🔥 Master Reported Speech in 15 minutes! (3 Simple Steps)

Summary

This video explains the basics of reported speech, breaking it down into three simple rules: using a reporting verb, backshifting tenses, and changing pronouns. The video demonstrates how direct speech, such as quoting someone's words, is transformed into reported speech, where the speaker's exact words are not used. It also covers common mistakes, such as using 'say' instead of 'tell', and includes detailed explanations on backshifting tenses for different verb forms, as well as reporting commands and questions. Lastly, it addresses how to handle modal verbs in reported speech.

Takeaways

• 😀 Reported speech is an easier way to convey someone's words indirectly, and it can be done using three simple rules.
• 😀 Rule 1: A reporting verb (like 'say', 'tell', or 'ask') is essential to start reported speech. Avoid mistakes by using 'tell' with a person and 'say' without one.
• 😀 Rule 2: Backshifting is the process of changing the tense of the main verb when converting direct speech to reported speech.
• 😀 Rule 3: Pronouns need to be adjusted to reflect who is speaking and to whom.
• 😀 When converting direct speech into reported speech, 'that' is optional after verbs like 'say' or 'tell'.
• 😀 Tenses in direct speech change in reported speech (e.g., present simple to past simple, present continuous to past continuous).
• 😀 Modal verbs also change when reporting speech (e.g., 'can' becomes 'could', 'may' becomes 'might').
• 😀 Commands or imperatives are reported using the infinitive form of the verb and the verb 'tell'. For polite commands, use 'ask'.
• 😀 Reported questions require the reporting verb 'ask', and the word order changes from a question format to a statement format.
• 😀 For open questions (like 'What is your name?'), use a question word in reported speech (e.g., 'He asked where I was going').
• 😀 Advanced reported speech includes handling modal verbs (e.g., 'should', 'might') which do not change in reported speech.

Q & A

What is reported speech?

Reported speech is a way of conveying what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. Instead of using direct speech with quotation marks, we report what was said using our own words.

What are the three rules for using reported speech?

The three rules for using reported speech are: 1) Using a reporting verb like 'say', 'tell', or 'ask'; 2) Changing the tense of the main verb (backshifting); 3) Changing the pronoun to reflect who is speaking and to whom they are speaking.

What is the difference between 'say' and 'tell' in reported speech?

'Say' is used without a person directly following it, while 'tell' requires a person after it. For example, 'He said I could go' is incorrect, but 'He told me I could go' is correct.

What does 'backshifting' mean in the context of reported speech?

Backshifting refers to the process of changing the tense of the main verb to reflect the shift from direct to reported speech. This often involves moving a verb one tense back in time, such as changing present simple to past simple.

How does backshifting apply to present continuous and present perfect?

In backshifting, present continuous changes to past continuous (e.g., 'We are joining' becomes 'They were joining'), and present perfect changes to past perfect (e.g., 'I have been here' becomes 'He had been there').

What happens to the future tenses when reporting speech?

In reported speech, future tenses are simplified by changing 'will' to 'would'. For example, 'I will clean my car' becomes 'She said she would clean her car'. This applies to all four future tenses.

How are reported commands different from reported speech for statements?

Reported commands use the infinitive form of the verb, and the reporting verb 'tell' is used. For example, 'Get some milk' becomes 'He told me to get some milk'.

How do you report polite commands with 'please'?

For polite commands with 'please', the reporting verb 'ask' is used instead of 'tell'. For example, 'Please sit down' becomes 'He asked us to sit down.'

How do you report yes/no questions in reported speech?

For yes/no questions, we start with 'ask' and use 'if' or 'whether' to connect the question to the reported speech. For example, 'Are you coming?' becomes 'He asked if I was coming.'

How are modal verbs handled in reported speech?

Most modal verbs change in reported speech. For example, 'can' becomes 'could', 'may' becomes 'might', 'must' becomes 'had to', and 'have to' becomes 'had to'. However, modals like 'should' and 'would' do not change.