REPORTED SPEECH | INDIRECT SPEECH | DIRECT SPEECH - statements, questions, commands

Summary

This video lesson covers reported speech, also known as indirect speech. It explains the key elements, including direct speech, backshifting, reporting verbs, modal verbs, reported questions, and commands. The presenter demonstrates how to convert direct speech into reported speech, focusing on changing tenses, pronouns, and adverbs when necessary. Key concepts like backshifting (moving one tense back) and handling modal verbs (e.g., 'will' to 'would') are explored. Additionally, the lesson clarifies reporting yes/no questions, WH-questions, and commands. The video offers step-by-step guidance, making complex grammar concepts easier to understand.

Takeaways

• 😀 Direct speech uses exact words with quotation marks, e.g., 'I love your earrings.'
• 📅 Backshifting changes the tense of direct speech when reporting, such as present simple to past simple.
• 🔄 Pronouns and adverbs may change in reported speech to reflect the speaker's perspective.
• 📝 Reporting verbs like 'say' and 'tell' are crucial in reported speech, with 'tell' always requiring a direct object.
• 🎓 When reporting past events, past simple often changes to past perfect.
• 💡 Future tenses in direct speech use 'will,' which changes to 'would' in reported speech.
• 🔊 Modal verbs often change in reported speech, e.g., 'will' becomes 'would,' 'can' becomes 'could.'
• ❓ Reported questions require restructuring, removing auxiliary verbs and avoiding question marks.
• ✋ Imperative commands are reported using 'tell' + object + infinitive, e.g., 'She told me to sit down.'
• 🕰 Tenses don't always change if the reported information is still true or relevant in the present.

Q & A

What is the difference between direct speech and reported (indirect) speech?

Direct speech uses the exact words spoken, often enclosed in quotation marks. Reported speech summarizes what someone said, and often involves changing the pronouns and verb tenses.

What is 'back shifting' in reported speech?

Back shifting is the process of changing the tense in reported speech to reflect that the statement was made in the past. For example, present simple changes to past simple.

Why do we backshift tenses in reported speech?

We backshift tenses to indicate that the speech happened in the past. It helps to maintain the logic of time in the sentence when reporting what someone else said.

What is the rule for using the verbs 'say' and 'tell' in reported speech?

'Say' is used without specifying who the speech is directed to, while 'tell' requires a direct object, indicating the person being spoken to. For example, 'She said she was tired' vs. 'She told me she was tired.'

Do you always need to change the pronouns in reported speech?

No, you don't always need to change pronouns. If the speaker and the person reporting the speech are the same, pronouns might stay the same.

What happens to modal verbs like 'can' and 'will' when they are reported?

Modal verbs change in reported speech. For example, 'can' becomes 'could,' 'will' becomes 'would,' and 'may' becomes 'might.'

When reporting speech, do you always need to change the tense of the verbs?

No, tense change is not required if the statement is still true or if the event hasn't happened yet. For instance, 'She said she lives in the UK' stays the same if it's still true.

How are yes/no questions reported in indirect speech?

Yes/no questions are reported using 'if' or 'whether.' For example, 'Are you coming?' becomes 'She asked if I was coming.' The structure changes to a statement.

How are WH-questions (who, what, where, etc.) reported in indirect speech?

WH-questions are reported by keeping the question word but changing the structure to subject-verb. For example, 'Where do you live?' becomes 'She asked where I lived.'

How do you report commands and imperatives in indirect speech?

Imperatives are reported using 'tell' plus the infinitive form of the verb. For example, 'Sit down!' becomes 'She told me to sit down.' If it's a negative command, use 'not to.'