Following is a brief explanation of reported speech, which serves to give guidance on the use in each case
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Direct speech: When we tell exactly what someone else has said, we use the directstyle. With this style that the person has said is placed in quotes and must be word for word.
Ex:
- "I am going to London next week,"she said.
("Voy a Londres la semana que viene," ella dijo.)
- "Do you have a pen I could borrow," he asked.
("Tienes un bolígrafo que puedas prestarme," él preguntó.)
- "I love to dance." Alice said.
( "Me encanta bailar." Alice dijo)
- "Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow night?" Chris asked.
("Te gustaría cenar conmigo mañana por la noche?" Chris pregunto)
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INDIRECT SPEECH
Indirect Speech (also referred to as 'reported speech') refers to a sentence reporting what someone has said.
If we report what another person has said, we usually do not use the speaker’s exact words (direct speech), but reported (indirect) speech. Therefore, you need to learn how to transform direct speech into reported speech. The structure is a little different depending on whether you want to transform a statement, question or request.
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Verb tense changes also characterize other situations using indirect speech, we must follow the way of using the times indicated below:
| Direct Speech | Þ | Indirect Speech |
| simple presentHe said, “I go to school every day.” | Þ | simple pastHe said (that) he went to school every day. |
| simple past He said, “I went to school every day.” | Þ | past perfectHe said (that) he had gone to school every day. |
| present perfect He said, “I have gone to school every day.” | Þ | past perfect He said (that) he had gone to school every day. |
| present progressiveHe said, “I am going to school every day.” | Þ | past progressiveHe said (that) he was going to school every day. |
| past progressiveHe said, “I was going to school every day.” | Þ | perfect progressiveHe said (that) he had been going to school every day, |
| future (will)He said, “I will go to school every day.” | Þ | would + verb nameHe said (that) he would go to school every day. |
| future (going to)He said, “I am going to school every day.” | Þ | present progressiveHe said (that) he is going to school every day. |
| | past progressiveHe said (that) he was going to school every day |
| Direct Speech | Þ | Indirect Speech |
auxiliary + verb nameHe said, “Do you go to school every day?”
He said, “Where do you go to school?” | Þ | simple pastHe asked me if I went to school every day.*
He asked me where I went to school. |
| imperativeHe said, “Go to school every day.” | Þ | infinitiveHe said to go to school every day. |
Note than when a Yes/No question is being asked in direct speech, then a construction with if or whether is used. If a WH question is being asked, then use the WH to introduce the clause. Also note that with indirect speech, these are examples of embedded questions.
The situation changes if instead of the common said another part of the very to say is used. In that case the verb tenses usually remain the same. Some examples of this situation are given below.
| Direct Speech | Þ | Indirect Speech |
| simple present + simple presentHe says, “I go to school every day.” | Þ | simple present + simple presentHe says (that) he goes to school every day. |
| present perfect + simple presentHe has said, “I go to school every day.” | Þ | present perfect + simple presentHe has said (that) he goes to school every day. |
| past progressive + simple pastHe was saying, “I went to school every day.” | Þ | past progressive + simple pastHe was saying (that) he went to school every day. |
| | past progressive + past perfectHe was saying (that) he had gone to school every day. |
| future + simple presentHe will say, “I go to school every day.” | Þ | future + simple presentHe will say (that) he goes to school every day.
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Another situation is the one in which modal constructions are used.
If the verb said is used, then the form of the modal,
or another modal that has a past meaning is used.
| Direct Speech | Þ | Indirect Speech |
canHe said,
“I can go to school every day.” | Þ | couldHe said (that)
he could go to school every day. |
mayHe said,
“I may go to school every day.” | Þ | mightHe said (that)
he might go to school every day. |
mightHe said,
“I might go to school every day.” | | |
mustHe said,
“I must go to school every day.” | Þ | had toHe said (that)
he had to go to school every day. |
have toHe said,
“I have to go to school every day.” | | |
shouldHe said,
“I should go to school every day.” | Þ | shouldHe said (that)
he should go to school every day. |
ought toHe said,
“I ought to go to school every day.” | Þ | ought toHe said (that)
he ought to go to school every day.
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Reporting questions:
yes/no questions are reported using if. The verb doesn't have a questions form, but has the form of normal statement. these is no a questions mark.
- 'do you like the movies?'
Charles asked me if I liked the movies
Wh-questions are reported with the questions word.The verb has the form of a normal statement. These is no question mark
- 'Where are we going?'
I asked sue where we were going
Reporting polite questions:
We can use a phrase like Could you tell me or Do you know to ask for information in a polite way. Note the word order
-'Where is the station?'
'Could you tell me where the station is?'
When we report this kind of question we use ask and the usual tense change rules.
I asked him where the station
