Reported Speech

Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is a way of reporting what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. It involves a shift in pronouns, tenses, and sometimes time expressions. Mastering reported speech is essential for effective communication and conveying information accurately. Reported speech is used to share information about what someone else has said, and it often occurs in conversation, storytelling, or written communication.

In reported speech, the reporting verb is followed by a reporting clause. The pronouns, tenses, and time expressions may change based on the context. For example:
Direct speech - "She said, 'I am going to the store.'"
Reported speech - She said that she was going to the store.

Pronouns undergo changes in reported speech. For instance, 'I' becomes 'he/she,' 'you' becomes 'I/you,' and so on. Example:
Direct speech - "They said, 'We will come.'"
Reported speech - They said that they would come.

Tenses often shift back one step in reported speech. Present simple becomes past simple, present continuous becomes past continuous, and so forth. For example: Direct speech - "He said, 'I write.'"
Reported speech - He said that he wrote.

Time expressions may need adjustments in reported speech. 'Now' becomes 'then,' 'today' becomes 'that day,' and 'tomorrow' becomes 'the next day.' Example:
Direct speech - "She said, 'I will call you tomorrow.'"
Reported speech - She said that she would call me the next day.

Various reporting verbs can be used to convey the speaker's attitude or the reliability of the information. Common reporting verbs include 'say,' 'tell,' 'inform,' 'exclaim,' and 'remark.' Example:
Direct speech - "He said, 'I love this book.'"
Reported speech - He declared that he loved the book.

Words like 'this' may become 'that' in reported speech, and adverbs indicating proximity may require adjustments.
Direct speech - "She said, 'Bring me this book.'"
Reported speech - She requested that I bring her that book.

When reporting questions, the word order may change, and 'yes-no' questions become statements with 'if' or 'whether.'
Direct speech - "She asked, 'Are you coming?'"
Reported speech - She asked if I was coming.

Imperatives in direct speech usually become infinitives or reported speech structures.
Direct speech - "He said, 'Open the window.'"
Reported speech - He asked me to open the window.

It's common to encounter sentences with mixed types of reported speech, combining statements, questions, and commands. Example: Direct speech - "She asked, 'Can you help me?'" Reported speech - She asked if I could help her.

Table of Reported Speech Changes:

Direct Speech       Reported Speech                   

I am                            He/she was                        

You are                       I/you were                        

They will come          They would come                   

I write                           He/she wrote                      

Now                              Then                              

This book                     That book                         

Are you coming?       She asked if I was coming         

Open the window      He asked me to open the window    

Exercises:

a. Rewrite the following sentences in reported speech:

- "I have finished my work," he said.

- "Will you join us for dinner?" she asked.

b. Answers:

- He said that he had finished his work.

- She asked if I would join them for dinner.

Understanding the nuances of reported speech is crucial for effective communication, ensuring accurate and coherent sharing of information in various contexts. Happy learning guys...