Page 122 - Real English 2024 Book 8

REAL ENGLISH 8

Grammar

Reported Speech

Reported speech is the language we use to report what someone else said, using our own words.
Ernest : It’s a new subject, Dad. The Head teaches us that. } (direct speech)
Father : Yes, but what’s it all about?

Ernest told Dad that it was a new subject and the Head taught them that. } (indirect speech/
Father asked him what it was all about. reported speech)
While reporting, changes are often made in tenses, certain adverbs and most pronouns.

The guide said to the tourist, ‘Many people have scaled Mount Everest.’ (direct speech)
The guide said to the tourist that many people had scaled Mount Everest. (indirect speech)
In direct speech the words of the speaker are put in quotation marks.

Mohan says, ‘Spring is a beautiful season.’
Rahul said to Mohan, ‘What is the time?’
Anita said to Rahul, ‘It is 4 o’clock.’
‘But I haven’t told you anything, Anita,’ replied Mohan.
Daisy said to Nancy, ‘What are your plans?’
Kamala said, ‘It is so bad, there is so much dirt and filth.’

In reported speech we give the meaning of what was said rather than the exact words.
Mohan says that spring is a beautiful season.

Rahul asked Mohan what time it was.
Anita said to Rahul that it was 4 o’clock.
Mohan replied that he hadn’t told Anita anything.
Daisy asked Nancy what her plans were.
Kamala complained that it was so bad, there was so much dirt and filth.
Changes in reported speech depend on changes in the situation, time and place. Here are some
changes that happen when direct speech is reported.

place time

here there now then, at that time
at that place

today that day, on Sunday, etc.
person tomorrow the next/following day, on Sunday, etc.

I he/she yesterday the day before, the previous day

my his/her this week/month that week/month
we they last week the week before, the previous week

our their an hour ago an hour before/earlier

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