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 pronouns, verb tenses, and time expressions.

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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 usually changed to past tense. For example, 'I am happy' becomes 'He said he was happy.'

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What is the rule for changing questions in reported speech?

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When changing questions to reported speech, the question format is changed to a statement format, and the verb tense is adjusted. For example, 'Are you coming?' becomes 'He asked if I was coming.'

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How do you report a command or request?

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Commands or requests are reported using verbs like 'ask' or 'tell' followed by an infinitive. For example, 'Close the door' becomes 'He asked me to close the door.'

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What happens to pronouns in reported speech?

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Pronouns often change in reported speech to reflect the perspective of the speaker. For example, 'I' may change to 'he' or 'she' depending on who is speaking.

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How do you report a statement in the present tense?

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When reporting a statement in the present tense, you usually change it to the past tense. For example, 'I like ice cream' becomes 'She said she liked ice cream.'

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What is the difference between direct and reported speech?

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Direct speech quotes the exact words spoken, while reported speech paraphrases what was said, often changing verb tenses and pronouns.

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How do you report a statement that uses 'now'?

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When reporting a statement that uses 'now', it is usually changed to 'then'. For example, 'I am here now' becomes 'He said he was there then.'

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What is the structure of a reported question?

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The structure of a reported question typically includes a reporting verb (like 'ask') followed by 'if' or 'whether' and the statement form of the question.

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How do you report a statement that uses 'today'?

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When reporting a statement that uses 'today', it is usually changed to 'that day'. For example, 'I will do it today' becomes 'He said he would do it that day.'