Reported Speech
Look at the following sentence.
A. David told Joe “ I will see you tomorrow.”
Clara hears the talk between David and Joe and reports the message to another person (say Jim.) in the following way.
B. David told Joe that he would see him the next day.
When David himself says the message to someone else it would appear as
C. I told Joe that I would see him the next day.
When Joe reports the message to someone else it would appear as
D. David told me that he would see me the next day.
In the sentence A the actual words spoken by the speaker (David) is, “I will see you tomorrow” . It’s called direct speech. In the sentence B,C, and D the words spoken by David are reported to some other person with modified pronouns (‘I’ becomes ‘he’, ‘you’ becomes ‘him’ ‘tomorrow’ becomes ‘next day’, ‘will’ becomes ‘would’, inverted commas are removed and ‘that’ is added. In a rapid speech and in some cases ‘that’ is not added.). The sentences B.C, and D are known as Reported or indirect speech. The main Verb (In the above case the main verb is see.) and pronouns are very important while changing a direct speech to indirect or reported speech.
This - that (this changes to that)
These - those
Thus - so
Now - then
Ago - before
Now - then
Last night - the night before
Last year - the year before
Yesterday – the day before
Tomorrow – the next day
The simple present is changed to simple past
She told/said, “ I am busy now.” - Direct
She told/said that she was busy then. - Reported
The simple past tense is changed to past perfect tense.
Shane Said, ” Bill went home.” - Direct
Shane said that Bill had gone home. - Reported
The auxiliary verbs like will is change to would, can is changed to could, and may is changed to might.
The teacher said, “ you may go home.” - Direct
The teacher said I might go home. – Reported (If you is singular.)
The teacher said we might go home – Reported ( If you is plural)
The presentence tense in the direct speech remains unchanged in indirect/reported speech
John says, “I am tired.” - Direct
John says that he is tired. - Reported
The present continuous/progressive tense is changed to past continuous/progressive tense.
They said. “ we are waiting for the train.” - Direct
They said that they were waiting for the train. - Reported
Reported speech in questions
He asked/said., “ where is Shane?” - Direct
He enquired where Shane was. – Reported
Clare asked Shane.” Do you like coffee?” - Direct
Clara asked Shane if she liked coffee. – Reported (or)
Clara asked Shane whether she liked coffee. – Reported
Reported speech in wishes and exclamations
“Merry Christmas to you”, the teacher said to the students.
The teacher wished the children a Merry Christmas.
David said, “ Oh God I will be late again!” - Direct
David exclaimed that he would be late again - Reported
Reported Speech in Commands or Requests
The policeman said to a driver, “ Stop ” - Direct
The policeman ordered the driver to stop. - Reported
The speaker said to the audience, “please be quiet.” - Direct
The speaker requested the audience to be quiet. - Reported
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