When can we Use Reported Speech?

Click right here for a listing of reported speech workouts.
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Reported Statements

When will we use reported speech? Typically somebody says a sentence, for example "I'm going to the cinema tonight". Later, possibly we would like to tell another person what the primary particular person stated.

Watch my reported speech video:

Here is how it really works:

We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'inform'. (Click on right here for more about utilizing 'say' and 'tell'.) If this verb is in the present tense, it is simple. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence:

- Direct speech: I like ice cream.
- Reported speech: She says (that) she likes ice cream.

We do not want to alter the tense, though in all probability we do want to vary the 'particular person' from 'I' to 'she', for example. We also may need to change phrases like 'my' and 'your'.

(As I'm certain you recognize, typically, we are able to select if we would like to use 'that' or not in English. I've put it in brackets () to show that it's optionally available. It's precisely the identical if you employ 'that' or if you don't use 'that'.)

But, if the reporting verb is prior to now tense, then usually we change the tenses in the reported speech:

- Direct speech: I like ice cream.
- Reported speech: She stated (that) she appreciated ice cream.

* doesn't change.

Occasionally, we do not want to alter the present tense into the previous if the information in direct speech remains to be true (but that is only for issues that are basic information, and even then usually we like to change the tense):

- Direct speech: The sky is blue.
- Reported speech: She mentioned (that) the sky is/was blue.

Click on here for a combined tense train about practise reported statements.
Click right here for a record of all of the reported speech exercises.

Reported Questions

So now you don't have any downside with making reported speech from constructive and unfavourable sentences. However how about questions?

- Direct speech: The place do you live?

- Direct speech: The place do you reside?
- Reported speech: She asked me where I lived.

- Direct speech: The place is Julie?
- Reported speech: She asked me where Julie was.

Listed here are some extra examples:

- Direct speech: Do you want chocolate?
- Reported speech: She asked me if I preferred chocolate.

Click right here to practise reported 'wh' questions.
Click right here to practise reported 'yes / no' questions.

Reported Requests

There's extra! What if somebody asks you to do one thing (in a polite method)? For instance:

- Direct speech: Close the window, please
- Or: Might you shut the window please?
- Or: Would you mind closing the window please?

All of these requests mean the identical thing, pens.ac.id so we don't need to report every word when we inform one other person about it. We merely use 'ask me + to + infinitive':

- Reported speech: She asked me to close the window.

Listed here are a few extra examples:

To report a adverse request, use 'not':

- Direct speech: Please do not be late.
- Reported speech: She requested us not to be late.

Reported Orders

And eventually, how about if somebody does not ask so politely? We can name this an 'order' in English, when someone tells you very directly to do one thing. For instance:

- Direct speech: Sit down!

In actual fact, we make this into reported speech in the same approach as a request. We simply use 'inform' as an alternative of 'ask':

- Reported speech: She informed me to sit down.

Click on right here for an exercise to practise reported requests and orders.

Time Expressions with Reported Speech

Generally when we change direct speech into reported speech we've to change time expressions too. We do not always have to do this, nonetheless. It is dependent upon after we heard the direct speech and once we say the reported speech.

It is Monday. Julie says "I am leaving immediately".

If I tell someone on Monday, I say "Julie mentioned she was leaving today".
If I tell someone on Tuesday, I say "Julie mentioned she was leaving yesterday".
If I inform someone on Wednesday, I say "Julie stated she was leaving on Monday".
If I tell someone a month later, I say "Julie mentioned she was leaving that day".

So, there isn't any straightforward conversion. You really have to think about when the direct speech was stated.

Here's a table of some attainable conversions:

Click on right here for an exercise about using 'say' and 'tell'.
Click on right here for a record of all the reported speech workout routines.