Introduction
Reported speech is a way to convey what someone else has said without quoting them directly. It involves changing the original speaker's words to fit the context of the report, often requiring adjustments in tense, pronouns, and other elements.
Key Concepts
Direct vs. Reported Speech
- Direct Speech: "She said, 'I'm going to the store.'"
- Reported Speech: She said (that) she was going to the store.
Tense Changes in Reported Speech
When transforming direct speech into reported speech, the tense of the verbs usually shifts back in time. This is known as "backshifting."
Tense Change Overview
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| Present Simple: "I play." | Past Simple: He said he played. |
| Present Continuous: "I am playing." | Past Continuous: He said he was playing. |
| Present Perfect: "I have played." | Past Perfect: He said he had played. |
| Past Simple: "I played." | Past Perfect: He said he had played. |
| Past Continuous: "I was playing." | Past Perfect Continuous: He said he had been playing. |
| Future Simple: "I will play." | Would: He said he would play. |
| Future Continuous: "I will be playing." | Would Be: He said he would be playing. |
Examples of Tense Changes
- Present Simple to Past Simple
- Present Continuous to Past Continuous
- Present Perfect to Past Perfect
- Past Simple to Past Perfect
- Past Continuous to Past Perfect Continuous
- Future Simple to "Would"
- Future Continuous to "Would Be"
Modal Verbs in Reported Speech
Modal verbs also undergo changes in reported speech.
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| "I can swim." | She said she could swim. |
| "He may come." | He said he might come. |
| "We must leave early." | They said they had to leave early. |
| "You should try it." | She said I should try it. |
| "I will help you." | He said he would help me. |
Pronoun and Time Expression Changes
In addition to tense changes, pronouns and time expressions often shift to match the context of the report.
Pronoun Changes
- Direct: "I need my book."
- Reported: She said she needed her book.
Time Expression Changes
| Direct | Reported |
|---|---|
| "today" | "that day" |
| "tomorrow" | "the next day" |
| "yesterday" | "the day before" |
| "now" | "then" |
| "tonight" | "that night" |
| "this week" | "that week" |
| "last week" | "the week before" |
| "next week" | "the following week" |
Examples of Time Expression Changes
- "Today" to "That Day"
- "Tomorrow" to "The Next Day"
- "Yesterday" to "The Day Before"
- "Now" to "Then"
- "Last Week" to "The Week Before"
Advanced Examples
- Complex Sentences with Multiple Clauses
- Conditional Sentences
- Reported Questions
- Mixed Tenses and Modal Verbs
- Statements with Infinitives
- Reported Speech with Modal Perfect
Practice Exercises
Convert the following sentences from direct to reported speech:
- Direct: "I can't find my keys."
- Direct: "We will meet at 8 PM."
- Direct: "John was playing soccer when I called him."
- Direct: "Mary has visited Paris twice."
- Direct: "They must finish the work by next week."
- Direct: "You may leave early today."
- Direct: "I saw him yesterday."
- Direct: "We are going to the party tonight."
- Direct: "She will be traveling to Japan next month."
- Direct: "I've never been to New York."
Conclusion
Reported speech is an essential tool for conveying information accurately and appropriately in both spoken and written English. By understanding the rules of tense shifting, pronoun changes, and time expression adjustments, you can effectively transform direct quotes into reported statements.