REPORTED SPEECH

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REPORTED SPEECH

REPORTED STATEMENTS

We use the Reported Speech when we need to communicate what someone else said.

In order to make it right, we need to make some changes on the tense of the verb. This is called backshifting.

For example:

Direct Speech:

I went to the cinema yesterday.

In the reported speech, "yesterday" is not necessarily still the same day, so we have to make changes to make that clear.

The past tense is backshifted to the past perfect, so, the Reported Speech would be as follows:

She said she had gone to the cinema the day before.

Please watch the following video for further explanation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quXqD18XA2Q&t=11s

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TENSES BACKSHIFTING CHART

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REPORTED QUESTIONS

Keep in mind that a reported question is not a question anymore, therefore the grammar should be changed to a normal positive statement. This

basically means that the word order will change. The tense backshifting rules must be kept as the chart given.

REPORTED QUESTIONS WITH WH WORD

Example:

Direct Speech

What is your name?

Reported Speech

She asked me what my name was.

Please note we are also changing the pronoun, otherwise it wouldn't be logical.

The reporting verb is ASK because this was originally a question

The verb back shifted to the past as it was in the present in the direct speech sentence.

The question word was kept.

REPORTED QUESTIONS WITH YES / NO ANSWERS

Example:

Direct Speech

Are you happy?

Reported Speech

She asked me if I was happy.

Please note we are also changing the pronoun, otherwise it wouldn't be logical.

The reporting verb is ASK because this was originally a question

The verb back shifted to the past as it was in the present in the direct speech sentence.

We use the word IF or WHETHER to help the construction.

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REPORTED COMMANDS

For orders, we use a slightly different structure.

We use 'ask me + to + infinitive'

Direct speech:

Close the window, please

Reported speech:

She asked me to close the window.

Here are a few more examples:

Direct Request / Reported Request

Please help me. / She asked me to help her.

Please don't smoke. / She asked me not to smoke.

Could you bring my book tonight? / She asked me to bring her book that night.

To report a negative request, use 'not':

Direct speech:

Please don't be late.

Reported speech:

She asked us not to be late.

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TIME EXPRESSIONS BACK SHIFTING

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EXERCISES

Visit the following link for further practice:

https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/reported-speech-exercises.html