Reported speech is also known as indirect speech and is used to tell somebody else what another person said. This handy chart and tips will help students remember common verb tense and modal changes in reported speech. English esl reported speech worksheets most downloaded. There is a change in the tense in the reported speech if the introductory verb is in the past tense e. The tenses, wordorder, pronouns may be different from those in the direct speech sentence. But youll find the most complete explanations, examples, and exercises in our direct speech and reported speech series. Reported speech or indirect speech free english grammar.
Heres a grammar guide which summarises the changes in tenses in indirect speech. When we tell people what another person said or thought, we often use reported speech or indirect speech. Verb tense changes direct and indirect speech when changing from direct to indirect spe. Normally, the tense in reported speech is one tense back in time from the tense in direct. In simple terms, the structure of reported speech is. It highlights the importance of the reporting verbs tense, which points whether there is a change or not in the reported speech.
Learn how to use direct and indirect speech and tense changes when using reported speech in english with useful grammar rules and example sentences. Always change the tense, although it is sometimes not necessary. The tense changes are the same, and we keep the question. Phrase in direct speech equivalent in reported speech. When changing from direct to indirect speech, you need to change the grammar in.
Simple past present continuous im working at the moment. When the reported verb is in the past, but the reported words are always true eg. Changes from direct speech to reported speech when the reporting verb is in a past tense1 direct speech reported speech tenses. Normally, the tense in reported speech is one tense back in time from the tense in direct speech. Indirect speech is considerably more complicated than direct as it involves several grammatical changes.
Quoted and reported speech san jose state university. Direct and reported speech worksheets really learn english. Reported speech tense conversion rules direct speech reported speech i want a holiday present simple she told me she wanted a holiday past simple bob is annoying me present continuous jane said bob was annoying her past continuous i have eaten too much present perfect he said he had eaten too much past perfect. Tense changes when using reported speech in english. We use reported speech when we want to tell someone what someone said. So, for example, if two minutes ago john said i am. Backshift of tenses verb tenses direct speech reported speech pronounsverb tenses simple present do you i am a carpenter.
On the other hand, if the reporting verb is in the past tense, then usually we change the tenses in the reported speech. Click here for a list of all the reported speech exercises. Reported speech is often also called indirect speech in english. There is no change in verb tenses in reported speech when. Reported speech reported speech tense shift indirect speech imperatives indirect speech questions. As you can see, in the above sentence am changes to was when we use reported speech. Using reported speech in english can sometimes be difficult for nonnative speakers as we usually change the verbs, pronouns and specific times. In reported speech we need to use the past tense form of the verb. When changing from direct to indirect speech, you need to change the grammar in certain ways. If the introductory verb is in the present, no change of the tense of the verb in the reported speech will take place.
You can also look at our page on direct and reported speech. Reported speech reported questions english grammar pdf worksheet author. Welcome to your reported speech simple statements exercise 1. Reported questions so now you have no problem with making reported speech from positive and negative sentences. See the chart below to understand direct to indirect speech tense shift. Students should be able to use correct punctuation when writing quotes. Changes in reported speech quoted speech direct speech the actual words a person says inside quotation marks reported speech indirect speech telling what a person said no quotation marks simple present present continuous present perfect simple past present perfect continuous shall will may can must. Students will become familiar with verb tense changes required for formal reported speech. We use backshift when it is logical to use backshift. Here are some of the important verb changes we use when making reported speech. Students should be able to identify what makes a good quote. Ask them what they notice about the changes in verb tenses for reported speech. Reported speech tense shifting chart showing indirect speech to direct speech tense shift present simple to past simple, present continuous to past continuous, etc. Direct and indirect present simple tense practice exercise with answers.
In one of those situations, you should absolutely not change the time tenses. Tense direct speech reported speech present simple i like ice cream she said that she liked ice cream. See more ideas about reported speech, indirect speech and direct and indirect speech. Page 1 direct and indirect speech rules pdf table of contents identify reported speech and reported speech direct and indirect speech punctuation rules use of conjunction that rules for changing pronouns in indirect speech indirect speech rules for all tenses rules for change in time and adverb in indirect speech. The tense of the verb in the reported speech is in the past tense. Common sense, together with the time aspect from the speakers point of view, are more important than the rules when. Direct and indirect speech rules pdf table of contents identify reported speech and reported speech direct and indirect speech punctuation rules use of conjunction that rules for changing pronouns in indirect speech indirect speech rules for all tenses rules for change in time and adverb in indirect speech. For example, present simple goes back one tense to past simple. For example, present tenses become past, i becomes he or she, and my becomes his or her, etc.
Future perfect simple and continuous progressive tense. When the introductory verb the main verb is in the present tense, the verb of the words we are reporting doesn. The general rule is that present tenses in direct speech change to past tenses in reported speech. English grammar reported speech 3 all those changes represent the distancing effect of the reported speech. When we convert from direct speech to indirect speech, the tense of the sentence changes. Reported speech is how we represent the speech of other people or what we ourselves say direct speech repeats the exact words the person used, or how we remember their words ex. Reported speech english grammar today a reference to written and spoken english grammar and usage cambridge dictionary. The simple past tense usually changes to the past perfect in reported speech. Reported speech in different english tenses exercise. Point out that in formal reported speech, the tenses go back in time one tense. Reported speech learnenglish teens british council. To do that, we need to change verb tenses present, past, etc. He says, i work for my company he said that he worked for my company.
They contain absolutely everything you need to learn or teach direct and reported speech. Microsoft word main changes from direct speech to reported speech. Click here for a mixed tense exercise about practise reported statements. Present simple past simple present continuous past continuous past simple past perfect. Barbara said she hadnt realised it was midnight if you have a sentence in direct. Direct and indirect speech are two types of reported speech which, you guessed it, are used to report someone elses words. Formal and informal english politeness or colloquial language future continuous tense. So now you have no problem with making reported speech from positive and negative sentences. Reported speech english grammar today cambridge dictionary. Reported speech is often also called indirect speech.
In indirect speech, the original speakers words are changed ex. English grammar pdf worksheet on reported questions. When there is a modal verb in the original statement, suggestion, etc. Modal verbs in reported speech exercises modals exercises pdf. Mind the introductory sentences and backshift of tenses. Changing direct speech to reported indirect speech can be difficult because of the verb tense changes required. Tense changes when using reported speech english grammar. Likewise, when the reporting verb is in a present or future tense, no changes of tense take place. In fact, its not so different from reported statements. We sometimes change the tense of the reported clause by moving it back one tense. Contents warmup activity power point slides 17 student exercises 1 and 2. The past perfect tense does not change in the reported speech.
Learn how to use direct and indirect speech and tense changes when using reported speech. Are you feeling past continuous simple past i was there last year. Do you need to show how the tense backshift works in reported speech in one place. Sometimes there are no tense changes in indirect speech if. Keep reading to understand how to use reported speech and download this free english lesson. But when the introductory verb is in the past tense, some verbal changes are. Indirect speech requires a reporting verb to take the place of the quotation marks used in direct.
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