English Grammar: Reported Speech

Reported Speech

Table of Contents

When we want to relay what someone else said, we use reported speech. It allows us to report statements, questions, requests, and other speech acts made by another person. By using reported speech, we can share conversations and express someone’s words indirectly.

1. Direct Speech vs. Reported Speech

Direct Speech:

Direct speech presents the exact words spoken by a person, enclosed in quotation marks. For example:

“He said, ‘I love chocolate.'”

Reported Speech:

Reported speech conveys the meaning of what was said without using the exact words or quotation marks. For example:

“He said that he loved chocolate.”

2. Changing Verb Forms in Reported Speech

When we transform direct speech into reported speech, there are certain changes we need to make to the verb forms. Let’s take a look at these changes:

Reporting Verb Tense Change

The tense of the reporting verb (the verb that introduces the reported speech) often changes when we shift from direct to reported speech. Here’s a table summarizing the changes:

Direct SpeechReported Speech
present simplepast simple
present continuouspast continuous
present perfectpast perfect
present perfect continuouspast perfect continuous
past simplepast perfect
past continuouspast perfect continuous
past perfectpast perfect
past perfect continuouspast perfect continuous
future (will)conditional (would)
cancould
maymight
musthad to

Pronoun and Adverb Changes

Pronouns, adverbs, and other references may also change when we convert direct speech into reported speech. Here are some examples:

Direct SpeechReported Speech
“I love ice cream.”She said that she loved ice cream.
“He is coming tomorrow.”She said that he was coming the next day.
“They have finished their homework.”She said that they had finished their homework.

3. Punctuating Reported Speech

The punctuation rules for reported speech differ from direct speech. Here’s how we handle punctuation in reported speech:

  1. Quotation Marks:
    In reported speech, we do not use quotation marks.
  2. Punctuation within Reported Speech:
    Commas, question marks, and exclamation marks are placed inside the reported speech. For example:
    • He said, “I’m tired.” ➡ She said that she was tired.
    • “Are you coming?” she asked. ➡ She asked if he was coming.
    • “What a beautiful day!” he exclaimed. ➡ He exclaimed that it was a beautiful day.
  3. Punctuation outside Reported Speech:
    Full stops, question marks, and exclamation marks are placed outside the reported speech. For example:
    • “I’m going to the store,” she said. ➡ She said she was going to the store.
    • “Where are you?” he asked. ➡ He asked where she was.
    • “I won the race!” he shouted. ➡ He shouted that he had won the race!

4. FAQs about Reported Speech

Reported speech allows us to convey what someone else said without using their exact words. It helps in sharing conversations and expressing others’ words indirectly.

Verb forms often change when transforming direct speech into reported speech. The tense of the reporting verb is adjusted, and pronouns and adverbs may also change.

No, we do not use quotation marks in reported speech. They are only used in direct speech to indicate the exact words spoken.

Commas, question marks, and exclamation marks are placed inside the reported speech, while full stops and other punctuation marks are placed outside.

Yes, we can report imperatives or commands using reported speech. For example:

  • “Clean your room,” she said. ➡ She told him to clean his room.

No, not all verb tenses need to be changed in reported speech. It depends on the context and the tense of the reported statement.

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