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Reported Speech Lesson

The document explains reported speech, which is used to convey what someone else has said without direct quotes. It covers tense backshifting, pronoun changes, time and place word adjustments, and how to report questions and commands. Additionally, it highlights exceptions to backshifting and provides practice exercises for learners.

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4 views12 pages

Reported Speech Lesson

The document explains reported speech, which is used to convey what someone else has said without direct quotes. It covers tense backshifting, pronoun changes, time and place word adjustments, and how to report questions and commands. Additionally, it highlights exceptions to backshifting and provides practice exercises for learners.

Uploaded by

Senku San
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Reported Speech

Prof. Adnane Menouer


What is Reported Speech?
• Reported speech (indirect speech) is used to
tell someone what another person said
without quoting them directly.

• Example:
• Direct: She said, "I am tired."
• Reported: She said that she was tired.
Tense Backshifting
• When reporting in the past, the tense of the
verb usually moves one step back.

• Present Simple → Past Simple


• Present Continuous → Past Continuous
• Will → Would
• Present Perfect → Past Perfect
• Past Simple → Past Perfect
Pronoun Changes
• Change pronouns based on speaker and
listener.

• Examples:
• "I love you." → He said he loved me.
• "We are ready." → They said they were ready.
Time and Place Words
• now → then
• today → that day
• tomorrow → the next day
• yesterday → the day before
• here → there
• this → that
Reporting Questions
• Yes/No Questions: Use "if" or "whether"
• "Are you hungry?" → She asked if I was
hungry.

• Wh- Questions: Keep the question word, no


inversion
• "Where do you live?" → He asked where I
lived.
Reporting Commands and
Requests
• Commands: Use "to + verb"
• "Sit down!" → She told me to sit down.

• Negative commands: Use "not to + verb"


• "Don't touch that!" → He warned me not to
touch that.
Reporting Verbs
• Common verbs: say, tell, ask, advise, warn,
promise, deny

• Examples:
• "I will help." → He promised to help.
• "I didn't steal." → She denied stealing.
Exceptions to Backshifting
• No backshift needed when:
• - Reporting verb is in the present.
• - Statement is still true.

• Example:
• "The sun rises in the east." → He said the sun
rises in the east.
Practice Exercises
• Change to reported speech:
• 1. "I am learning English."
• 2. "We will go tomorrow."
• 3. "Do you like coffee?"
• 4. "Don’t be late!"
• 5. "I have visited London."
Sources and References
• Swan, M. (2005). Practical English Usage.
Oxford University Press.
• British Council Grammar:
https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/gramm
ar
• Cambridge Dictionary:
https://dictionary.cambridge.org
Thank You

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