Topic 3.3 Reported Speech (indirect) and practice.

REPORTED SPEECH

Grammar Explanation: Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)

Here are some of the main rules when forming Reported (or Indirect) Speech sentences.

1.Change of Pronouns

When reporting speech, pronouns often change to match the perspective of the reporter.

Direct Speech: “I am going to the market,” she said.

Reported Speech: She said (that) she was going to the market.

2.Backshifting of Tenses

Tenses usually shift back one step into the past when reporting speech. However, if the reporting verb is in the present tense, the tenses in the reported speech do not change.

Direct Speech: “I will finish the project tomorrow,” he said.

Reported Speech: He said (that) he would finish the project the next day.

Direct Speech: “I will finish the project tomorrow.”

Reported: He says he will finish the project tomorrow.”

Present Simple to Past Simple:

Direct Speech: “I like ice cream,” she said.

Reported Speech: She said (that) she liked ice cream.

Present Continuous to Past Continuous:

Direct Speech: “I am reading a book,” he said.

Reported Speech: He said (that) he was reading a book.

Present Perfect to Past Perfect:

Direct Speech: “I have seen that movie,” she said.

Reported Speech: She said (that) she had seen that movie.

Past Simple to Past Perfect:

Direct Speech: “I went to the park,” he said.

Reported Speech: He said (that) he had gone to the park.

3.Modal Verbs

Modals also change in reported speech.

Will to Would:

Direct Speech: “I will call you later,” she said.

Reported Speech: She said (that) she would call me later.

Can to Could:

Direct Speech: “I can help you,” he said.

Reported Speech: He said (that) he could help me.

May to Might:

Direct Speech: “I may come,” she said.

Reported Speech: She said (that) she might come.

4.Time and Place References

Time and place references often need to be adjusted to fit the context of the reported speech.

Today to That Day:

Direct Speech: “I will do it today,” he said.

Reported Speech: He said (that) he would do it that day.

Tomorrow to The Next Day/The Following Day:

Direct Speech: “I have a meeting tomorrow,” she said.

Reported Speech: She said (that) she had a meeting the next day.

Yesterday to The Day Before/The Previous Day:

Direct Speech: “I called him yesterday,” he said.

Reported Speech: He said (that) he had called him the day before.

5.Questions in Reported Speech

For yes/no questions, use “if” or “whether.” For wh-questions, use the question word.

Yes/No Questions:

Direct Speech: “Are you coming?” he asked.

Reported Speech: He asked if I was coming.

Wh-Questions:

Direct Speech: “Where do you live?” she asked.

Reported Speech: She asked where I lived.

6. Commands and Requests

Use “to” + infinitive for commands and requests.

Direct Speech: “Please close the door,” he said.

Reported Speech: He asked me to close the door.

Direct Speech: “Don’t be late,” she said.

Reported Speech: She told me not to be late.

PRACTICE EXERCISES

Activity 2: Interview Role Play

Instructions:

Work in pairs. One student plays the role of an interviewer, and the other plays the interviewee.
Provide interview questions related to a particular topic (e.g., career experiences, travel adventures).
After conducting the interview, the interviewer reports back to the class on what the interviewee said, using reported speech.
Use various reporting verbs (e.g., mentioned, explained, claimed, insisted)