. Then change the verb to the past simple.
Direct Speech: Where is Jolly?
Reported Speech: He asked me where Jolly was.
The direct question is the present simple of 'be'. We change the question form of the present simple of being by changing the position of the subject and the verb. So, change them back before putting the verb into the past simple.
Reported Requests
The reported speech goes a long way. What if a person asks you to do something politely or make a request? It’s called a reported request. For example
Direct Speech: Close the door, please / Could you close the door please? / Would you mind closing the door, please?
All these requests mean the same, so we don't need to report every word there when we tell a 3rd person about it.
We can simply use 'ask me + to + infinitive':
Reported Speech: They asked me to close the door.
Direct Speech: Please be punctual.
Reported Speech: They asked us to be punctual.
Reported Orders
And lastly, how about when someone doesn't ask that politely? This is known as an 'order' in English, which is when someone tells you to do something pretty much directly. This is called a reported order. For example
Direct Speech: Stand up right now!
We make this into a reported speech in the same way as that for a request. Just use 'tell' rather than 'ask':
Reported Speech: She told me to stand up right now.
Direct Order | Reported Order |
Go to sleep! | He told the child to go to sleep |
Stop worrying! | He told her to stop worrying |
Be punctual! | He told me to be punctual. |
Don't move! | He told us not to move. |
Time Expressions within the Ambit of Reported Speech
Sometimes when we want to change the direct speech into reported speech, we will have to change the time expressions too. We don't necessarily always have to do that. However, It depends on when we heard the speech in indirect form and when we said the speech in reported form.
For Example,
It's Sunday. Kiran Ma’am says "I'm leaving today".
If You tell someone on Sunday, You will say "Kiran Ma’am said she was leaving today".
If you tell someone on Tuesday, You will say "Kiran Ma’am said she was leaving yesterday".
If you tell someone on Friday, you will say "Kiran Ma’am said she was leaving on Sunday ".
If you tell someone a month later, you will say "Kiran Ma’am said she was leaving that day".
So, technically there's no easy way to convert. You need to put in real effort and have to think about it when the direct speech is said.
Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
now can be converted to | then / at that time |
today can be converted to | yesterday / that day / Tuesday / the 27th of June |
yesterday can be converted to | the day before yesterday / the day before / Wednesday / the 5th of December |
last night can be converted to | the night before, Thursday night |
last week can be converted to | the week before / the previous week |
tomorrow can be converted to | today / the next day / the following day / Friday |
Tense | Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
present simple | I like Burger | She said (that) she liked Burger |
present continuous | I am living in Australia | She said (that) she was living in Australia |
past simple | I bought a new house | She said (that) she had bought a new house OR She said (that) she bought a new house |
past continuous | My mom was watching a movie | She said (that) her mom had been watching a movie |
present perfect | I haven't seen Ram | She said (that) she hadn't seen Ram. |
will | I will travel to Delhi | She said (that) she would travel to Delhi. |
would* | I would suggest, but..” | She said (that) she would suggest but... |
can | I can play cricket. | She said (that) she could play cricket |
could* | I could go to the wedding | She said (that) she could go to the wedding |
shall | I shall come later | She said (that) she would come later. |
should* | I should talk to her | She said (that) she should talk to her |
might* | I might be coming late | She said (that) she might be coming late |
must | I must attend the party | She said (that) she must attend the party She said she had to attend the party |
This is all about reported speech. English grammar is a tricky thing given both the rules and practice. Reading these rules solely will not help you to get a strong grasp of them. You also have to practice reported speech sentences in practical life to know how and when they can be used.
Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
I am happy. | He/She said he/she was happy. |
You will succeed. | He/She said I would succeed. |
We are going out. | They said they were going out. |
He is my friend. | He/She said he was his/her friend. |
She loves music. | He/She said she loved music. |
They will join us. | He/She said they would join them. |
My book is here. | He/She said his/her book was there. |
Your project is good. | He/She said my project was good. |
Our team won. | They said their team won. |
Their house is beautiful. | He/She said their house was beautiful. |
Direct Speech (Adverbs of Place & Time) | Reported Speech (Adverbs of Place & Time) |
Here | There |
Now | Then |
Today | That day |
Tomorrow | The next day / The following day |
Yesterday | The previous day / The day before |
This week | That week |
Last week | The previous week / The week before |
Next week | The following week |
Ago | Before |
Here | There |
Tonight | That night |
Direct Speech (Modal Verbs) | Reported Speech (Modal Verbs) |
Will | Would |
Can | Could |
Shall | Should |
May | Might |
Must | Had to |
Would | Would (No Change) |
Could | Could (No Change) |
Should | Should (No Change) |
Might | Might (No Change) |
Ought to | Ought to (No Change) |
Exercise 1: Convert the following sentences from direct speech to reported speech.
Direct: "I am going to the market now," said John.
Reported: __________________________
Direct: "We will finish the project tomorrow," the team leader said.
Direct: "Can you help me with my homework?" Sarah asked Tom.
Direct: "She is studying French," said her teacher.
Direct: "I must complete this assignment by tonight," the student mentioned.
Exercise 2: Correct the error in the following reported speech sentences.
He said that he will go to the party the next day.
Correction: __________________________
She told me that she can come to the meeting.
They said that they are going to visit their grandparents.
The teacher told us that we must complete the homework by tomorrow.
He said that he might will arrive late.
Exercise 3: Convert the following sentences from reported speech to direct speech.
Reported: She said that she had finished her work .
Direct: __________________________
Reported: He told me that he would help me later.
Reported: They mentioned that they were planning a trip.
Reported: The doctor said that the patient needed rest.
Reported: She said that she could not attend the party.
Find out if you got them right from the answers below.
John said that he was going to the market then.
The team leader said that they would finish the project the next day.
Sarah asked Tom if he could help her with her homework.
Her teacher said that she was studying French.
The student mentioned that he/she had to complete the assignment by that night.
He said that he would go to the party the next day.
She told me that she could come to the meeting.
They said that they were going to visit their grandparents.
The teacher told us that we had to complete the homework by the next day.
He said that he might arrive late.
"I have finished my work," she said.
"I will help you later," he told me.
"We are planning a trip," they mentioned.
"The patient needs rest," the doctor said.
"I cannot attend the party," she said.
Understanding the reported speech requires understanding how pronouns shift based on the speaker and context.
Recognising the necessary tense changes when converting from direct to reported speech is crucial for accurate communication.
Knowing how adverbs of time and place change in reported speech ensures clarity in conveying when and where something occurred.
Familiarity with how modal verbs like "will" change to "would" helps maintain the intended meaning when reporting statements.
1. How do you convert present tenses to reported speech?
To convert present tenses to reported speech, follow these rules:
Present Simple changes to Past Simple.
Present Continuous changes to Past Continuous.
Present Perfect changes to Past Perfect.
Present Perfect Continuous changes to Past Perfect Continuous.
"I do yoga every morning." → She said that she did yoga every morning.
"My friend is watching a movie." → She said that her friend was watching a movie.
"I have been to the USA." → She told me that she had been to the USA.
2. How do you convert past tenses to reported speech?
To convert past tenses to reported speech, follow these rules:
Past Simple changes to Past Perfect.
Past Continuous changes to Past Perfect Continuous.
Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous remain unchanged.
"He arrived on Friday." → He said that he had arrived on Friday.
"I was playing cricket." → He said that he had been playing cricket.
"She had worked hard." → She said that she had worked hard.
3. What are the rules for converting future tenses to reported speech?
When converting future tenses to reported speech:
Future Simple (will) changes to would.
Future Continuous (will be) changes to would be.
Future Perfect (will have) changes to would have.
Future Perfect Continuous (will have been) changes to would have been.
"I will be attending the wedding." → She said that she would be attending the wedding.
4. How do you convert sentences with 'can' and 'can't' to reported speech?
'Can' changes to 'could'.
'Can't' changes to 'couldn't'.
"I can help you." → She said that she could help me.
"I can't come to the party." → He said that he couldn't come to the party.
5. How do you convert sentences with 'will' and 'won't' to reported speech?
'Will' changes to 'would'.
'Won't' changes to 'wouldn't'.
"I will call you tomorrow." → She said that she would call me the next day.
"I won't attend the meeting." → He said that he wouldn't attend the meeting.
6. What are some examples of reported requests?
Reported requests typically use the verb "ask" followed by an infinitive.
Direct: "Please open the window."
Reported: She asked me to open the window.
Direct: "Could you help me with this?"
Reported: He asked me to help him with that.
7. What are some examples of reported orders?
Reported orders often use the verb "tell" followed by an infinitive.
Direct: "Sit down."
Reported: The teacher told the student to sit down.
Direct: "Don't touch that."
Reported: He told me not to touch that.
8. How do time expressions change in reported speech?
Time expressions change as follows:
Today → That day
Tomorrow → The next day
Yesterday → The day before
Next week → The following week
Last week → The previous week
9. Does the past perfect tense change in reported speech?
No, the past perfect tense remains the same in reported speech.
"She had left early." → He said that she had left early.
10. What happens to pronouns in reported speech?
Pronouns in reported speech usually change based on the speaker and listener.
"I am going to the store." → He said that he was going to the store.
"You should see this." → She told me that I should see that.
Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is a way of communicating what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. For example, if your friend said, “ I am going to the store ,” in reported speech, you might convey this as, “ My friend said he was going to the store. ” Reported speech is common in both spoken and written language, especially in storytelling, news reporting, and everyday conversations.
Reported speech can be quite challenging for English language learners because in order to change direct speech into reported speech, one must change the perspective and tense of what was said by the original speaker or writer. In this guide, we will explain in detail how to change direct speech into indirect speech and provide lots of examples of reported speech to help you understand. Here are the key aspects of converting direct speech into reported speech.
Pronouns are usually changed to match the perspective of the person reporting the speech. For example, “I” in direct speech may become “he” or “she” in reported speech, depending on the context. Here are some example sentences:
Reported speech: tense shifts.
When converting direct speech into reported speech, the verb tense is often shifted back one step in time. This is known as the “backshift” of tenses. It’s essential to adjust the tense to reflect the time elapsed between the original speech and the reporting. Here are some examples to illustrate how different tenses in direct speech are transformed in reported speech:
Reported speech: question format.
When converting questions from direct speech into reported speech, the format changes significantly. Unlike statements, questions require rephrasing into a statement format and often involve the use of introductory verbs like ‘asked’ or ‘inquired’. Here are some examples to demonstrate how questions in direct speech are converted into statements in reported speech:
Reported speech quiz.
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Reported speech is an integral part of English grammar , understanding the nuances of reported speech will help increase language proficiency. In this blog article, you will explore the different types of reported speech based on the types of sentences in English grammar. You will also learn the different rules to be followed to convert different types of sentences from direct speech to indirect speech. You will also find exercises to reinforce your learning and master the art of converting speech from one speech to another.
Four types of reported speech , change of assertive sentences in reported speech, examples of change of assertive sentences in reported speech, change of interrogative sentences in reported speech, examples of change of interrogative sentences in reported speech, change of exclamatory sentences in reported speech, examples of change of exclamatory sentences in reported speech, change of imperative sentences in reported speech, examples of change of imperative sentences in reported speech, exercise on kinds of reported speech.
MUST READ! Reported Speech: Definition, Rules, Usage with Examples, Tips, Exercises for Students
Based on the kinds of sentences in English Grammar reported speech is also changed accordingly keeping in mind the four kinds of sentences. There are four types of reported speech. These include – Exclamatory, Interrogative, Imperative and Assertive/Declarative.
The following rules must be kept in mind before changing the speech of an assertive sentence:
say | say |
says | says |
said | said |
said to | told |
say to | tell |
says to | tells |
Also Read Tenses Rules: Charts, Examples, Types [PDF Available]
Let us comprehend the few examples of Assertive Speech for the proper understanding of the concept.
He said, “Two and two make four. | He said that two and two make four. |
He said, “I like cupcakes.” | He said that he liked cupcakes. |
She said,” I am going to the party tomorrow”. | She said that she was going to the party the next day. |
She says,” She is going to the market.” | She says that she is going to the market. |
She said,” They have done their work”. | She said that they had done their work. |
The following rules must be kept in mind before changing the speech of an interrogative sentence:
Let us comprehend the few examples of Interrogative Speech for a proper understanding of the concept.
He said to him,” Do you live in Chandigarh?” | He asked him if he lived in Chandigarh. |
She said to her mother “Are you going to school tomorrow?” | She asked her mother if she was going to school the next day. |
The professor said to me “ Did you come late today?” | The professor asked me if I came late the same day. |
My mother said to me,” What do you want?” | My mother asked me what I wanted. |
The teacher said to Ram,” Where are you going?” | The teacher asked Ram where he was going. |
She said to my sister,” Will you take tea?” | She asked my sister if she would take tea. |
Must Read: Subject-Verb Agreement: Definition, 12 Rules & Examples
Let us comprehend the few examples of Exclamatory Sentences for a proper understanding of the concept.
She said, “Hurray! I have won the contest” | She exclaimed joyfully that she had won the contest. |
He said, “Alas! My brother has left the world.” | He exclaimed with sorrow that his brother had left the world. |
He said, “What a beautiful house this is!” | He exclaimed that that house was very beautiful. |
He said, “How lucky I am!” | He said that he was very lucky. |
You said to her, “May you live long!” | You wished to her that she might live long. |
The following rules must be kept in mind before changing the speech of an imperative sentence:
Let us comprehend the few examples of Imperative Sentences for a proper understanding of the concept.
He said to me,” Please help me” | He requested me to help him. |
The teacher said to the students,” Don’t roam here.” | The teacher ordered the students not to roam there. |
He said to his mother,” Please pass the salt” | He requested his mother to pass the salt. |
The wise man said to him,” Always speak the truth”. | The wise man advised him to always speak the truth. |
He said to his brother,” Close the window.” | He ordered his brother to close the window. |
Change the following sentences to indirect speech:
Check your answers with solved exercises to analyze the understanding of your concept.
1. He asked him what his name was.
2. He told her that he had eaten mangoes.
3. The mother instructed her son to put his clothes on the rack.
4. The mother exclaimed with joy that her son had won the trophy.
5. The old lady wished me a long life.
Must Read: Figures of Speech: Types, Usage & Examples [Download PDF]
Direct speech is the actual words spoken by a person and is written in quotation marks, while indirect speech defines the meaning of the original statement without quoting the actual words of the speaker. Indirect speech involves changes in verb tense, pronouns, and other elements.
There are four types of reported speech based on the four kinds of sentences in English Grammar. Statements Questions Exclamations And Wishes Commands and Requests
The four types of reported speech are Assertive/Declarative, Imperative, Interrogative and Exclamatory.
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Are you having trouble understanding the difference between direct and indirect speech? Direct speech is when you quote someone’s exact words, while indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words. This can be a tricky concept to grasp, but with a little practice, you’ll be able to use both forms of speech with ease.
When someone speaks, we can report what they said in two ways: direct speech and indirect speech. Direct speech is when we quote the exact words that were spoken, while indirect speech is when we report what was said without using the speaker’s exact words. Here’s an example:
Direct speech: “I love pizza,” said John. Indirect speech: John said that he loved pizza.
Using direct speech can make your writing more engaging and can help to convey the speaker’s tone and emotion. However, indirect speech can be useful when you want to summarize what someone said or when you don’t have the exact words that were spoken.
To change direct speech to indirect speech, you need to follow some rules. Firstly, you need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb. Secondly, you need to change the pronouns and adverbs in the reported speech to match the new speaker. Here’s an example:
Direct speech: “I will go to the park,” said Sarah. Indirect speech: Sarah said that she would go to the park.
It’s important to note that when you use indirect speech, you need to use reporting verbs such as “said,” “told,” or “asked” to indicate who is speaking. Here’s an example:
Direct speech: “What time is it?” asked Tom. Indirect speech: Tom asked what time it was.
In summary, understanding direct and indirect speech is crucial for effective communication and writing. Direct speech can be used to convey the speaker’s tone and emotion, while indirect speech can be useful when summarizing what someone said. By following the rules for changing direct speech to indirect speech, you can accurately report what was said while maintaining clarity and readability in your writing.
When it comes to reporting speech, there are two ways to go about it: direct and indirect speech. Direct speech is when you report someone’s exact words, while indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words. Here are some of the key differences between direct and indirect speech:
In direct speech, the pronouns used are those of the original speaker. However, in indirect speech, the pronouns have to be changed to reflect the perspective of the reporter. For example:
In the above example, the pronoun “I” changes to “he” in indirect speech.
Another major difference between direct and indirect speech is the change of tenses. In direct speech, the verb tense used is the same as that used by the original speaker. However, in indirect speech, the verb tense may change depending on the context. For example:
In the above example, the present continuous tense “am studying” changes to the past continuous tense “was studying” in indirect speech.
When reporting indirect speech, the time and place references may also change. For example:
In the above example, “tomorrow” changes to “the next day” in indirect speech.
Overall, it is important to understand the differences between direct and indirect speech to report speech accurately and effectively. By following the rules of direct and indirect speech, you can convey the intended message of the original speaker.
When you need to report what someone said in your own words, you can use indirect speech. To convert direct speech into indirect speech, you need to follow a few rules.
The first step is to remove the quotation marks that enclose the relayed text. This is because indirect speech does not use the exact words of the speaker.
To indicate that you are reporting what someone said, you need to use a reporting verb such as “said,” “asked,” “told,” or “exclaimed.” You also need to use a linker such as “that” or “whether” to connect the reporting verb to the reported speech.
For example:
When you use indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb.
You also need to change the pronouns in the reported speech to match the subject of the reporting verb.
By following these rules, you can convert direct speech into indirect speech and report what someone said in your own words.
Converting indirect speech into direct speech involves changing the reported speech to its original form as spoken by the speaker. Here are the steps to follow when converting indirect speech into direct speech:
Here is an example to illustrate the process:
Indirect Speech: John said that he was tired and wanted to go home.
Direct Speech: “I am tired and want to go home,” John said.
By following these steps, you can easily convert indirect speech into direct speech.
Direct and indirect speech are two ways to report what someone has said. Direct speech reports the exact words spoken by a person, while indirect speech reports the meaning of what was said. Here are some examples of both types of speech:
Direct speech is used when you want to report the exact words spoken by someone. It is usually enclosed in quotation marks and is often used in dialogue.
Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is used to report what someone said without using their exact words. It is often used in news reports, academic writing, and in situations where you want to paraphrase what someone said.
Here are some examples of indirect speech:
In indirect speech, the verb tense may change to reflect the time of the reported speech. For example, “I am going to the store” becomes “Sarah said that she was going to the store.” Additionally, the pronouns and possessive adjectives may also change to reflect the speaker and the person being spoken about.
Overall, both direct and indirect speech are important tools for reporting what someone has said. By using these techniques, you can accurately convey the meaning of what was said while also adding your own interpretation and analysis.
What is direct and indirect speech?
Direct and indirect speech refer to the ways in which we communicate what someone has said. Direct speech involves repeating the exact words spoken, using quotation marks to indicate that you are quoting someone. Indirect speech, on the other hand, involves reporting what someone has said without using their exact words.
How do you convert direct speech to indirect speech?
To convert direct speech to indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions. You also need to introduce a reporting verb, such as “said,” “told,” or “asked.” For example, “I love ice cream,” said Mary (direct speech) can be converted to “Mary said that she loved ice cream” (indirect speech).
What is the difference between direct speech and indirect speech?
The main difference between direct speech and indirect speech is that direct speech uses the exact words spoken, while indirect speech reports what someone has said without using their exact words. Direct speech is usually enclosed in quotation marks, while indirect speech is not.
What are some examples of direct and indirect speech?
Some examples of direct speech include “I am going to the store,” said John and “I love pizza,” exclaimed Sarah. Some examples of indirect speech include John said that he was going to the store and Sarah exclaimed that she loved pizza .
What are the rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech?
The rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech include changing the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions. You also need to introduce a reporting verb and use appropriate reporting verbs such as “said,” “told,” or “asked.”
What is a summary of direct and indirect speech?
Direct and indirect speech are two ways of reporting what someone has said. Direct speech involves repeating the exact words spoken, while indirect speech reports what someone has said without using their exact words. To convert direct speech to indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions and introduce a reporting verb.
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This website is AMNAZING
MY NAAMEE IS KISHU AND I WANTED TO TELL THERE ARE NO EXERCISES AVAILLABLEE BY YOUR WEBSITE PLEASE ADD THEM SSOON FOR OUR STUDENTS CONVIENCE IM A EIGHT GRADER LOVED YOUR EXPLABATIO
sure cries l miss my friend
he saiad,” we are all sinners”. convert into indirect speech
He said that they were all sinners.
Home of English Grammar
Reporting statements.
Put ‘that’ before the reported statement.
Use the reporting verb ‘said’ or ‘told’. Note that the verb ‘told’ should be followed by an object. The verb ‘said’ cannot be followed by an object.
Direct speech: Rohan said, ‘I like this music.’ Indirect speech: Rohan said that he liked that music.
Direct speech: Alice said, ‘James, I want you to attend the function.’ Indirect speech: Alice told James that she wanted him to attend the function. (NOT Alice said James…)
Omit the question mark.
Put the subject of the question before the verb.
Use a reporting verb like asked, requested, or wanted to know. Put an object after the reporting verb.
Direct speech: ‘What are you doing?’ asked his father. Indirect speech: His father asked him what he was doing. (NOT His father asked him what was he doing.)
Introduce the reported question with whether or if.
Put the subject of the Yes-No question before the verb.
Use the reporting verb asked.
Direct speech: ‘Are you happy?’ he asked her. Indirect speech: He asked her if she was happy.
Put ‘to’ before the reported command or request.
Use a reporting verb like asked, told, ordered, requested, urged, advised or begged.
‘Alice, bring me a chair,’ said her father. Alice’s father asked her to bring him a chair.
Direct and Indirect speech are ways of narrating the speech of someone to some other person following certain rules. This article covers its types, rules, examples and some exercises on the same.
Table of Contents
Direct and Indirect Speech: In English Grammar, direct and Indirect speech are used in instances when we wish to repeat or convey a speech or statement of some other person. Both direct and indirect speech describes what a third person said or conveyed in the past. Indirect speech is more commonly employed unless it’s a direct quotation, which is consistently enclosed in double quotation marks. Whereas indirect speech is used when you want to convey someone’s statement using your own precise words. It’s worth highlighting that indirect speech is consistently expressed using verbs like “said,” “told,” or “asked.”
English has two main ways to report what someone says: Direct and Indirect speech. Direct speech uses the exact words someone said, for example: “I am hungry,” she said. Indirect speech paraphrases what was said, like: She said she was hungry. Both methods help us share information about events, actions, or situations by repeating what others have communicated. Direct speech is like quoting someone exactly, while indirect speech summarizes their words. To help you understand these two types better, we’ve included clear explanations, examples, and exercises. This will make it easier to grasp the differences and use both types of reported speech correctly.
Direct speech is the mode of expression that directly presents the words spoken or quoted by a third person. Generally, direct speech is written inside quotation marks (“”). The quotation is used to differentiate the speech of the third person that has happened in the past. Thus direct speech conveys statements or conversations of someone in the past tense but quoted inside the quotation marks in the present or future tense.
Indirect Speech is used when we convey what someone said in our own words without repeating the actual text of that person. Instead of using quotation marks, the conjunction word, ‘that’ is used. Thus speaker’s words and sentences are reframed into our own words in Indirect speech. Some examples of indirect speech are:
There are certain rules and regulations followed while converting a simple direct speech into indirect speech. Certain factors such as Verbs, Tenses, Modals, time, place, and pronouns are also considered while changing. The following are the rules applied when you convert direct speech to indirect speech in English grammar.
Rule-1 : Direct To Indirect Speech Conversion – Reporting Verb
The reporting verb is an important factor to note when changing a direct to an indirect sentence. When the reporting verb is past tense, then the verb inside the quotation is also changed to past when changing a sentence from direct to indirect speech. Examples:
An exception is for cases like a universal truth, the tenses remain the same.
If the reporting verb is in present/future tense, then the tense remains the same as in direct speech.
Rule 2: Direct Speech to Indirect Speech Conversion – Tenses
If the sentences inside quotes in direct speech are present tense, it is changed to past tense when changed to indirect speech. The rule in the following table is applied while changing tenses from direct speech to reported speech.
Present Simple Tense do /does V1 | Past Simple Tense did + V1 V2 |
Present Progressive Tense is/am/are + V4 | Past Progressive Tense was /were + V4 |
Present Perfect Tense has /have + V3 | Past Perfect Tense had + V3 |
Present Perfect Progressive has been /have been + V4 | Past Perfect Progressive had been + V4 |
Past Simple Tense did + V1 V2 | Past Perfect Tense had + V3 |
Past Perfect Tense had/have + V3 | Past Perfect Tense had + V3 |
Past Perfect Progressive had been/have been + V4 | Past Perfect Progressive had been + V4 |
Future Simple Tense will + V1 | would + V1 |
Future Progressive Tense will be + V4 | would be + V4 |
Future Perfect Tense will have + V3 | would have + V3 |
Future Perfect Progressive will have been + V4 | would have been + V4 |
Examples of change in Tenses
Ram said, “I do my work.” | Ram said that he did his work. |
They said, “We are going now.” | They said that they were going then. |
Sara said, ” I have done my work.” | Sara said that she had done her work. |
Rohit said, “I have been doing my work.” | Rohit said that he had been doing his work. |
Ram said, “I did my work” | Ram said that he had done his work. |
They said,”We have done our work” | They said that they had done their work. |
They said, “We have been doing our work.” | They said that they had been doing their work. |
Ram Said, ” I had been doing my work.” | Ram said that he had been doing his work. |
Sara said, “I will do my work.” | Sara said that she would do her work. |
They said, “We will be going out.” | They said that they would be going out. |
They said, “We will have done this work.” | They said that they would have done that work. |
Ram said, “I will have been doing this work” | Ram said that he would have been doing that work. |
Rule 4: Direct to Indirect speech Conversion Interrogative sentences
If a sentence starts with a question word like what, when, and why in direct speech, the question word itself acts as the joining class.
Rule 5: Direct to Indirect Speech Conversion Change in Modals
Modal verbs are those verbs that are preceded by another verb, which is the main verb. Can, May, and Must are some examples of Modals. Modals that won’t change are Could, would, should, ought to, might. While changing direct to indirect speech, the Modals change as below:
Rule 6: Direct to Indirect speech conversion – pronoun
The first person in Direct speech changes as per the subject of the speech
The second person of Direct speech changes as per the object of the indirect speech.
If the third person is mentioned in the Direct speech, it does not change in reported speech.
Rule 7: Direct to indirect speech conversion – Request, Command, Wish and Exclamation.
The imperative words in direct speech change into Infinitives in indirect speech.
Exclamation
Rule 8: Direct to indirect speech conversion – punctuations
In Direct speech, the words spoken must start with(“) and ends with(.) inside the double inverted commas. All symbols such as question marks, full stops or exclamatory marks should be placed inside the quotes.
Rule 9: Direct to indirect speech conversion – Change of time
While converting direct speech to Indirect speech, there are certain words to be noted that cannot be used as such in indirect speech. These words get modified into new words which are enlisted below:
The following rules should be followed while converting an indirect speech to direct speech:
The following are some exercises that students can practice while preparing for their revision tests or board exams.
Q.1. Find out the correct indirect speech for the given sentence.
She said,’ I have cooked this meal.’
Answer (2) She said that she had cooked that meal.
Q.2. Choose the correct sentence.
Sanjay said, ‘What a beautiful painting it is’.
Answer (4) Sanjay exclaimed with wonder that the painting was very beautiful.
Q.3. The correct indirect speech for She asked, “What is the cost of these books?”
Answer (1) She enquired what was the cost of those books.
Q.4. The man said, ‘Oh God! I missed the train today.’
Answer (4) The man exclaimed with sorrow that he missed the train that day.
Q.5. Rahul said, “Can you call me back later?”
Answer (5) Rahul asked me if I could call him back later.
Q.6. Mom said to me, “May God Bless you”.
Answer (6) Mom wished that God might bless me.
Learning direct and indirect speech is crucial for several reasons:
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Q1. what are direct and indirect speech in english.
Ans. Direct speech is a speech that describes what a third person has conveyed or quoted in a direct manner. Generally, direct speech is written inside quotation marks ("").Indirect Speech is used when we convey what someone said in our own words without repeating the actual text of that person.
Ans. The conjunctions are used in Indirect speech. The speaker's words and sentences are reframed into our own words in Indirect speech using conjuctions as connecting words.
Ans. Modal verbs are those verbs that are preceded by another verb, which is the main verb. Can, May, and Must are some examples of Modals. While converting direct to indirect speech Can becomes could, May becomes Might, Will becomes Would. Modals that won’t change are Could, would, should, ought to, might.
Ans: Some examples of direct speech have been discussed here: 1. John said, "I will go to the store." 2. Mary asked, "Are you coming to the party?" 3. "It's a beautiful day," remarked Sarah. 4. He shouted, "Watch out for the car!"
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Important exams.
LOS ANGELES — Hunter Biden pleaded guilty Thursday to all the charges in the federal tax case against him, a surprise move that avoids a potentially embarrassing trial for President Joe Biden 's son.
The sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 16.
“Hunter put his family first today. And it was a brave and loving thing to do,” his attorney Abbe Lowell told reporters afterward, saying the plea prevented a “show trial.”
Biden did not speak to reporters, but issued a statement blasting prosecutors from special counsel David Weiss' office who he said were "focused not on justice but on dehumanizing me for my actions during my addiction."
"I will not subject my family to more pain, more invasions of privacy and needless embarrassment," he said.
The plea to the nine criminal counts in Los Angeles federal court came after prosecutors objected to Biden's attempt earlier in the day to enter what's known as an Alford plea, where a defendant pleads guilty because of the strength of the case against them while maintaining their innocence.
The younger Biden instead wound up taking what's known as an open plea, where a defendant pleads guilty to all the charges and leaves his sentencing fate in the hands of the judge, without an agreed-upon recommendation from prosecutors.
“Mr. Biden will agree that the elements of each offense have been satisfied,” Lowell told the judge.
U.S. District Judge Mark C. Scarsi then swore Biden in to enter the plea. Prosecutor Leo Wise had to read the 56-page indictment in open court as part of the unusual plea process.
“Do you agree you committed every element of every crime in counts one through nine in the indictment?” the judge asked when the reading was done. "Yes," Biden responded before pleading guilty to each count.
The Justice Department said in a news release Thursday that "Hunter Biden faces a maximum penalty of 17 years in prison," while noting that sentences are typically less than the maximum. The release said the judge "will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors."
Despite his client's acceptance of responsibility, Lowell downplayed the case and the plea after court.
“This case was an extreme and unusual one for the government to bring,” he said, adding that his client was charged for something "millions of Americans" do.
"We will now move on to the sentencing phase while keeping open all options to raise the clear legal issues with this case on appeal," Lowell said.
Weiss, whose office brought the case, declined comment after the proceedings.
Lowell told Scarsi in court that a ruling barring Biden from bringing up past traumas as the reason for his drug abuse in his defense case “played into his decision about what is best for him.”
Scarsi had ruled that such information had no relevance as to whether Biden committed the crimes he was accused of.
In his Thursday statement, Biden said: "I failed to file and pay my taxes on time. For that I am responsible. As I have stated, addiction is not an excuse, but it is an explanation for some of my failures at issue in this case. When I was addicted, I wasn’t thinking about my taxes, I was thinking about surviving."
Some of the conduct Biden was charged with — filing fraudulent returns — happened after he was sober.
Lowell had told the judge earlier in the day that the younger Biden wanted an Alford plea and “will agree that … if he went to trial there’s evidence to convict beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Wise suggested that wasn't good enough, telling Scarsi that such a plea is “not in the public interest. It’s contrary to the rule of law and we think it’s an injustice.”
"Hunter Biden is not innocent. Hunter Biden is guilty," Wise said.
The dramatic developments came shortly before jury selection was expected to begin in what would have been Biden's second trial this year. The only surviving son of the president, Hunter Biden is the first offspring of a sitting president to stand trial on criminal charges.
The change of plea was not the result of an agreement with the government. Wise told the judge earlier Thursday, “This is the first we’ve heard of this.”
He later told the judge, "I want to make it crystal clear: The U.S. opposes an Alford plea." He also asked for some time for prosecutors to meet about next steps.
Lowell said he believed "the court is required to accept the plea" and that the particulars "can be resolved today."
Scarsi was skeptical, saying, “I haven’t seen a case that tells me I have to accept an Alford plea.” He said he was considering having both sides file briefs laying out their legal arguments.
"I need a reason why I accept or reject a plea," the judge said.
Lowell then said his client would simply plead guilty to the charges against him.
The president ignored questions from reporters earlier in the day about the attempted change of plea. He has said previously he would not use his presidential power to pardon his son or commute his sentence, and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Thursday that was still his position. "It's still no," she said.
Biden, 54, was indicted in December on three felony and six misdemeanor counts alleging that he failed to pay his taxes during a period when, he has said, he was in the throes of drug addiction, and after he got sober.
The plea spares Biden from a public trial where prosecutors had over two dozen witnesses, some of whom were expected to offer embarrassing and salacious testimony about Biden’s drug use and spending.
The indictment said Biden “engaged in a four-year scheme to not pay at least $1.4 million in self-assessed federal taxes he owed for tax years 2016 through 2019, from in or about January 2017 through in or about October 15, 2020, and to evade the assessment of taxes for tax year 2018 when he filed false returns in or about February 2020.”
The money was spent “on drugs, escorts and girlfriends, luxury hotels and rental properties, exotic cars, clothing, and other items of a personal nature, in short, everything but his taxes,” the indictment said.
Prosecutors also alleged that the returns Biden eventually filed were fraudulent and falsely claimed as business expenses money he paid to an escort, a strip club, a sex club membership fee, a pornographic website, and his daughter’s college tuition and rent.
An earlier plea deal with prosecutors on related charges in Delaware fell apart last year after a judge expressed skepticism over some of the terms. Under that agreement, Biden would have pleaded guilty to misdemeanor tax offenses in return for a recommended sentence of six months' probation, while a felony charge related to buying a gun while using narcotics would have been dismissed in two years if Biden stayed out of legal trouble.
U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika had refused to sign off on that deal. “These agreements are not straightforward and they contain some atypical provisions,” Noreika said last year. One component of the deal could have protected Biden from prosecution on other tax-related crimes.
Biden's attorneys and prosecutors were unable to reach a revised deal, which led to special counsel David Weiss' office indicting Biden on the gun charges in Delaware and on expanded tax charges in California.
Evidence of Biden’s history of addiction was at the center of a separate case prosecuted by Weiss’ office earlier this year in Delaware. Biden was eventually convicted on three felony counts tied to possession of a gun while using narcotics.
He’s scheduled to be sentenced in that case Nov. 12 and has said he plans to appeal the conviction.
Sarah Fitzpatrick is a senior investigative producer and story editor for NBC News. She previously worked for CBS News and "60 Minutes."
Dareh Gregorian is a politics reporter for NBC News.
Reported speech is how we represent the speech of other people or what we ourselves say. There are two main types of reported speech: direct speech and indirect speech.
Direct speech repeats the exact words the person used, or how we remember their words:
Barbara said, “I didn’t realise it was midnight.”
In indirect speech, the original speaker’s words are changed.
Barbara said she hadn’t realised it was midnight .
In this example, I becomes she and the verb tense reflects the fact that time has passed since the words were spoken: didn’t realise becomes hadn’t realised .
Indirect speech focuses more on the content of what someone said rather than their exact words:
“I’m sorry,” said Mark. (direct)
Mark apologised . (indirect: report of a speech act)
In a similar way, we can report what people wrote or thought:
‘I will love you forever,’ he wrote, and then posted the note through Alice’s door. (direct report of what someone wrote)
He wrote that he would love her forever , and then posted the note through Alice’s door. (indirect report of what someone wrote)
I need a new direction in life , she thought. (direct report of someone’s thoughts)
She thought that she needed a new direction in life . (indirect report of someone’s thoughts)
Reported speech: direct speech
Reported speech: indirect speech
Speech reports consist of two parts: the reporting clause and the reported clause. The reporting clause includes a verb such as say, tell, ask, reply, shout , usually in the past simple, and the reported clause includes what the original speaker said.
reporting clause | reported clause |
, | |
, | |
me |
Direct speech.
In direct speech we usually put a comma between the reporting clause and the reported clause. The words of the original speaker are enclosed in inverted commas, either single (‘…’) or double (“…”). If the reported clause comes first, we put the comma inside the inverted commas:
“ I couldn’t sleep last night, ” he said.
Rita said, ‘ I don’t need you any more. ’
If the direct speech is a question or exclamation, we use a question mark or exclamation mark, not a comma:
‘Is there a reason for this ? ’ she asked.
“I hate you ! ” he shouted.
We sometimes use a colon (:) between the reporting clause and the reported clause when the reporting clause is first:
The officer replied: ‘It is not possible to see the General. He’s busy.’
Punctuation
In indirect speech it is more common for the reporting clause to come first. When the reporting clause is first, we don’t put a comma between the reporting clause and the reported clause. When the reporting clause comes after the reported clause, we use a comma to separate the two parts:
She told me they had left her without any money.
Not: She told me, they had left her without any money .
Nobody had gone in or out during the previous hour, he informed us.
We don’t use question marks or exclamation marks in indirect reports of questions and exclamations:
He asked me why I was so upset.
Not: He asked me why I was so upset?
Say and tell.
We can use say and tell to report statements in direct speech, but say is more common. We don’t always mention the person being spoken to with say , but if we do mention them, we use a prepositional phrase with to ( to me, to Lorna ):
‘I’ll give you a ring tomorrow,’ she said .
‘Try to stay calm,’ she said to us in a low voice.
Not: ‘Try to stay calm,’ she said us in a low voice .
With tell , we always mention the person being spoken to; we use an indirect object (underlined):
‘Enjoy yourselves,’ he told them .
Not: ‘Enjoy yourselves,’ he told .
In indirect speech, say and tell are both common as reporting verbs. We don’t use an indirect object with say , but we always use an indirect object (underlined) with tell :
He said he was moving to New Zealand.
Not: He said me he was moving to New Zealand .
He told me he was moving to New Zealand.
Not: He told he was moving to New Zealand .
We use say , but not tell , to report questions:
‘Are you going now?’ she said .
Not: ‘Are you going now?’ she told me .
We use say , not tell , to report greetings, congratulations and other wishes:
‘Happy birthday!’ she said .
Not: Happy birthday!’ she told me .
Everyone said good luck to me as I went into the interview.
Not: Everyone told me good luck …
Say or tell ?
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The reporting verbs in this list are more common in indirect reports, in both speaking and writing:
Simon admitted that he had forgotten to email Andrea.
Louis always maintains that there is royal blood in his family.
The builder pointed out that the roof was in very poor condition.
Most of the verbs in the list are used in direct speech reports in written texts such as novels and newspaper reports. In ordinary conversation, we don’t use them in direct speech. The reporting clause usually comes second, but can sometimes come first:
‘Who is that person?’ she asked .
‘It was my fault,’ he confessed .
‘There is no cause for alarm,’ the Minister insisted .
Verb patterns: verb + that -clause
Word of the Day
play for time
to delay until you are ready
Like a bull in a china shop: talking about people who are clumsy
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There are two kinds of reported speech you can use: direct speech and indirect speech. I'll break each down for you. A direct speech sentence mentions the exact words the other person said. For example: Kryz said, "These are all my necklaces.". Indirect speech changes the original speaker's words. For example: Kryz said those were all ...
Direct speech: I like ice cream. Reported speech: She said (that) she liked ice cream. She said (that) she liked ice cream. She said (that) she was living in London. She said (that) she had bought a car OR She said (that) she bought a car. She said (that) she had been walking along the street.
Reported Speech - Definition, Rules and Usage with ...
No Change in Verb Tenses in Reported Speech. In some cases, verb tenses do not change when you report speech indirectly.Here are the key instances: When the introductory verb is in the present, present perfect, or future.; When the reported sentence deals with a fact or general truth.; When the reported sentence contains a time clause.; If the verb of the sentence is in the unreal past (the ...
Reported speech - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary
Reported speech: She said she was going to the store then. In this example, the pronoun "I" is changed to "she" and the adverb "now" is changed to "then.". 2. Change the tense: In reported speech, you usually need to change the tense of the verb to reflect the change from direct to indirect speech. Here's an example:
When we use reported speech, we often change the verb tense backwards in time. This can be called "backshift.". Here are some examples in different verb tenses: "I want to go home.". She said she wanted to go home. "I 'm reading a good book.". She said she was reading a good book. "I ate pasta for dinner last night.".
Questions in reported speech. When turning questions into reported speech, we follow the same rules as for declarative sentences: we change the pronouns as well as the time and place markers and backshift the tense as needed.. In addition, we also have to bear in mind the following: instead of that, we use a question word after the reporting verb; if there is no question word, we use whether ...
has been. had been. 5. Conversion of expressions of time and place. If there is an expression of time/place in the sentence, it may be changed, depending on the situation. Direct Speech → Peter, "I worked in the garden yesterday.". Reported Speech → Peter said (that) he had worked in the garden the day before.
The Reported Speech - Grammar Lesson
Reported speech (also known as indirect speech) is when we report what somebody has said. Native speakers use reported speech very often. Structures of reported speech. He told me he would be late. Structures of reported questions. She asked if it was better to wait. Reported speech (also known as indirect speech) is when we report what ...
Reported speech: indirect speech - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary
To understand Reported Speech Grammar and Reported Verbs, you need to first understand reported speech rules and how it works. Here are some types of reported speech: Reported Statements. Reported speech is used when someone says a sentence, like, "I'm going to the movie tonight". Later, we want to tell a 3rd person what the first person is doing.
Direct: "I do my exercises every morning.". Reported: He explained that he did his exercises every morning. Direct: "She is going to start a new job.". Reported: He heard she was going to start a new job. Direct: "I can solve this problem.". Reported: She said she could solve that problem.
Four Types of Reported Speech. Based on the kinds of sentences in English Grammar reported speech is also changed accordingly keeping in mind the four kinds of sentences. There are four types of reported speech. These include - Exclamatory, Interrogative, Imperative and Assertive/Declarative.
Indirect speech: Mary said that she loved ice cream. Step 3: Change the Tense of the Verb. When you use indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb. For example: Direct speech: "I am going to the store," said John. Indirect speech: John said that he was going to ...
Reporting statements. Put 'that' before the reported statement. Use the reporting verb 'said' or 'told'. Note that the verb 'told' should be followed by an object. The verb 'said' cannot be followed by an object. Direct speech: Rohan said, 'I like this music.'. Indirect speech: Rohan said that he liked that music.
Direct and Indirect Speech. There are two types of reported speech in English grammar, they are Direct and Indirect speech. Both speech conveys the speech or statement which was told by some other person. To explain any event, action or scenario we generally convey the sentences quoted by someone in the form of direct and indirect speech.
Reported speech - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary
Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to all charges against him in a federal tax case, a surprise move that avoids a potentially embarrassing trial for President Joe Biden's son.
Reported speech - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary