reported speech

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What is reported speech?

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

Front

What is the difference between 'said' and 'told'?

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'Said' is used when reporting speech without a direct object, while 'told' requires a direct object (the person being told). For example, 'He said that...' vs. 'He told me that...'

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How do you change present tense to past tense in reported speech?

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In reported speech, present tense verbs are typically changed to past tense. For example, 'I am going' becomes 'He said he was going.'

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What happens to time expressions in reported speech?

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

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How do you report a question?

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When reporting a question, the structure changes. For example, 'Where are you going?' becomes 'He asked where I was going.'

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What is the structure for reporting commands?

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Commands are reported using 'tell' or 'ask'. For example, 'Close the door' becomes 'She told me to close the door.'

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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, change the verb to the past perfect if necessary. For example, 'I have finished my work' becomes 'He said he had finished his work.'

Front

What is the role of pronouns in reported speech?

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Pronouns often change in reported speech to reflect the perspective of the speaker. For example, 'I' changes to 'he' or 'she', and 'you' changes to 'I' or 'he/she'.

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What is an example of reporting a statement with 'said'?

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Direct speech: 'I love ice cream.' Reported speech: She said that she loved ice cream.

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What is an example of reporting a statement with 'told'?

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Direct speech: 'I will help you.' Reported speech: He told me that he would help me.