Reported Speech | Language Structure Usage & Linguistics IV

Reported speech is a way of conveying what someone has said without using their exact words. It is also known as indirect speech.

Direct speech is when we repeat the exact words that someone has said, using quotation marks to show the speaker's words. For example, "I am going to the store," she said.

Indirect speech, on the other hand, reports what someone has said without using their exact words. For example, she said that she was going to the store.

When converting direct speech to indirect speech, there are a few changes that need to be made. The tense of the verb changes from present to past tense. The pronouns used in the direct speech are changed to third person pronouns. Additionally, any words used to point to a specific time or place are changed to appropriate expressions.

For example, if the direct speech is "I am studying for my exam now," the indirect speech would be "She said that she was studying for her exam then."

Indirect questions are also used in reported speech. Instead of using "that" to introduce the reported speech, a wh-clause is used. For example, "Where are you going?" becomes "She asked me where I was going."

It is important to note that some verbs require specific changes when used in reported speech. For example, "say" becomes "tell" and requires an object in the indirect speech. For example, "She said, 'I am going to the store'" becomes "She told me that she was going to the store."

Activities to practice reported speech can include listening to a conversation and then reporting what was said, or writing a dialogue and then converting the direct speech to indirect speech. By practicing reported speech, students can improve their ability to accurately convey what others have said, which is a valuable skill in both personal and professional settings.

Direct Speech vs. Indirect Speech

Direct speech involves repeating the exact words that someone has spoken, while indirect speech involves using different words to convey the same meaning. For example:

Direct Speech: John said, "I am tired." Indirect Speech: John said that he was tired.

Changes in Indirect Speech

When changing direct speech to indirect speech, certain changes need to be made:

1. Change present tense to past tense: If the reported speech is in the present tense, it needs to be changed to the past tense in the indirect speech. For example:

Direct Speech: "I love this movie," she says. Indirect Speech: She said that she loved the movie.

2. Change 1st and 2nd person pronouns into 3rd person: In indirect speech, the pronouns in the direct speech need to be changed to reflect the new speaker. For example:

Direct Speech: "I am going to the store," he said. Indirect Speech: He said that he was going to the store.

3. Change pointer words into that, then, there, the next day, etc.: Pointer words (such as here, now, this, and today) in direct speech need to be changed into more appropriate words or phrases in the indirect speech. For example:

Direct Speech: "I will meet you here," she said. Indirect Speech: She said that she would meet him there.

 Reported Speech

Transferring Direct Speech Into Indirect Speech

Here are some examples of how to change direct speech into indirect speech:

1. "I am so happy," she said. She said that she was so happy.

2. "I have already eaten," he said. He said that he had already eaten.

3. "I will call you later," they said. They said that they would call later.

4. "Do you like pizza?" she asked. She asked if he liked pizza.

5. "I want to go to the beach," he said. He said that he wanted to go to the beach.

Indirect Questions

Indirect questions are another form of reported speech that use a wh-clause instead of a that-clause. For example:

Direct Question: "What is your name?" she asked. Indirect Question: She asked what his name was.

Activities

Here are some activities to help practice reported speech:

1. Have students read a short story and then report the main events in their own words.
2. Play a game of telephone, where students pass a message around the classroom using reported speech.
3. Give students a list of direct speech quotes and have them transform them into indirect speech.
4. Have students practice using indirect questions by asking their classmates about their favorite hobbies, movies, etc.

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Also read : Transformation of Sentences in English