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Overview of Reported Speech Rules

This document provides an overview of reported speech, including: 1. Reported speech is used to tell someone else about a past conversation. Verbs usually change to the past tense. 2. It gives examples of when reported speech is used, such as giving messages or sharing past news. 3. Tenses are "backshifted" in reported speech, such as simple present becoming simple past. Expressions of time are also changed. 4. The document provides examples of direct speech and how to change it to the corresponding reported speech.

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karla sanchez
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204 views21 pages

Overview of Reported Speech Rules

This document provides an overview of reported speech, including: 1. Reported speech is used to tell someone else about a past conversation. Verbs usually change to the past tense. 2. It gives examples of when reported speech is used, such as giving messages or sharing past news. 3. Tenses are "backshifted" in reported speech, such as simple present becoming simple past. Expressions of time are also changed. 4. The document provides examples of direct speech and how to change it to the corresponding reported speech.

Uploaded by

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

Reported Speech

Student: Karla Snchez


Grade: 3 B

What is it?
Its the grammar we use when we want
to tell another person a conversation
that took place in the past.
We often use reported speech when:
[Link] someone a telephone message.
Ex.
Gina said she couldnt come today
because..

[Link] someone news that we heard from


somebody else.
Ex. Tom said that he and Karen got
engaged.
[Link] report something that happened
Ex : Jake said that the other driver wasnt
paying attention and hit his car.

How do we use it?


When we use reported speech we are
usually talking about the past.
So, verbs usually change to the past tense
in reported speech.

I am very
happy.
What did he say?
Charlie said that he
was very happy.

John, it is
snowing!

I dont like
it!

Charlie told John that it was snowing.


John said that he didnt like it.

Backshift of tenses
from
to
Simple Present
Simple Past
Simple Past
Past Perfect
Present Perfect
will
would
can
could
Progressive forms
am/is/are
was/were
was/were
had been
has been /

Present Simple

Past Simple

I am American.

She said she

They are friends.

They said they


friends

Present Continuous
I am watching TV

Past Continuous
She said she WAS WATCHING
tv.

Past Simple
I did my homework

Past Perfect Simple


He said he HAD DONE
his homework.

Past Continuous
I was working hard

Past Perfect Continuous


He said he HAD BEEN
working hard.

WAS

American.
WERE

Present Perfect

Past Perfect

I have already eaten

She said she


already EATEN

Present Perfect
Continuous

Past Perfect Continous

I have been working so


hard lately

He said he HAD BEEN


working so hard lately

HAD

Future
I will go to the movies

She said she


to the movies

WOULD

go

If the sentence contains an


expression of time, you must
change it as well.
Peter: "I worked in the garden
yesterday."

Peter said that he had worked


in the garden the day
before.

Shifting of expressions of time


this (evening)
today/this day
these (days)
now
(a week) ago
last weekend
here
next (week)
tomorrow

that (evening)
that day
those (days)
then
(a week) before
the weekend before /
the previous weekend
there
the following (week)
the next/following day

You will enjoy


this film.

You can wash this sweater in hot water.

We have enough petrol.

We are coming back on Sunday.

Im not afraid
of bears.

I dont know
any French.

Example of reporting what


someone said
I am not happy at
my job. I think I
will quit.

Sandra said: I am not happy at my job. I


think I will quit.
Now you want to tell someone else what
Sandra said. In this situation we use
REPORTED SPEECH.
wasnt happy at
Sandra told me that she.
thought she.
would
her job and she
quit

Some more examples


Kiara said: I dont feel like going to the
movies tonight
Reported speech: Kiara said,
didnt feel like going to the movies that
she.
night.
Tina said: My sister is coming to visit me
soon
Reported Speech: Tina said, her
was coming to visit her soon.
sister.

[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
s/reported_speech/[Link]

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