Reported Speech

Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is a way of expressing what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. Instead of using quotation marks, reported speech often involves changes in pronouns, verb tenses, and other elements to fit the context of the reporting.

For example:

• Direct Speech: She said, "I am going to the market."
• Reported Speech: She said that she was going to the market.

Backshift of Tenses

When converting direct speech to reported speech, one important aspect to consider is the backshift of tenses.

• Present Simple to Past Simple:
• Direct: "I eat breakfast at 8 AM."
• Reported: He said that he ate breakfast at 8 AM.
• Present Continuous to Past Continuous:
• Direct: "She is reading a book."
• Reported: She said that she was reading a book.
• Present Perfect to Past Perfect:
• Direct: "They have finished their homework."
• Reported: They said that they had finished their homework.
• Past Simple to Past Perfect:
• Direct: "He went to the store."
• Reported: He said that he had gone to the store.
• Will to Would:
• Direct: "I will call you tomorrow."
• Reported: She said that she would call me tomorrow.