In this lesson, we will dive into Reported Speech and explore how to report statements across all tenses in English. By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to confidently transform direct speech into reported speech while maintaining grammatical accuracy.
What is Reported Speech?
Reported Speech is used to convey what someone else has said without quoting them directly. Instead of repeating their exact words, we summarize or rephrase their statement.
Example:
- Direct Speech: She says, “I am tired.”
- Reported Speech: She says that she is tired.
Key Changes in Reported Speech
When converting from Direct Speech to Reported Speech, several changes occur:
- Pronouns: Pronouns often change depending on the context.
- Tense: The tense usually shifts back one step (e.g., present → past).
- Time Expressions: Words like “today,” “yesterday,” or “tomorrow” are adjusted based on when the statement is reported.
Let’s break it down further!
Tense Changes in Reported Speech
Below is a table summarizing how tenses shift when converting from Direct Speech to Reported Speech:
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| Present Simple | Past Simple |
| Present Continuous | Past Continuous |
| Present Perfect | Past Perfect |
| Past Simple | Past Perfect |
| Past Continuous | Past Perfect Continuous |
| Future (will) | Conditional (would) |
Examples:
- Direct Speech: He says, “I play football every day.”
- Reported Speech: He says that he plays football every day.
- Direct Speech: She said, “I am studying now.”
- Reported Speech: She said that she was studying then.
- Direct Speech: They told me, “We visited Paris last year.”
- Reported Speech: They told me that they had visited Paris the previous year.
Reporting Verb
Reporting verbs are used to introduce the reported statement. Some common reporting verbs include:
- Say
- Tell
- Ask
- Explain
- Inform
Important Notes:
- Use say when no specific person is mentioned.
- Use tell when referring to a specific person.
Examples:
- Direct Speech: “I’m feeling better,” he said.
- Reported Speech: He said that he was feeling better.
- Direct Speech: “You need to focus more,” she told me.
- Reported Speech: She told me that I needed to focus more.
Time Expressions in Reported Speech
When reporting speech, time expressions may also need adjustment. Here’s a quick guide:
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| Today | That day |
| Yesterday | The day before |
| Tomorrow | The next day |
| Now | Then |
| This week | That week |
Examples:
- Direct Speech: “I will see you tomorrow,” she promised.
- Reported Speech: She promised that she would see me the next day.
- Direct Speech: “I saw him yesterday,” he explained.
- Reported Speech: He explained that he had seen him the day before.
Practice Exercises
Now it’s your turn to practice! Convert the following sentences from Direct Speech to Reported Speech.
- Direct Speech: “I can swim very well,” she said.
- Answer: She said that she could swim very well.
- Direct Speech: “We will travel to Spain next month,” they announced.
- Answer: They announced that they would travel to Spain the following month.
- Direct Speech: “He has finished his homework,” the teacher confirmed.
- Answer: The teacher confirmed that he had finished his homework.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting to Change the Tense: Always remember to shift the tense back unless the statement is still true.
- Incorrect Time Expressions: Adjust time expressions appropriately to match the context.
- Using Say Instead of Tell: Use “tell” when addressing a specific person.
Summary
In this lesson, you learned:
- What Reported Speech is and why it’s important.
- How to adjust tenses, pronouns, and time expressions.
- Common reporting verbs and their usage.
- Practical examples and exercises to reinforce your understanding.
Keep practicing, and soon you’ll master Reported Speech in all its forms!