Published 29/05/2015 In Blog
Reported speech is used when we want to say what someone else has told us in direct speech. When we use reported speech, the grammar changes in a number of important ways. For example:
DIRECT SPEECH: “I am going to Sri Lanka next week” (said by John to Peter)
REPORTED SPEECH: John said (that) he was going to Sri Lanka the following week (said by Peter to Linda)
The biggest change in reported speech is with the verb, but the pronouns and time phrases also change.
The verb in reported speech is often a back shift of the verb in direct speech. Look at the table below to see the main changes:
|
DIRECT SPEECH |
REPORTED SPEECH |
VERB CHANGE |
|
I play football every day. |
He said he played football every day.
|
PRESENT SIMPLE – PAST SIMPLE |
|
I am having dinner with Tom tonight. |
He said he was having dinner with Tom that night.
|
PRESENT CONTINUOUS – PAST CONTINUOUS |
|
I have been to Spain.
|
He said he had been to Spain |
PRESENT PERFECT – PAST PERFECT |
|
I went to Brighton University.
|
He said he had been or went to Brighton university. |
PAST SIMPLE – PAST PERFECT OR CAN STAY AS PAST SIMPLE IN MOST CASES |
|
England will win the next World Cup |
He said England would win the next World cup. |
WILL – WOULD |
Activity
Complete the verb phrase in the reported speech sentences below:
He said (that) he _____ a pilot.
She said (that) Ronaldo ______ the best footballer in the world.
He said (that) he ___________ on holiday the following month.
She said (that) she _____ probably _______ to Spain the following year
He said (that) he _______ Martin the day before.
He said (that) he ______________ hard that weekend.
TO CHECK ANSWERS, WATCH THE VIDEO!
In reported speech pronouns change because the person reporting is not the person who originally said the sentence. Generally, the following changes apply:
DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH
I HE/SHE
YOU I
WE THEY (it stays as WE if it refers to the original speaker and the reporter)
THEY THEY
Time references also change in reported speech. Generally, the following rules apply:
DRIECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH
YESTERDAY THE PREVIOUS DAY
LAST WEEK THE PREVIOUS WEEK
LAST MONTH THE PREVIOUS MONTH
LAST YEAR THE PREVIOUS YEAR
TODAY THAT DAY
TOMORROW THE FOLLOWING DAY
NEXT WEEK THE FOLLOWING WEEK
NEXT MONTH THE FOLLOWING MONTH
NEXT YEAR THE FOLLOWING YEAR
Hopefully this grammar explanation will have helped you to understand how we construct reported speech, but if it isn't so don't hesitate to send me an email with your questions a tinfo@keelyalgarlanguages.com
I will be more than happy answer!
