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Reported spech

Reported speech, or indirect speech, conveys what someone else said without quoting their exact words, often requiring tense, pronoun, and time expression changes. It is used in storytelling and reports to avoid direct quotes, with specific structures for reporting questions, commands, and advice. Exceptions to these rules exist when the reporting verb is in the present tense or when reporting universal truths.

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Paula Figueroa
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7 views

Reported spech

Reported speech, or indirect speech, conveys what someone else said without quoting their exact words, often requiring tense, pronoun, and time expression changes. It is used in storytelling and reports to avoid direct quotes, with specific structures for reporting questions, commands, and advice. Exceptions to these rules exist when the reporting verb is in the present tense or when reporting universal truths.

Uploaded by

Paula Figueroa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Reported Speech

Maya Barrientos Quiroz


Paula Figueroa González
What is Reported
Speech?
Reported speech (also called indirect speech) is used to
tell someone what another person said, without quoting
their exact words.
Example:

Direct Speech: He said, "I am studying."

Reported Speech: He said that he was studying.


When summarizing
conversations.

When to
Use In storytelling or reports.
Reported
Speech?
To avoid quoting directly.
1. Tense Changes: Usually, the tense shifts
Key Changes in
back (backshifting). Reported Speech
Present Simple → Past Simple: "I play" → He
said (that) he played.
Pronoun Changes:

Present Continuous → Past Continuous: "I am You → He/She/They

playing" → He said (that) he was playing. Your → His/Her/Their


This/That → It

Present Perfect → Past Perfect: "I have played"


→ He said (that) he had played.

Time Expressions:
Past Simple → Past Perfect: "I played" → He
Today → That day
said (that) he had played.
Tomorrow → The next day
Yesterday → The day before
Can → Could
Example: "I can help you." → He said he could

Modal Verbs help me.

in Reported May → Might


Example: "I may come later." → She said she

Speech might come later.

Must → Had to
Example: "I must go now." → He said he had to
go.

No Change:
Modal verbs like would, could, should,
might, ought to remain the same.
Reporting
Questions

Structure: Change the question into a statement.


Yes/No Questions:
Example: "Do you like pizza?" → She asked if I liked pizza.

WH- Questions:
Example: "Where are you going?" → He asked where I was
going.

Remove Question Marks:


In reported speech, do not use a question mark.
Reporting Commands,
Requests, and Advice

Commands: Use Advice: Use


Requests: Use
told + to-infinitive. suggested or
asked + to-infinitive.
Direct: "Close the advised.
Direct: "Please
door." Direct: "You should
help me."
Reported: She study."
Reported: She
told me to close Reported: She
asked me to help
the door. advised me to study.
her.
Exceptions to
Backshifting
When the reporting verb is in the present tense.
Example: She says, "I am ready." → She says that she
is ready.

When reporting universal truths or facts.


Example: "The Earth is round." → He said that the
Earth is round.
Class Reported speech helps Requires changes in

Recap in indirect
communication.
tense, pronouns, and
time/place expressions.

Using the wrong tense


Forgetting to change
Final Tip: Always
pronouns
think about who is
Not adapting time
speaking and when!
expressions
Keeping the original question
format
THANK
YOU!

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