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.

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How do you change the verb tense in Reported Speech?

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In Reported Speech, the verb tense usually shifts back one tense. For example, present simple changes to past simple.

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Convert: 'I will go to the store.'

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He said that he would go to the store.

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What is the rule for changing modal verbs in Reported Speech?

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Modal verbs often change in Reported Speech. For example, 'can' changes to 'could', 'may' changes to 'might'.

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Convert: 'I can play the guitar.'

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He said that he could play the guitar.

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What happens to the time expressions in Reported Speech?

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Time expressions often change. For example, 'now' changes to 'then', 'today' changes to 'that day'.

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Convert: 'I am studying now.'

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He said that he was studying then.

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What is the structure of a Reported Speech sentence?

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The structure typically includes a reporting verb (like said or told) followed by 'that' and the reported clause.

Front

Convert: 'I have finished my homework.'

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He said that he had finished his homework.

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What is the difference between 'said' and 'told' in Reported Speech?

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'Said' is used without an object, while 'told' requires an object (e.g., told me, told him).