Reported Speech: The Grammar Gameshow Episode 25

Summary

In this lively and humorous grammar game show, host Will and his contestants, Bill and Nana Will, explore the topic of reported speech. Through playful banter and engaging interactions, they cover key grammar points, including the most common verbs in reported speech (say, tell, ask), tense changes, and adjustments to subjective words like pronouns and time expressions. With a mix of education and entertainment, the show provides viewers with a fun way to understand the rules of reported speech, offering examples, quizzes, and a lively competition between the contestants.

Takeaways

• 😀 Reported speech is used to report what someone has said on a different occasion, often involving gossip, rumour, or hearsay.
• 😀 The three most common verbs used in reported speech are 'say,' 'tell,' and 'ask.'
• 😀 'Say' is used without a personal pronoun (e.g., 'Will said it was a big chicken'), while 'tell' requires a pronoun (e.g., 'Will told Nana Will it was a big chicken').
• 😀 'Ask' is used for reported questions and can be followed by 'if,' 'whether,' or a question word, depending on the type of question.
• 😀 When converting direct speech to reported speech, the tense generally 'rolls back' one step (present becomes past, past becomes past perfect).
• 😀 Some verb tenses (like the past perfect) and modal verbs (like 'would' or 'could') do not change when reported.
• 😀 If a statement in direct speech is still true at the time of reporting, no tense change is needed.
• 😀 Certain subjective words like pronouns and time/place references also change when converting direct speech to reported speech (e.g., 'here' becomes 'there', 'now' becomes 'then').
• 😀 A key exception to tense changes is when the reporting verb (say or tell) is in the present tense.
• 😀 The game show format combined humor, entertainment, and learning, with Nana Will's playful interactions providing comic relief while reinforcing grammar concepts.

Q & A

What are the three most commonly used verbs in reported speech grammar?

Say, tell, and ask.

What is a key characteristic of the verb 'say' in reported speech?

Say is commonly used without a personal pronoun, such as 'Will said it was a big chicken.'

What verb pattern is used with 'tell' in reported speech?

Tell must be followed by a pronoun and something that was said, like 'Will told Nana Will it was a big chicken.'

What is a common structure when using 'ask' in reported speech?

Ask can be followed by a pronoun and then 'if' or 'whether' for yes/no questions, or a question word for question word questions.

How do you change direct speech to reported speech in terms of tense?

In reported speech, the tense is usually 'rolled back' one step towards the past, such as present becomes past, and past becomes past perfect.

Which of the following does not need a tense change when converted to reported speech: 'I love my Nana.' or 'I will always listen to Nana Will.'?

'I love my Nana.' does not need a tense change because the situation remains true at the time of reporting.

What are some exceptions to the rule of changing tenses in reported speech?

The past perfect tense does not change, and verbs like 'would' and 'could' also remain unchanged. Additionally, if the situation reported is still true, no tense change is needed.

What happens to words like pronouns, place, and time expressions when shifting to reported speech?

Certain subjective words such as pronouns, place, and time expressions must change based on the context when converted to reported speech.

How does reported speech differ when the reporting verb is in the present tense?

When the reporting verb is in the present tense, no tense change is necessary in the direct speech being reported.

In the sentence 'He said “I’m here now.”', what is the reported speech version?

He said he was there then.