doesn't change
You can view the topic ' reported statements ' with an explanation and exercises.
If the direct question began with a question word (when, what, how, why and so on), then in the reported speech:
"Why did you leave the door open?" → She asked me why I had left the door open.
"Where have you been?" → She asked me where I had been.
If the direct question didn't have a question word (it was a yes/no question), we add the word "if" to transform it into reported speech. The rules of backshifting are the same.
"Will it rain tomorrow?" → They wanted to know if it would rain the next day.
"Can I lend your pen for a second?" → I asked if I could lend his pen for a second.
You can also view the topic ' reported questions ' for a detailed explanation and exercises.
If we want to transform somebody's demand or request into reported speech, we say:
If the imperative was negative (don't go, don't do), we put "not" before "to": tell somebody not to do something.
"Do not cross the red line, please!" → The officer told us not to cross the red line.
"Could you put the flowers in the vase, please?" → She asked me to put the flowers in the vase.
You can also view the topic ' reported requests & demands ' for a detailed explanation and exercises.
English Language Centre / Study Zone / Level 490 — Upper Intermediate / Grammar Topics / Reported Speech
Introduction.
When reporting what someone said, we have to pay careful attention to our verb tenses. Generally, reported speech is introduced by the verb say (Other reporting verbs include tell, mention, inform). The verb is used in the past tense, said , which indicates that something was spoken in the past. For example:
“she said”, “he said”, “they said”
The main verb in the reported speech sentence is also in the past tense. In a sentence where the main verb is already in the past tense, then the verb changes to another past tense verb as it is moving further into the past.
Usually, the tense in reported speech is one tense back in time from the tense in direct speech. However, often if the speaker is reporting something soon after it has been said, there is no change in the verb tense. This is also true if the reported statement is a general truth. For example:
“The capital of Canada is Ottawa.” → Byron said that the capital of Canada is Ottawa.
Remember that in reported speech, there are no quotation marks.
Quoted Speech (What the person actually said) | Reported Speech |
---|---|
Mark said, “I thirsty.” | Mark said (that) he thirsty. (Note: The use of is optional) |
Verbs usually change to the past in reported speech because we are talking about the past. For example:
Quoted Speech (What the person actually said) | Reported Speech |
---|---|
Am/is | was |
Are | were |
Have/has | had |
Can | could |
Do/want/know | did/wanted/knew |
Will | would |
In reported speech, the simple past ( I did ) often stays the same or it changes to the past perfect ( I had done ).
Examples of Verb Changes in Reported Speech
Quoted Speech (What the person actually said) | Reported Speech |
---|---|
“I tea”, she said. | She said (that) she tea. |
“I French”, he said. | : He said (that) he French. |
“Mike on Sunday”, Gayle said | Gayle said (that) Mike ( ) on Sunday. |
to Russia”, she said. | She said (that) she to Russia. |
“I my homework”, Kendall told me. | Kendall told me (that) she her homework. |
“We for 3 hours.” | : They mentioned (that) they for 3 hours |
“We in San Diego.” | : They told us (that) in San Diego. |
She said, “We in Vancouver next year.” | She informed me (that) they in Vancouver next year. |
He said, “I to marry her next spring.” | He said (that) he her next spring. |
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Lisa, "Alan sometimes meets friends." Lisa said (that) . Andrew, "I really love my moped." Andrew said (that) . Nick, "You have a fast car." Nick remarked (that) . Josie, "Your dogs are cute." Josie told me (that) . Sentences in Reported speech in the Simple Present in English in an Online Exercise.
We make a present simple question with 'do' or 'does' so I need to take that away. Then I need to change the verb to the past simple. Another example: Direct speech: Where is Julie? Reported speech: She asked me where Julie was. The direct question is the present simple of 'be'. We make the question form of the present simple of be by inverting ...
For example: Direct speech: I dislike fried chicken. Reported speech: She said she disliked fried chicken. Note how the main verb in the reported statement is also in the past tense verb form. Use the simple present tense in your indirect speech if the initial words remain relevant at the time of reporting.
Reported speech: She said she was going to the store then. In this example, the pronoun "I" is changed to "she" and the adverb "now" is changed to "then.". 2. Change the tense: In reported speech, you usually need to change the tense of the verb to reflect the change from direct to indirect speech. Here's an example:
No Change in Verb Tenses in Reported Speech. In some cases, verb tenses do not change when you report speech indirectly.Here are the key instances: When the introductory verb is in the present, present perfect, or future.; When the reported sentence deals with a fact or general truth.; When the reported sentence contains a time clause.; If the verb of the sentence is in the unreal past (the ...
Reported Speech Exercises. Perfect English Grammar. Here's a list of all the reported speech exercises on this site: (Click here to read the explanations about reported speech) Reported Statements: Present Simple Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here) Present Continuous Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here)
As you can see, the main verb changes from present simple to past simple: Direct speech: "I listen to music every day," she said. Escucho música todos los días. Reported speech: She said that she listened to music every day. Ella dijo que escuchaba música todos los días. Direct speech: "I am happy.". Soy feliz.
Yes, and you report it with a reporting verb. He said he wanted to know about reported speech. I said, I want and you changed it to he wanted. Exactly. Verbs in the present simple change to the past simple; the present continuous changes to the past continuous; the present perfect changes to the past perfect; can changes to could; will changes ...
Direct Speech Reported Speech; Simple Present He said: "I am happy": Simple Past He said that he was happy: Present Progressive He said: "I'm looking for my keys": Past Progressive He said that he was looking for his keys: Simple Past He said: "I visited New York last year": Past Perfect Simple He said that he had visited New York the previous year.: Present Perfect He said ...
Reported Speech (Indirect Speech), explanation and exercises. English Grammar Online … the fun way to learn English! Dictionary; auf Deutsch › Cram Up › Grammar › Reported Speech ... present tense verbs (3rd person singular) place and time expressions; tenses (backshift) Also note that you have to:
Reported speech is when we repeat what another person has said but instead of using their exact words in quotation marks (direct speech), we use subordinate clause introduced by a reporting verb like the ones below: He says/said …. She explains/explained …. She tells/told me …. He asks/asked …. Often, we have to change the tense ...
You should also be careful with time indicators (today, now, next week etc.) not to lose the idea of the original direct statement.. The word that can be used or left out, both options are correct.. Backshift of tenses in reported speech. When we have a sentence that consists of the main and the dependent part we need to be careful with the verb tenses.
In reported speech, the simple past (I did) often stays the same or it changes to the past perfect (I had done). Examples of Verb Changes in Reported Speech. Quoted Speech. (What the person actually said) Reported Speech. Simple Present: "I love tea", she said. Simple Past: She said (that) she loved tea.
English grammar exercise about reported speech with the present simple tense. Login Contact Courses Membership Speaking Explanations Exercises Method. Reported Speech Exercise 12. Perfect English Grammar. This reported speech exercise looks at statements using the present simple tense.
Reported - Indirect Speech (Present Simple, Present Continuous, Past Simple) Reported - Indirect Speech (Present Simple, Present Continuous, Past Simple) Nadine Prybyshenko. Member for 4 years 5 months Age: 14+ Level: Intermediate. Language: English (en) ID: 286079. 25/06/2020. Country code: UA. Country: Ukraine. School subject ...
Language: English (en) ID: 68227. 24/03/2020. Country code: ES. Country: Spain. School subject: English as a Second Language (ESL) (1061958) Main content: Reported speech (2013113) From worksheet author: Reported Speech with Present Simple.
What is indirect speech or reported speech? When we tell people what another person said or thought, we often use reported speech or indirect speech. To do that, we need to change verb tenses (present, past, etc.) and pronouns (I, you, my, your, etc.) if the time and speaker are different.For example, present tenses become past, I becomes he or she, and my becomes his or her, etc.
Reported Speech present simple worksheets by IPG .Reported Speech present simple interactive worksheet Live Worksheets. ... Reported Speech present simple. IPG Member for 4 years 7 months Age: 10-15. Level: 6ºEPO. Language: English (en) ID: 109926. 19/04/2020. Country code: ES. Country: Spain. School subject ...
REPORTED SPEECH! https://7esl.com/reported-speech/Reported speech is often also called indirect speech in English.Direct Speech: https://7esl.com/direct-spee...
Reported Speech with Present Simple and Past Simple Reported Speech with Present Simple and Past Simple. enjoy_flamingo Member for ... Age: 14+ Level: pre-intermediate. Language: English (en) ID: 593460. 15/12/2020. Country code: PL. Country: Poland. School subject: English as a Second Language (ESL) (1061958) Main content: Reported speech ...