REPORTED SPEECH

REPORTED SPEECH

By Luis Quiroz

WHAT IS REPORTED SPEECH?

Reported speech is how we represent the speech of other people or what we ourselves say. There are two main types of reported speech: direct speech and indirect speech.​

​Direct speech repeats the exact words the person used, or how we remember their words:

​EX. Barbara said, “I didn’t realise it was midnight.”

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In indirect speech, the original speaker’s words are changed.

​EX. Barbara said she hadn’t realised it was midnight.

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In this example, I becomes she and the verb tense reflects the fact that time has passed since the words were spoken: didn’t realise becomes hadn’t realised.​

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​Retrieved from: "Cambridge Dictionary" on April 5.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/es-LA/grammar/british-grammar/reported-speech_2​

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​The images in these slides are copyright free.

Indirect speech focuses more on the content of what someone said rather than their exact words:

“I’m sorry,” said Mark. (direct)

Mark apologised. (indirect: report of a speech act)

Reported Speech

​Retrieved from: "Cambridge Dictionary" on April 5.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/es-LA/grammar/british-grammar/reported-speech_2​

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In a similar way, we can report what people wrote or thought:

‘I will love you forever,’ he wrote, and then posted the note through Alice’s door. (direct report of what someone wrote)

He wrote that he would love her forever, and then posted the note through Alice’s door. (indirect report of what someone wrote)

I need a new direction in life, she thought. (direct report of someone’s thoughts)

She thought that she needed a new direction in life. (indirect report of someone’s thoughts)​

Reported Speech

​Retrieved from: "Cambridge Dictionary" on April 5.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/es-LA/grammar/british-grammar/reported-speech_2​

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Reporting and reported clauses

Speech reports consist of two parts: the reporting clause and the reported clause. The reporting clause includes a verb such as say, tell, ask, reply, shout, usually in the past simple, and the reported clause includes what the original speaker said.

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reporting clause	reported clause
William	“I need your help.”
Then a man	“Get out of there, fast!”
The postman	he had a package for us.
Clarissa	she’s thinking of moving to Canada.

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Reported Speech

​Retrieved from: "Cambridge Dictionary" on April 5.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/es-LA/grammar/british-grammar/reported-speech_2​

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​Puntuaction

Direct speech

In direct speech we usually put a comma between the reporting clause and the reported clause. The words of the original speaker are enclosed in inverted commas, either single (‘…’) or double (“…”). If the reported clause comes first, we put the comma inside the inverted commas:

“I couldn’t sleep last night,” he said.

Rita said, ‘I don’t need you any more.’

Reported Speech

​Retrieved from: "Cambridge Dictionary" on April 5.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/es-LA/grammar/british-grammar/reported-speech_2​

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​Puntuaction

If the direct speech is a question or exclamation, we use a question mark or exclamation mark, not a comma:

‘Is there a reason for this?’ she asked.

“I hate you!” he shouted.

We sometimes use a colon (:) between the reporting clause and the reported clause when the reporting clause is first:

The officer replied: ‘It is not possible to see the General. He’s busy.’

Reported Speech

​Retrieved from: "Cambridge Dictionary" on April 5.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/es-LA/grammar/british-grammar/reported-speech_2​

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​Puntuaction

Indirect speech

Warning:

In indirect speech it is more common for the reporting clause to come first. When the reporting clause is first, we don’t put a comma between the reporting clause and the reported clause. When the reporting clause comes after the reported clause, we use a comma to separate the two parts:

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She told me they had left her without any money.

Not: She told me, they had left her without any money.

Nobody had gone in or out during the previous hour, he informed us.

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Warning:

We don’t use question marks or exclamation marks in indirect reports of questions and exclamations:

He asked me why I was so upset.

Not: He asked me why I was so upset?​

Reported Speech

​Retrieved from: "Cambridge Dictionary" on April 5.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/es-LA/grammar/british-grammar/reported-speech_2​

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Change the direct speech into reported speech. Use 'she said' at the beginning of each answer. It's the same day, so you don't need to change the time expressions.

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​Retrieved from: "Perfect English Grammar" on April 5.

​https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/reported-speech-exercise-1.html

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