Reported speech is the grammatical process we use when we tell someone what someone else has said. But how exactly is it used? We tell you all about it in the following article:
What is reported speech?
As we have already mentioned, reported speech is used when we tell a person what another person has told us. Reported speech, or indirect speech, differs from direct speech in that its form changes. Let’s look at an example:
Direct speech: I am tired, said Tommy.
Reported speech: Tommy said that he was tired.
In reported speech, we see that the verb form must be used in the past tense. On the other hand, in the direct style, the present tense is used. There are other aspects that you should take into consideration when using reported speech, as we indicate below:
- All verb tenses change, including modal verbs:
Will you marry me, he asked.
He asked me if I would marry him.
- Adverbs of time also change:
Yesterday – The day before
Tomorrow – The next day
Now – Then
When should the verb not be changed?
- When we use a past tense in direct style, there is no need to change it:
I broke my arm, said John.
John said he broke his arm.
- However, we could change this past for a past perfect:
I broke my arm, said John.
John said he had broken his arm.
Using reported speech for questions
So far we have seen the use of the verb “said” in reported speech. However, when it comes to asking questions, you have to opt for “asked”. Likewise, an interrogative particle (wh – Word) or if/whether must also be used.
What is your name?
John asked me what my name was.
Does he play golf?
John asked if he played golf.
Learning to use reported speech
Although it may seem complicated at first, reported speech is very easy to use, as you only need to understand the dynamics. The best way to do this is to practice with exercises and learn with the help of a teacher, either through private English lessons or English courses.
