A Guide to Reported Speech in English
A Guide to Reported Speech in English
Reported speech is a way of relaying what someone else said by reporting their words instead of using the exact quotes.
It’s an essential part of conveying information and telling narratives in English.
In this lesson, I’ll cover everything you need to know about reported speech, including:
• What is reported speech?
• Why is reported speech important?
• Changing pronouns in reported speech
• Changing verb tenses in reported speech
• Reporting questions
• Reporting commands and requests
• Bonus tips for using reported speech effectively
Let’s dive in!
What is Reported Speech?
Reported speech, also called indirect speech, refers to expressing the words that were originally spoken by someone else.
Instead of using the exact quotes with quotation marks, you rephrase what was said.
For example:
Direct speech: John said, “I am going to the park.”
Reported speech: John said that he was going to the park.
In the second sentence, we are reporting what John said without using his exact words. This is the essence of reported speech.
Why is Reported Speech Important?
Reported speech is a crucial language tool for several reasons:
1. It helps relay messages and information coherently without having to use exact quotes all the time.
2. It allows us to convey narratives and stories more smoothly by integrating spoken words into sentences.
3. It enables clear communication without disrupting the flow with excessive quotations.
4. It demonstrates strong English proficiency and mastery of complex grammar concepts.
Changing Pronouns in Reported Speech
One key aspect of reported speech is changing pronouns to fit the context.
The pronouns often shift depending on who the speaker is referring to.
Direct speech: He said, “I am going to the store.”
Reported speech: He said that he was going to the store.
Direct speech: She said, “You are my best friend.”
Reported speech: She said that I was her best friend.
As you can see, the pronouns “I” and “you” shifted to “he” and “her” respectively when converting to reported speech.
Changing Verb Tenses in Reported Speech
Another crucial element is changing the verb tenses appropriately when reporting speech.
Usually, the verbs shift one tense back in time.
Here are some common verb tense changes:
Simple present changes to simple past
“I am tired” becomes “He said he was tired”
Present continuous changes to past continuous
“I am watching TV” becomes “She said she was watching TV”
Present perfect changes to past perfect
“I have finished my homework” becomes “They said they had finished their homework”
Simple past remains simple past
“I went to the park” becomes “He said he went to the park”
There are, however, some exceptions where the verb tense doesn’t change, such as when reporting universal truths or facts that don’t change over time.
Read more about grammar:
- How to Use the English Passive Voice: A Simple Guide
- “To Be” Verbs in English: Simple Yet Powerful
- Commonly Confused Words in English: A Simple Guide
- Mastering the Present Perfect Tense in English
- Who vs. Whom: A Simple Guide
Reporting Questions
When reporting questions, we use the same “wh” words (what, why, when, how, etc.) but change the word order to follow a statement structure.
Direct speech: He said, “What time is it?”
Reported speech: He asked what time it was.
Direct speech: She said, “Why didn’t you call me?”
Reported speech: She asked why I hadn’t called her.
Reporting Commands and Requests
To report commands or requests, we use the verbs “tell” or “ask” followed by the infinitive form of the verb.
Direct speech: She said, “Please clean your room.”
Reported speech: She told me to clean my room.
Direct speech: He said, “Can you pass me the salt?”
Reported speech: He asked me to pass him the salt.
Bonus Tips for Using Reported Speech Effectively
1. Use reporting verbs besides “say” such as “reply, respond, remark, answer, explain” to add variety.
2. Be consistent with your pronouns and verb tenses throughout the reported speech.
3. Use transitional phrases like “according to,” “she mentioned that,” “he claims that” to integrate reported speech naturally.
4. Avoid overly long reported speech sentences by breaking them up or using direct quotes for clarity.
5. For recent sayings, you can use the present tense: “She says she is coming over later.”
With this lesson under your belt, you’re now equipped to use reported speech like a pro!
Keep practicing, and it will become second nature.
Conveying what others have said is crucial for effective communication and storytelling in English.
