Why do we need reported speech?
We may have to report to another person what someone said. When we gossip about what someone said, we need reported speech. If a friend asks, "What did he just say?", we need reported speech to answer her.
For example, change the following into reported speech:
"I am very happy today," Tim said.
Ans: Tim said that he was very happy that day.
What are the three changes in reported speech?
1) Tense change
If the reporting verb (highlighted in yellow) is in the present, there
is no tense change. But most often it is in the past. Then you have
to change the tense of the sentence in the following way.
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech | |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | > | Simple Past |
| Present Continuous | > | Past Continuous |
| Present Perfect | > | Past Perfect |
| Present Perfect Continuous | > | Past Perfect Continuous |
| Simple Past | > | Past Perfect |
| Past Continuous | > | Past Perfect Continuous |
| Past Perfect | > | Past Perfect (No change) |
| Past Perfect Continuous | > | No change |
| Future Simple | > | Change will/shall to would/should |
| Future Continuous | > | Change will/shall to would/should |
| Future Perfect | > | Change will/shall to would/should |
| Future Perfect Continuous | > | Change will/shall to would/should |
2) Pronoun change
Depending on the speaker and the situation, pronouns (highlighted in purple in the above example) change.
Examples of pronouns are
Personal pronouns
I
we
you (singular and plural)
he
she
it
they
Objective pronouns
me
us
you (singular and plural)
her
him
it
them
Possessive pronouns
mine
ours
yours (singular and plural)
hers
his
theirs
Reflexive pronouns
myself
yourself
herself
himself
itself
ourselves
3) Change in indicators (time and place references)
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech | |
|---|---|---|
| today | > | that day |
| yesterday | > | the day before |
| tomorrow | > | the next/following day |
| day before yesterday | > | two days before |
| day after tomorrow | > | in two days time / two days later |
| next week/month/year etc. | > | the following week/month/year etc. |
| last week/month/year etc. | > | the previous week/month/year etc. |
| last night | > | the night before / the previous night |
| ago | > | before |
| this | > | that |
| here | > | there |
How are statements reported?
Use reporting verbs said, or told(if there is an object - him/her etc).
Eg: "I am a serious investor" Susan said.
Ans: Susan said that she was a serious investor.
How are Questions reported?
Wh Questions
Use reporting verbs like asked, enquired, requested, wanted to know etc. depending on the situation.
Change question word order to statement word order (Subject before verb).
Direct Speech: "Where is the library?" Mary asked.
Reported Speech: Mary asked where the library was.
Yes/No Questions
Use whether or if
Use statement word order (Subject before verb)
Direct Speech: "Did you finish your homework?" Tom asked.
Reported Speech: Tom asked if he had finished his homework.
How are Imperatives reported?
Imperatives are commands or requests.
Use reporting verbs like asked, told, ordered, requested, advised, urged etc
Use 'to' before the command or request.
Direct Speech: "Keep silence" Teacher said.Reported Speech: Teacher asked us to keep silence.
(after 'to' use only the base form of the verb - never past or past participle)
How are Exclamatory sentences reported?
Use reporting verbs like exclaimed or exclaimed with surprise/regret/contempt/sorrow etc.
Change the sentence in to a statement.
Direct Speech: "What a beautiful sunset!" exclaimed Jack.Reported Speech: Jack exclaimed that the sunset was beautiful.
Note the following points as well:
Do not use quotation marks in reported speech.
Do not use question marks and exclamation marks in reported speech.
If someone said "Yes" or "No"
You can report it as,
He answered in the affirmative.
or
He answered in the negative.
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