REPORTED SPEECH

TWO WAYS OF RELATING WHAT A PERSON SAYS

DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT/ REPORTED SPEECH

Repeating exactly the speaker's words Giving the meaning of a remark or

Speech without necessarily using
the speaker's exact words.

Example Example
Bob: “I'm a good student.” Bob said that he was a good student.
 USE

DIRECT SPEECH

- Actual conversation.

REPORTED SPEECH
CONVERSION FROM DIRECT - Conversations in books, plays
TO REPORTED and quotations.
 CONCEPTS

● Reporting verb /
introductory verb.
Ex: say, tell, ask,
explain, etc.
● Reporting clause.
 SENTENCE TYPES
1. STATEMENTS
2. QUESTIONS
3. COMMANDS / REQUESTS
4. EXCLAMATIONS
5. MIXED TYPES
6. MODALS
 1. STATEMENTS
MODEL SENTENCE

DIRECT SPEECH
Peter said: ”I am tired now”

REPORTED SPEECH
Peter said that he was tired then.
1.a) BACKSHIFT (CHANGES IN TENSES)

Direct Speech Reported speech

Present simple Past simple

Present continuous Past continuous

Past simple =Past simple / Past perfect

Past continuous Past perfect continuous

Present perfect Past perfect

Past perfect =Past perfect

Future simple Conditional simple

Conditional simple Conditional perfect

1.b) EXCEPTIONS TO BACKSHIFT

When the verb

●

of the reporting
clause is in
 1. c) OTHER CHANGES

Personal
●

pronouns
Ex: I
he / she
 2. QUESTIONS
MODEL SENTENCE

DIRECT SPEECH
Peter asked: ”Where is my book?”

REPORTED SPEECH
Peter asked where his book was.
 2.a) YES / NO QUESTIONS

● Backshift, exceptions
and other changes
apply.(1.a, 1.b and 1.c)
● Reporting verb: ask,
EXAMPLE
John said to me: “ Are you at home now?”

wonder, want to know..

John asked me if I was at home then.
●
 2.b) WH- QUESTIONS

● Backshift, exceptions
and other changes
apply.(1.a, 1.b and 1.c)
● Reporting verb: ask,
EXAMPLE
John said to me: “ Where are you now?”

wonder, want to know..

John asked me where I was then.
●
 3. COMMANDS
MODEL SENTENCE

DIRECT SPEECH
Peter said: ”Sit down and be quiet, Mary”

REPORTED SPEECH
Peter told Mary to sit down and be quiet.
 CHANGES IN COMMANDS

● Backshift, exceptions
and other changes
apply.(1.a, 1.b and 1.c)
● Reporting verb: tell,
EXAMPLE
The teacher said: “Don't sit here, Jenny”

order, command,
request …
The teacher ordered Jenny not to sit there.
 4. EXCLAMATIONS
MODEL SENTENCE

DIRECT SPEECH
Bill said: ”Happy birthday!”

REPORTED SPEECH
Bill wished me a happy birthday.
 CHANGES IN EXCLAMATIONS

● Backshift, exceptions
and other changes
apply.(1.a, 1.b and 1.c)
EXAMPLE
● Reporting verb:
Mary said: “Ugh, I hate canteen coffee”

according to the
Giving an exclamation of disgust, Mary complained that
She hated canteen coffee.
meaning of the
 5. MIXED TYPES
MODEL SENTENCE
DIRECT SPEECH
Pip said: ”Hello Tom!
Where have you been all this time?”

REPORTED SPEECH
Pip greeted me and then asked
where I had been all that time.
 CHANGES IN MIXED TYPES

● Backshift, exceptions
and other changes
apply.(1.a, 1.b and 1.c)
EXAMPLE
Pip said: ”Hello Tom!
● Reporting verb and
Where have you been all this time”

otherPipchanges according
greeted me and then asked
to the meaning of the
where I had been all that time.
 6. MODALS
MODEL SENTENCE

DIRECT SPEECH
The dentist said: ”You must be quiet now”

REPORTED SPEECH
The dentist said that I had to be quiet then
 CHANGES IN MODALS

● Backshift, exceptions
and other changes
apply.(1.a, 1.b and 1.c)
● Modals:may > might
EXAMPLE
The boy said: “I can wait here”

can > could

The boy said that he could wait there.