REPORTED SPEECH
If we report what another person has said, we usually do not use the speaker’s exact words (direct speech), but reported (indirect) speech. Therefore, we transform direct speech into reported speech.
The structure is a little different depending on whether you want to transform a statement, question or request.
The structure is a little different depending on whether you want to transform a statement, question or request.
STATEMENTS: (changes):
- pronouns
- verb tenses
- place and time expressions
- pronouns
- verb tenses
- place and time expressions
"I speak English" she said
She said (that) she spoke English
She said (that) she spoke English
QUESTIONS: (changes):
- transform the question into a direct question (no question mark)
- use the interrogative or if/wether
- transform the question into a direct question (no question mark)
- use the interrogative or if/wether
"Why don't you speak English?" she asked me
She asked me why I didn't speak English
"Do you speak English?" She asked me
She asked me if/wether I spoke English
She asked me why I didn't speak English
"Do you speak English?" She asked me
She asked me if/wether I spoke English
REPORTED REQUESTS (asked) REPORTED ORDERS (told)
"Carol, don't speak Spanish, please" "Mike, go to bed! "
He asked Carol not to speak Spanish He told Mike to go to bed
He asked Carol not to speak Spanish He told Mike to go to bed
" I saw a good movie yesterday"
" She said she had seen a good movie the day before"
" She said she had seen a good movie the day before"