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Reported Speech Rules and Examples

Reported Speech is a method of conveying what someone has said without quoting their exact words, requiring changes in tense, pronouns, and certain words. The document outlines rules for converting direct speech to reported speech across different sentence structures, including assertive, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory sentences. Additionally, it provides examples of changes in words and pronouns during the conversion process.

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19 views2 pages

Reported Speech Rules and Examples

Reported Speech is a method of conveying what someone has said without quoting their exact words, requiring changes in tense, pronouns, and certain words. The document outlines rules for converting direct speech to reported speech across different sentence structures, including assertive, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory sentences. Additionally, it provides examples of changes in words and pronouns during the conversion process.

Uploaded by

routine340
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Reported Speech – Complete Notes

Definition
Reported Speech is a way of reporting what someone has said without quoting their exact words. Instead of using
quotation marks, we change the tense, pronouns, and certain words according to rules.

General Rules for Conversion


Direct Speech Reported Speech Rule
He said, “I am happy.” He said that he was happy. Present → Past

She said, “I went to the park.” She said that she had gone to the park. Past Simple → Past Perfect

They said, “We have finished our They said that they had finished their Present Perfect → Past
work.” work. Perfect

He said, “I will call you.” He said that he would call me. Will → Would

She said, “I can help you.” She said that she could help me. Can → Could

They said, “We may leave early.” They said that they might leave early. May → Might

He said, “I must go now.” He said that he had to go then. Must → Had to

She said, “I shall meet you.” She said that she would meet me. Shall → Would

Sentence Structures
1. Assertive Sentences
Structure:
Direct: Subject + said, “Subject + verb + object …”
Reported: Subject + said (that) + subject + verb (changed) + object …
Example:
Direct: He said, “I like apples.”
Reported: He said that he liked apples.

2. Interrogative Sentences
 Yes/No Questions → use if/whether
 Wh-Questions → use the same question word (no ‘?’)
Example:
Direct: She said, “Do you like music?” → Reported: She asked if I liked music.
Direct: He said, “Where are you going?” → Reported: He asked where I was going.

3. Imperative Sentences
Reporting verbs: told, asked, ordered, requested, advised
Structure: Subject + told/asked/ordered + object + to + verb
Example:
Direct: She said, “Close the door.”
Reported: She told me to close the door.

4. Exclamatory Sentences
Reporting verbs: exclaimed, exclaimed with joy/sorrow, wished, prayed
Exclamatory words (what, how, alas, hurrah, oh) are replaced.
Example:
Direct: He said, “What a beautiful day!”
Reported: He exclaimed that it was a very beautiful day.

Changes in Words
Direct Speech Word Reported Speech Word
Now Then

Today That day

Tomorrow The next day / The following day

Yesterday The previous day / The day before

Tonight That night

This That

These Those

Here There

Ago Before

Come Go

Henceforth From then on

Change of Pronouns
Pronouns change according to the subject of reporting and the object of speech.
Examples:
 She said, “I am tired.” → She said that she was tired.
 He said to me, “You are honest.” → He told me that I was honest.
 I said to him, “You are late.” → I told him that he was late.

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