Reported Speech:
Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is a way of reporting what someone said or thought without quoting them directly. It involves changing the original words to fit the grammatical context of the report.
Key features of reported speech:
* Tense changes: The verb tenses in reported speech are usually shifted back in time compared to the original statement.
* Pronoun changes: Pronouns (like "I", "you", "he", "she", etc.) may need to be changed to match the new context.
* Time and place references may change: Words like "here", "now", "today" might need to be adjusted based on the time and place of the reporting.
* Reporting verbs: Words like "said", "told", "asked", "replied" are used to introduce the reported speech.
Example:
* Direct speech: "I am going to the store," she said.
* Reported speech: She said that she was going to the store.
Key points to remember:
* The reported speech is often introduced with a reporting verb.
* The tense of the verb in the reported speech is usually one step back in time from the original tense.
* Pronouns and other words may need to be changed to fit the new context.
Here are some additional examples of reported speech:
* Direct speech: "I have been working all day," he said.
* Reported speech: He said he had been working all day.
* Direct speech: "Are you going to the party?" she asked.
* Reported speech: She asked if I was going to the party.
Overall, reported speech allows us to convey information about conversations and thoughts without directly quoting the speaker. It helps us communicate more concisely and efficiently.