reported speech structure4
Post on 15-Jul-2015
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Is used to communicate what someone else said, but without using the exact.
Rules:
When we are reporting what was said, we sometimes have to change other words in the
sentence.
In reported speech, you often have to change the pronoun depending on who says what.
We have to change words referring to 'here and now' if we are reporting what was said in a
different place or time.
In reported speech, you often have to change the pronoun depending on who sayswhat.E.g.: She says, “My mum doesn’t have time today.” – She says that her mum
doesn’t have time today.
If there are any pronouns present, you may have to change them.
Direct speech Reported speech
She says, "I like ice-cream." She says she likes ice-cream.
They say, "you are right." They say we are right.
He says, "My name is Gary." He says his name is Gary.
Do not change the tense if the introductory clause is in Simple Present (e. g. He says).
Note, however, that you might have to change the form of the present tense verb
Example
He says, “I speak English.” – He says that he speaks English.
You must change the tense if the introductory clause is in Simple Past (e. g. He
said). This is called backshift.
Example
He said, “I am happy.” – He said that he was happy.
Direct Speech Reported Speech
Simple Present Simple Past
Present Progressive Past Progressive
Simple Past
Past Perfect SimplePresent Perfect Simple
Past Perfect Simple
Past Progressive
Past Perfect ProgressivePresent Perfect Progressive
Past Perfect Progressive
Future I (going to) was / were going to
Future I (will)Conditional I (would)
Conditional I (would)
Direct speech Reported speech
Will Would
She said, "I will eat cheese." She said she would eat cheese.
Can Could
She said, "I can eat cheese." She said she could eat cheese.
Must Had to
She said, "I must eat cheese." She said she had to eat cheese.
Shall Should
She said, "I shall eat cheese." She said she should eat cheese.
May Might
She said, "I may eat cheese." She said she might eat cheese.
NB: There is NO CHANGE in Could, Should, Would, Might, Ought to.
You have to check whether place and time are the same in direct and reported speech or not (weusually report in the present what someone told us before, in the past).
James said that he had seen Caroline here today.James said that he had seen Caroline here yesterday.James said that he had seen Caroline at the restaurant on Friday.I met James in a restaurant on Friday and he said that he had seen Caroline there that day.
Direct Speech Reported Speech
Today that day
Now then
Yesterday the day before
… days ago … days before
last week the week before
next year the following year
Tomorrow the next day / the following day
Here there
This that
These those
• Bill says, “I want to go to Bali” =
Bill says that He wants to go to Bali
• She says, “I go to Jakarta” =
She says that she goes to Jakarta
• She said, “I am reading” =
She said that she was reading
• They said, “We are busy” =
They said that They were busy.
• She said, "I went to the cinema yesterday.“ =
She said that she had gone to the cinema the day before
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