how to make reported speech

How to make questions in reported speech? To make questions in reported speech, you need to use an introductory phrase such as “asked” or “wondered” followed by the question word (if applicable), subject, and verb. You also need to change the word order to make it a statement. Here are the steps to make questions in reported speech:

Here's how it works: We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'. (Click here for more about using 'say' and 'tell'.) If this verb is in the present tense, it's easy. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence: Direct speech: I like ice cream. Reported speech: She says (that) she likes ice cream.

Reporting and summarising. When we want to report what people say, we don't usually try to report their exact words. We usually give a summary, for example: Direct speech (exact words): Mary: Oh dear. We've been walking for hours!

Practice the correct verb tense, modal verbs, time expressions, and place references. This article provides a grammar explanation of reported speech in the English language with reported speech exercises.

Table of Contents. What Is Reported Speech? Definition of Reported Speech. Rules to be Followed When Using Reported Speech. Transforming Direct Speech into Reported Speech. Table 1 – Change of Pronouns. Table 2 – Change of Adverbs of Place and Adverbs of Time. Table 3 – Change of Tense. Table 4 – Change of Modal Verbs.

This reference covers key sections about reported speech, including what it is, examples, rules, and verb tense changes. You’ll also learn about modal verbs, changes in time and place, and different reporting verbs.

The lesson will have three parts – we’ll start by looking at statements in reported speech, and then we’ll learn about some exceptions to the rules, and finally we’ll cover reported questions, requests, and commands.

from English Grammar Today. Reported speech is how we represent the speech of other people or what we ourselves say. There are two main types of reported speech: direct speech and indirect speech. Direct speech repeats the exact words the person used, or how we remember their words: Barbara said, “I didn’t realise it was midnight.”

Statements. When transforming statements, check whether you have to change: pronouns. present tense verbs (3rd person singular) place and time expressions. tenses (backshift) → more on statements in reported speech. Questions. When transforming questions, check whether you have to change: pronouns. present tense verbs (3rd person singular)

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: Examples: He says/said … She explains/explained … She tells/told me … He asks/asked …