LXT-Unit 11: Language focus

REPORTED SPEECH
Unit 11 – English 12



CONTENTS
I. DEFINITION
II. BASIC RULES
1. Tense changes
a. Basic tense changes
b. Other tense changes
2. Time and place changes
3. Pronoun changes
4. Reporting Verbs
5. Use of `That` in reported speech
6. Indirect Questions
III. PRACTICE

I. DEFINITION

Reported speech (also known as indirect speech) refers to a sentence reporting what someone has said. It is almost always used in spoken English.
Reported speech doesn`t use quotation marks to enclose what the person said and it doesn`t have to be word for word.
When we use reported speech, we are usually talking about the past (because obviously the person who spoke originally spoke in the past). The verbs therefore usually have to be in the past too.
"I`m going to the cinema".
He said he was going to the cinema.
II. BASIC RULES
When changing from quoted speech to reported speech, several changes occur.  In all sentences, the quotation marks and the comma immediately before the first quotation mark are removed.  Next, the word "that" is usually inserted after the reporting verb (say, ask, told, etc.)  Then, the subject pronoun is changed so that the meaning of the quote is not changed.  Lastly, the tense of the verb is changed, or shifted. 
She said, "I`m teaching English online."
She said she was teaching English online.

1. Tense changes
a.Basic tense changes
As a rule when you report something someone has said you go back a tense (the tense on the left changes to the tense on the right):
b. Other tense changes
Modal verb forms also sometimes change:

!Note - There is no change to; could, would, should, might and ought to.
Things are slightly more complicated with imperatives.
You can use the present tense in reported speech if you want to say that something is still true i.e. my name has always been and will always be Lynne
You can also use the present tense if you are talking about a future event.
2. Time and place changes
Time and place references often have to change:
If the reported sentence contains an expression of time, you must change it to fit in with the time of reporting.

In addition if you report something that someone said in a different place to where you heard it, you must change the place (here) to the place (there).
Example:

Examples:
I went to the theatre last night.
He said he had gone to the theatre the night before.
I`m staying here until next week.
He said he was staying there until the following week.
3. Pronoun changes

In reported speech, the pronoun often changes.
For example:

You also need to be careful with personal pronouns. They need to be changed according to the situation. You need to know the context. For example, there is possible confusion when you try to change reported speech to direct speech:
She said she`d been waiting for hours.
(Is she one person or two different people?)
I told them they would have to ask permission.
(Are we talking about two groups of people or
only one?)
4. Reporting Verbs

Said, told and asked are the most common verbs used in indirect speech.

We use “asked” to report questions:
I asked Lynne what time the lesson started.

We use “told” with an object.
Lynne told me she felt tired.

We usually use “said” without an object.
Lynne said she was going to teach online.

If “said” is used with an object we must include “to”
Lynne said to me that she`d never been to China.
There are many other verbs we can use apart from said, told and asked. These include:
Using them properly can make what you say much more interesting and informative.
For example:
He asked me to come to the party:
5. Use of `That` in reported speech

In reported speech, the word “that” is often used.
He told me that he lived in Greenwich.

However, “that” is optional.
He told me he lived in Greenwich.

!Note – “That” is never used in questions, instead we often use “if”.
He asked me if I would come to the party.
6. Indirect Questions
Use verbs of speech for questions (asked, wondered, enquired, wanted to know, tried to find out, etc.)

Use question words (where, when, who, why, how, etc) instead of “that”

Change verb tenses, pronouns, and time expressions (just like reported statements)

Use question word + subject + verb word order (unlike a direct question)
question word + subject + verb
     He asked when they would arrive.
My friend asked if I was coming
III. PRACTICE
Now you will hear a conversation between a man and a woman. Listen and report what you have heard, using reported speech.
Examples:
Frank said, “I live in a small house.”
Frank said that he lived in a small house.
Alice said, “New York is very exciting.”
Alice said that New York was very exciting.
Frank asked, “Are you married?”
Frank asked if Alice was married

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