Welcome to this lesson on Reported Speech (Statements)! In this unit, we will explore how to report what someone else has said. This is an essential skill in English communication. Let’s dive in!
What is Reported Speech?
Reported Speech is used to tell someone what another person said, but without using their exact words. It is also called indirect speech.
For example:
- Direct Speech: She says, “I am tired.”
- Reported Speech: She says that she is tired.
Changes in Reported Speech
When converting direct speech into reported speech, there are specific changes you need to make. These include:
Pronouns
Pronouns often change depending on the context.
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| I | He/She |
| We | They |
| My | His/Her |
Example:
- Direct Speech: He said, “I want to go home.”
- Reported Speech: He said that he wanted to go home.
Tense Changes
The tense of the verb usually shifts back in time when reporting speech.
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| Present Simple | Past Simple |
| Present Continuous | Past Continuous |
| Present Perfect | Past Perfect |
| Past Simple | Past Perfect |
Examples:
- Direct Speech: She said, “ I am reading a book.”
- Reported Speech: She said that she was reading a book.
- Direct Speech: They said, “ We have finished our homework.”
- Reported Speech: They said that they had finished their homework.
Time Expressions
Time expressions often change to reflect the time when the statement was made.
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| Today | That day |
| Yesterday | The day before |
| Tomorrow | The next day |
| Now | Then |
Examples:
- Direct Speech: He said, “I will see you tomorrow.“
- Reported Speech: He said that he would see me the next day.
- Direct Speech: She said, “I am busy today.“
- Reported Speech: She said that she was busy that day.
Reporting Verbs
In reported speech, we often use reporting verbs like say, tell, or others. Here are some common ones:
| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Say | To report general statements | She said that she liked pizza. |
| Tell | To report information directly to someone | He told me that he was tired. |
| Explain | To give more details | The teacher explained that the test would be easy. |
Key Takeaways
- Reported speech is used to share what someone else said without quoting them directly.
- Pronouns, tenses, and time expressions often change in reported speech.
- Use reporting verbs like say, tell, or explain to introduce the statement.
- Practice makes perfect! Keep practicing to master this skill.