Reported Speech

Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is a way of reporting what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. Instead of repeating the speaker's words verbatim (direct speech), reported speech conveys the meaning or content of the original statement while conforming to the grammar and perspective of the reporting speaker. This is commonly used in conversations, interviews, storytelling, and written texts to report statements, questions, requests, or commands made by others. Here's a comprehensive guide to reported speech:

1. Basic Structure: Reported speech typically involves several changes in tense, pronouns, and word order compared to direct speech. The key changes include:

• Changing pronouns: The pronouns may need to be changed to reflect the perspective of the reporting speaker.
• Changing tenses: The tense of the reported statement often shifts back one step in time.
• Changing time expressions: Time expressions may also need to be adjusted to reflect the time frame of the reporting.

2. Reporting Verbs: Reported speech is usually introduced by reporting verbs such as "say," "tell," "ask," "mention," "explain," etc. These verbs are often followed by a that-clause or if/whether when reporting questions.

3. Changes in Pronouns and Possessive Adjectives: In reported speech, pronouns and possessive adjectives may need to be adjusted to match the perspective of the reporting speaker.

• Direct speech: "I am happy."
• Reported speech: She said (that) she was happy.

4. Changes in Tenses: Tenses in reported speech typically shift back one step in time compared to the original statement.

• Direct speech (present simple): "I work hard."
• Reported speech (past simple): He said (that) he worked hard.

5. Changes in Modal Verbs: Modal verbs may also change in reported speech to reflect the speaker's attitude or the context of the reported statement.

• Direct speech (present tense): "She can swim."
• Reported speech (past tense): He said (that) she could swim.

6. Reporting Questions: When reporting questions, the word order changes to subject-verb-object order, and the question may be introduced by an appropriate reporting verb.

• Direct speech (question): "Where are you going?"
• Reported speech (indirect question): She asked where he was going.

7. Punctuation and Reporting Clauses: Reported speech is often introduced by a reporting clause, followed by a comma or colon.

• Reporting clause + comma: He said, "I will be there."
• Reporting clause + colon: She told us: "Don't be late."

8. Omission of Quotation Marks: Unlike direct speech, reported speech does not require quotation marks.

Examples:

• Direct speech: "I love traveling," she said.

• Reported speech: She said (that) she loved traveling.

• Direct speech: "Can you help me with this?" he asked.

• Reported speech: He asked if/whether I could help him with that.

Conclusion: Reported speech is a fundamental aspect of English grammar used to report what someone else has said. By understanding the changes in tense, pronouns, and word order involved in reported speech, speakers and writers can effectively convey the meaning of statements made by others while adhering to the conventions of indirect speech. Reported speech adds depth and authenticity to narratives, conversations, and written texts, allowing for accurate representation of spoken communication.