Reported Speech

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What is reported speech?

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Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is a way of conveying what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. It often involves changes in pronouns, verb tenses, and time expressions.

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How do you change a question in reported speech?

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To change a question into reported speech, you typically use 'if' or 'whether' for yes/no questions and change the verb tense accordingly. For example, 'Do you like horror films?' becomes 'He asked if I liked horror films.'

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What is the rule for reporting modal verbs in reported speech?

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When reporting modal verbs, some change according to the context. For example, 'may' changes to 'might', 'can' changes to 'could', and 'will' changes to 'would'.

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How do you report a statement in the past tense?

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When reporting a statement in the past tense, the verb tense usually shifts back one tense. For example, 'I am happy' becomes 'He said he was happy.'

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What is the reported speech form of 'I don't understand'?

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The reported speech form is 'Mary said she didn't understand.'

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How do you report a statement that includes a time expression?

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Time expressions often change in reported speech. For example, 'today' becomes 'that day', 'tomorrow' becomes 'the next day', and 'yesterday' becomes 'the day before'.

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What is the reported speech form of 'My son may travel to Europe'?

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The reported speech form is 'He said that his son might travel to Europe.'

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How do you report a command or request?

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To report a command or request, use the verb 'tell' or 'ask' followed by an object and the infinitive form of the verb. For example, 'Close the door' becomes 'He told me to close the door.'

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What is the reported speech form of 'Do you feel optimistic about the future?'

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The reported speech form is 'Pam asked me if I felt optimistic about the future.'

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How do you report a statement in the present perfect tense?

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When reporting a statement in the present perfect tense, it usually shifts to the past perfect. For example, 'I have seen that movie' becomes 'He said he had seen that movie.'