REPORTED SPEECH

DEFINITION:

Reported speech (also known as indirect speech) refers to a sentence reporting what someone has said. It is almost always used in spoken English. Reported speech doesn't use quotation marks to enclose what the person said and it doesn't have to be word for word. When we use reported speech, we are usually talking about the past (because obviously the person who spoke originally spoke in the past). The verbs therefore usually have to be in the past too. "I'm going to the cinema". He said he was going to the cinema.

BASIC RULES:

When changing from quoted speech to reported speech, several changes occur. In all sentences, the quotation marks and the comma immediately before the first quotation mark are removed. Next, the word "that" is usually inserted after the reporting verb (say, ask, told, etc.) Then, the subject pronoun is changed so that the meaning of the quote is not changed. Lastly, the tense of the verb is changed, or shifted. She said, "I'm teaching English online." She said she was teaching English online.

Tense changes:
a. Basic tense changes: As a rule when you report something someone has said you go back a tense (the tense on the left changes to the tense on the right):

b. Other tense changes:

positive imperative Shut up!

tell + infinitive He told me to shut up.

negative imperative Don't do that again!

tell + not + infinitive He told me not to do it again.

imperatives as requests Please give me some money.

ask + infinitive He asked me to give him some money.

You can use the present tense in reported speech if you want to say that something is still true i.e. my name has always been and will always be Lynne

Time and place changes:

Time and place references often have to change: If the reported sentence contains an expression of time, you must change it to fit in with the time of reporting.

Examples: I went to the theatre last night. He said he had gone to the theatre the night before. I'm staying here until next week. He said he was staying there until the following week.
In addition if you report something that someone said in a different place to where you heard it, you must change the place (here) to the place (there). Example:

Pronoun changes :

In reported speech, the pronoun often changes. For example:

You also need to be careful with personal pronouns. They need to be changed according to the situation. You need to know the context. For example, there is possible confusion when you try to change reported speech to direct speech: She said she'd been waiting for hours. (Is she one person or two different people?) I told them they would have to ask permission. (Are we talking about two groups of people or only one?)

Reporting Verbs:

Said, told and asked are the most common verbs used in indirect speech. We use asked to report questions: I asked Lynne what time the lesson started. We use told with an object. Lynne told me she felt tired. We usually use said without an object. Lynne said she was going to teach online. If said is used with an object we must include to Lynne said to me that she'd never been to China.

There are many other verbs we can use apart from said, told and asked. These include:

Use of 'That' in reported speech:

In reported speech, the word that is often used. He told me that he lived in Greenwich. However, that is optional. He told me he lived in Greenwich. !Note That is never used in questions, instead we often use if. He asked me if I would come to the party.

Indirect Questions:

Use verbs of speech for questions wondered, enquired, wanted to know, find out, etc.)

(asked, tried to

Use question words (where, when, who, why, how, etc.) instead of that Change verb tenses, pronouns, and time expressions (just like reported statements) Use question word + subject + verb word order (unlike a direct question) question word + subject + verb He asked when they would arrive. My friend asked if I was coming

QUESTION FORM My friend said "Are you coming?" TRANSFORMATION PROCESS: 1) Put the subject before the verb. 2) Change the pronoun: you to I 3) Join the clauses using if 4) Adjust the 2nd verb to the time frame of the 1st verb.

INDIRECT FORM My friend asked if I was coming

My friend said coming?

Are you

My friend asked IF I was coming.

Put the following sentences into reported speech, with the introducing verbs in the past tense: 1. It is cold in here. Is the window open? 2. Do you think it will rain? It is very cloudy . 3. I must write some letters now. What date is it? 4. How do you like Mashie's new dress? I bought it for her at a sale. 5. We are going for a country walk. Would you like to come too? 6. What time is it? My watch has stopped . 7. This is a most interesting book. Have you ever read it? 8. What is the matter? You don't look very well. 9. That looks difficult to do. Can I help you? 10. Are you free tomorrow night? I would like you to come to my party.

Put the following sentences into reported speech, introducing them with a verb in the past tense. 1. I am ill . 2. I met him last year . 3. They will be here soon . 4. She has finished now . 5. I am living in London . 6. He is going to Berlin tomorrow . 7. I've just been to the butcher's . 8. I can come next week . 9. I don't know what he'll say . 10. They went away yesterday .

Put into reported speech. 1. Clean it yourself. 2. Wrap it up in a piece of paper . 3. Cut the corners off . 4. Fasten your safety belts . 5. Don't sit on my bed . 6. Wait there until I come . 7. Don't speak until you're spoken to . 8. Leave it on the piano . 9. Don't wipe your dirty fingers on my nice clean tablecloth. 10. Don't try to be funny.

Put the following sentences into REPORTED SPEECH with the introducing verb in the past tense. Vary the introducing verb. 1. Are you enjoying yourself? 2. Did you see the King yesterday? 3. Does she always wear a hat? 4. Have you seen my new hat? 5. Do I look all right? 6. Are the grapes sour? 7. Is it time to go? 8. Will the taxi be here at eight o'clock? 9. Can you hear a noise? 10. Ought the light to be on?

Put the following sentences into REPORTED SPEECH with the introducing verb in the PAST tense. 1. What a lovely house! 2. Hello! What do you want? 3. My goodness! You are slim! 4. Haven't you ever been here before? (He was surprised...) 5. What a dirty face you have! 6. Oh! I've cut myself! 7. Help me! 8. The house is on fire! 9. What have you done to your hair? 10.What on earth has happened?