The part that is inside the quotation marks, is called reported speech. Reported speech also called indirect speech is used to communicate what someone else said, think or believe, but without using the exact words. Richard nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and english at georgia southern university and the author of several universitylevel grammar and composition textbooks. Reported speech rules and exercises for intermediate level. Note, however, that you might have to change the form of the present tense verb. This is very similar to the grammar of reported questions.
Note, however, that you might have to change the form of the present. Click here for a list of reported speech exercises. Say vs tell exercises subjunctive that clause reported speech examples 1 1. When reporting speech is used the tense usually has to be changed. Reported speech we use reported speech when we want to tell someone what someone said. We use reported speech to retell what someone told us earlier.
The worksheet is suitable for both classroom practice and selfstudy. Using reported speech in english can sometimes be difficult for nonnative speakers as we usually change the verbs, pronouns and specific times. 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. Reported speech grammar explanation games to learn. When you form the reported speech, you have to pay attention that the pronouns refer to the correct persons. The most widely used verbs in reported speech that introduce what someone said are say and tell. Indirect reported speech, doesnt use quotation marks to show what the person said and it doesnt have to be the exact words as what the person said. Sometimes someone says a sentence, for example im going to the cinema tonight.
We explained that it could be difficult to find our house. Frank said that he wanted to take a vacation around the world. Reported questions learn this grammar games to learn. The verbtell, requires the person addressed to be explicit they told me that he couldnt come. With direct speech, the statement question request is made directly. Tense changes when using reported speech normally, the tense in reported speech is one tense back in time from the tense in direct speech. Thats why when we remake direct speech into reported we need to go one tense back. They feel that there are many rules they have to follow and they often get confused.
Keep reading to understand how to use reported speech and download this free. In the second exercise, students should report the questions. In indirect speech we give the exact meaning of a remark or a speech, without necessarily using the speakers exact words. Reported questions if you use a question in reported speech, follow the steps described on our page reported speech summary changing of the person, backshift of tenses, shifting of expressions of timeplace.
Reported speech grammar explanation games to learn english. A complete grammar lesson explaining the use, changes of tense, pronouns, adverbs of time and place with examples. Reported speech worksheets, pdf exercises, handouts to print. Later, maybe we want to tell someone else what the first person said. We often make a speakers words or thoughts part of our own sentence, using conjunctions e. May 30, 2014 many students struggle with reported speech. Section 20 indirect speech page 281 language notes the explanations and exercises here are provided for students who really need them. Reported speech explanation perfect english grammar. English grammar reported speech 3 all those changes represent the distancing effect of the reported speech. Introduction there are two ways of relating what a person has said. Susan said that her parents were clever scientists. Instead of introducing this topic using a range of different tenses, stick with a very simple structure for this first lesson. Repeat the question word, or use if or whether for yes no questions. Reported speech summary reported commands and requests in english.
In reported speech, you often have to change the pronoun depending on who says what. Frank said, i want to take a vacation around the world. Really understand the english tenses with my tenses pdfs. In direct speech we repeat the original speakers exact words.
Do not change the tense if the introductory clause is in simple present e. However, for many learners indirect speech is mostly unproblematic. This grammar exercise tests your ability to use reported speech correctly. In direct speech we repeat exactly what someone said. Questions in reported speech english grammar online. Note speech recognition using a custom constraint is performed on the device. Answers these are the exact words frank said to you yesterday. Reported speech answers answers to reported speech. Reported speech exercises, pdf with answers and rules. Tenses in reported speech tenses in reported speech are more past because were not talking at the same time as the speake.
Reported questions say who was talking and use a reporting verb. Statement word order, change the pronouns and move the tense back if necessary. Reported speech is used to talk about things other people have said. Understanding and using english grammar, 3rd edition. Nov 08, 2016 the pdf file contains the exercises and the key. Use these sentences to give yourself a feel for how each word can be used, and maybe even to expose yourself to the grammar that you will be learning shortly. Youre absolutely right, one sentence is direct speech and one sentence is reported speech. This is because when we use reported speech, we are usually talking about a time in the past that is why verbs usually have.
Reported speech english grammar today cambridge dictionary. All downloads are in pdf format and consist of a worksheet and answer sheet to check your results. Reported speech definition in the cambridge english. Direct speech and reported speech indirect speech are used as follows. Home english grammar lessons indirect speech reported speech tense shift print exercises and lessons. There are also some important notes about the main rules to report statements. Changes of tenses, time and place in reported speech. Section 20 indirect speech oxford university press. Reported speech or indirect speech free english grammar. Rs004 reported speech indirect commands intermediate.
Choosing which one to use is a question of whether the person who was originally addressed is important or not, since with say this person is very rarely introduced into the conversation. Lots of reported speech exercises practise using free interactive quizzes. The teacher said to the boys, have you done your homework. The rules for changing the tense of the verb from direct speech are presented and practised. Their job is to use reported speech to relay the conversation to the recreators. In particular, tenses in indirect speech have nothing special about them. Reported speech present perfect continuous tense exercise. English grammar reported speech 1 reported speech direct and indirect or reported speech. He said i dont like football in reported speech, however, we tell what someone said without repeating his exact words. Download the following pdf file and open it with acrobat reader, otherwise the game will not work. This kind of structure is called indirect or reported speech. Reported speech is also known as indirect speech and is used to tell somebody else what another person said.
A custom grammar constraint based on a list of words or phrases defined in a speech recognition grammar specification srgs file that can be recognized by the speechrecognizer object. Indirect speech sometimes called reported speech, doesnt use quotation marks to enclose what the person said and it doesnt have to be word for word. We explained, it could be difficult to find our house. These modal verbs do not change in reported speech. I asked him whether he was going to file a complaint. However, we use indirect questions in a different way from reported questions. One element of that is direct and indirect speech, or when you are speaking about what someone else has said. There is mind map describing the basic rules, a video and two games to practise the grammar. Grammar worksheet reported speech from present simple questions. In the third exercise, students transform the reported questions into direct questions. Tense changes when using reported speech english grammar. One element of that is direct and indirect speech, or when.
Common sense, together with the time aspect from the speakers point of view, are more important than the rules when making the. Traditionally, two broad categories of reported speech have been recognized. The other one that is out of quoted marks, is called reporting speech. In this post i try to simplify the rules about the reported speech or indirect speech as much as possible. On the other hand, if the reporting verb is in the past tense, then usually we. The messengers should listen at least twice to the conversers, then go across the room to the recreators and tell them what they overheard, using reported speech. For pronouns, tenses and place time expressions see statements in reported speech. Reported questions so now you have no problem with making reported speech from positive and negative sentences. In reported speech the question becomes a statement.
It is also important that you use an indirect question in reported speech, i. A possible explanation for why your students used were in their answers might be that they had mistaken the subordinate closed interrogative if for a conditional if. Reported speech also called indirect speech is used to communicate what someone else said, but without using the exact words. When you form the reported speech, you have to pay attention that the pronouns refer to the correct persons examples. Reported speech is called indirect speech by some people.
Verbs in the present simple change to the past simple. This is a general view of direct and reported speech in different tenses as an english grammar lesson online for intermediate level students. Sep 29, 2015 51 videos play all 6 minute grammar improve your knowledge in just 6 minutes bbc learning english how to acquire any language not learn it. This is because when we use reported speech, we are usually talking about a time in the past because obviously the person who spoke originally. I said to him, are you going to file a complaint i said to him that if he was going to file a complaint. With reported speech, sombeody reports the statement question request. Mother said to the daughter, go and change your dress. I prepared this video for use in my middle school 4th year english class in austria, for 14 year olds, for the flipped classroom format. Reported speech worksheets pdf with answers english grammar. They are very, very common in english, especially when youre talking to someone you dont know.
When the main idea of a speakers words is reported by another person and the exact words are not quoted, it is called indirect speech or reported speech. However, a number of linguists have challenged this distinction, noting among other things that theres. Reported questions if you use a question in reported speech, follow the steps described on our page reported speech summary changing of the person, backshift of tenses, shifting of expressions of timeplace in reported speech the question becomes a statement. She asked me if i had studied reported speech before. Besides, note that instead of that you use the interrogative. Reported speech is the report of one speaker or writer on the words spoken, written, or thought by someone else. Quotation marks or inverted commas are used for direct speech. Reported speech exercises alex told that he was trying hard to solve that narration exercise.
Reported speech or indirect speech free english grammar lesson. Identify reported speech and reported speech before you move further, you must know the parts of direct speech. How to use reported questions in english grammar reference. Reported speech definition in the cambridge english dictionary. There is a related section in the 2002 reference grammar by huddleston and pullum et al. Grammar worksheet reported speech from present simple statements write the sentences using reported speech with answer key and grammar note on page 2 intermediate level approximately 10 15 minutes. In the first exercise, students match the reported questions with the direct questions. Learning to use proper grammar is an important part of studying the french language. This work is licensed under a creative commons attribution noncommercial noderivatives 4. In the first exercise, students match the reported questions with the direct questions in the second exercise, students should report the questions in the third exercise, students transform the reported questions into direct questions. Speechrecognitiongrammarfileconstraint class windows. Reported speech tense shifting chart showing indirect speech to direct speech tense shift present simple to past simple, present continuous to past continuous, etc. Change these direct questions into reported speech. February 25, 2016 sentences are given in direct speech.
This is a powerpoint presentation with sound to learn reported speech. Other people regard reported speech simply as one form of indirect speech. Tense changes when using reported speech english grammar ef. For exercises, you can reveal the answers first submit worksheet and print the page to have the exercise and the answers. Reported speech present perfect continuous tense exercise direct and indirect speech exercise present perfect continuous tense solved with answers pdf. Then do these exercises to check your understanding of reported speech. Reported speech english grammar today a reference to written and spoken english grammar and usage cambridge dictionary. Click on the english word to see information and examples of that word in use. Reported speech, which is also known as indirect speech, conveys the meaning of what was said earlier without a wordforword quote.
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