REPORTED SPEECH in English - Indirect Speech | Reported Speech | Direct Speech (+ Free PDF & Quiz)

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the concepts of reported speech and direct speech in English, as covered in the video by English with Lucy. Understanding how to accurately use these forms of speech is crucial for effective communication. By the end of this guide, you will be able to convert direct speech into reported speech correctly and recognize the necessary grammatical changes.

Step 1: Understand Direct Speech

Direct speech involves quoting someone's exact words. It is typically enclosed in quotation marks.

Key Points:

• Direct speech format:
  • Example: She said, "I am going to the store."
• Use direct speech when you want to convey the speaker's exact words without alteration.

Step 2: Learn the Rules for Changing to Reported Speech

Reported speech, or indirect speech, paraphrases what someone has said without quoting their exact words.

Key Rules:

• Remove quotation marks.
• Change pronouns to match the perspective of the speaker.
• Adjust the verb tense according to the following guidelines:
  • Present simple to past simple
  • Present continuous to past continuous
  • Present perfect to past perfect

Example Transformation:

• Direct Speech: "I am happy."
• Reported Speech: She said that she was happy.

Step 3: Distinguish Between 'Said' and 'Told'

While both 'said' and 'told' are used in reported speech, they are not interchangeable.

Usage Guidelines:

• Use 'said' for general statements.
  • Example: He said he was tired.
• Use 'told' when the listener is specified.
  • Example: He told me he was tired.

Step 4: Apply Tense Changes

Make sure to change the verb tense appropriately when converting direct speech to reported speech.

Common Tense Changes:

• Present Simple → Past Simple
  • "She goes to school" → She said she went to school.
• Present Continuous → Past Continuous
  • "She is going to school" → She said she was going to school.
• Present Perfect → Past Perfect
  • "She has finished her homework" → She said she had finished her homework.

Step 5: Practice with Examples

To solidify your understanding, practice converting the following direct speech examples into reported speech.

Practice Examples:

1. Direct Speech: "I will call you tomorrow."

   • Reported Speech: He said that he would call me the next day.

2. Direct Speech: "They are playing football."

   • Reported Speech: She said that they were playing football.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you should now have a solid grasp of how to use reported and direct speech in English. Remember to practice regularly to reinforce these concepts. For more resources, consider downloading the free PDF linked in the video description and take the quiz to test your knowledge. Happy learning!