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Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is a way of conveying what someone else has said without quoting them directly. Instead of repeating the exact words, you report the essence of what was said, often making adjustments to pronouns, tense, time expressions, and other words to fit the context of the report. Below is a comprehensive explanation of reported speech in English.

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1. Direct Speech vs. Reported Speech

 

1.1. Direct Speech

 

Direct speech involves quoting the exact words spoken by someone, using quotation marks.

  • Example:

    • Direct: Sarah said, "I am going to the market."

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1.2. Reported Speech

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Reported speech involves conveying what someone said without quoting their exact words. The structure and words are changed to fit the sentence.

  • Example:

    • Reported: Sarah said (that) she was going to the market.

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2. Changes in Reported Speech

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When changing from direct speech to reported speech, several adjustments often need to be made:

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2.1. Pronoun Changes

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Pronouns in the original speech must be adjusted to fit the perspective of the speaker in the reported speech.

  • Direct: "I am tired," said John.

  • Reported: John said he was tired.

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2.2. Tense Changes (Backshifting)

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In reported speech, the tense of the verb usually moves one step back in time, a process known as backshifting. However, this backshifting is not always necessary, especially if the reporting verb is in the present tense.

  • Present SimplePast Simple: "I like pizza," she said. → She said she liked pizza.

  • Present ContinuousPast Continuous: "I am reading," he said. → He said he was reading.

  • Present PerfectPast Perfect: "I have finished," he said. → He said he had finished.

  • Past SimplePast Perfect: "I went to the park," she said. → She said she had gone to the park.

  • Future (will)Would: "I will help you," he said. → He said he would help me.

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2.3. Time and Place Changes

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Words that indicate time or place often change to reflect the shift from the time and place of the original speech to the time and place of the reporting.

  • Direct: "I’ll see you tomorrow," she said.

  • Reported: She said she would see me the next day.

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​2.4. Reporting Verbs

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The verb used to report the speech can vary based on the context and the attitude of the speaker. Common reporting verbs include say, tell, ask, admit, promise, explain, complain, announce, mention, and suggest.

  • "Say" does not require an indirect object.

    • Example: "I’m happy," she said. → She said (that) she was happy.

  • "Tell" usually requires an indirect object (the person being spoken to).

    • Example: "I’m happy," she told me. → She told me (that) she was happy.

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2.5. "That" in Reported Speech

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The word "that" is often used to introduce the reported clause, but it is optional and can be omitted, especially in informal speech.

  • With "that": He said that he was tired.

  • Without "that": He said he was tired.

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3. Questions in Reported Speech

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When reporting questions, the structure changes depending on whether the question is a yes/no question or a wh-question.

 

3.1. Yes/No Questions

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For yes/no questions, "if" or "whether" is used in the reported speech.

  • Direct: "Are you coming?" she asked.

  • Reported: She asked if I was coming.

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3.2. Wh-Questions

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For wh-questions, the wh-word (who, what, where, when, why, how) is retained, but the sentence structure changes from question form to statement form.

  • Direct: "Where are you going?" he asked.

  • Reported: He asked where I was going.

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4. Commands, Requests, and Suggestions in Reported Speech

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4.1. Commands

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Commands are reported using an infinitive structure with "to."

  • Direct: "Close the door," he said.

  • Reported: He told me to close the door.

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Negative commands use "not to."

  • Direct: "Don’t be late," she said.

  • Reported: She told me not to be late.

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4.2. Requests

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Requests are also reported using an infinitive structure, often with the verb "ask."

  • Direct: "Could you help me?" he asked.

  • Reported: He asked me to help him.

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4.3. Suggestions

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Suggestions can be reported using "suggest" + gerund or "suggest" + that-clause.

  • Direct: "Let’s go to the park," she said.

  • Reported: She suggested going to the park.

  • Reported: She suggested that we go to the park.

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5. Reporting Modal Verbs

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Modal verbs like can, may, must also change in reported speech.

  • CanCould: "I can help," she said. → She said she could help.

  • MayMight: "I may leave early," he said. → He said he might leave early.

  • MustHad to: "You must finish this," she said. → She said I had to finish it.

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Some modals remain the same in reported speech, such as could, would, should, might, and ought to.

  • Direct: "You should see a doctor," he said.

  • Reported: He said I should see a doctor.

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6. Exceptions to Tense Backshifting

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There are cases where tense backshifting is not necessary:

  • When the reporting verb is in the present tense: "She says (that) she is tired."

  • When the statement is about something that is always true or a fact: "The teacher said (that) water boils at 100°C."

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7. Advanced Considerations

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7.1. Conditional Sentences

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When reporting conditional sentences, the tense in the condition part of the sentence may or may not change, depending on the meaning.

  • Direct: "If I were rich, I would travel the world," he said.

  • Reported: He said (that) if he were rich, he would travel the world.

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7.2. Mixed Conditionals

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Sometimes, a mix of tenses is needed to accurately report what was said.

  • Direct: "If I had known, I would have called you," she said.

  • Reported: She said (that) if she had known, she would have called me.

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Conclusion

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Reported speech is a vital part of English grammar, allowing us to convey what others have said in a way that fits our own narrative and context. Mastering the rules of tense backshifting, pronoun changes, and the use of reporting verbs is essential for accurately and effectively reporting speech in both spoken and written English. Understanding these nuances will help you navigate and use reported speech confidently in various communication situations.

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