REPORTED SPEECH

DEFINITION

When we are saying the same words spoken by a person.
“” (quotation marks) are used.

INDIRECT / REPORTED SPEECH

When we use indirect or reported speech, we are usually talking about the past (because obviously the person who spoke originally spoke in the past).

A speaker’s words reported in subordinate clauses governed by a reporting verb, with the required changes of person and tense (e.g. he said that he would go, based on “I will go”).

WHAT IS INDIRECT SPEECH?

Usually talking about the past (because the person who spoke originally spoke in the past).

CHANGE OF TENSE

1. SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE TO SIMPLE PAST TENSE

2. PRESENT CONTINUOUS TO PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

TENSE

3. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE TO PAST PERFECT TENSE

EXAMPLES

CHANGE OF TENSE	DIRECT SPEECH	INDIRECT SPEECH
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE TO SIMPLE PAST TENSE	He said, “I am unwell”.	He said (that) he was unwell.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE TO PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE	He said, “My mother is writing letters”.	He said (that) his mother was writing letters.
PRESENT PERFECT TENSE TO PAST PERFECT TENSE	He said, “I have passed the examination”.	He said (that) he had passed the examination.