Understanding Reported Speech Essentials

May 3, 2024

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Class Notes on Reported Speech

Summary

In today's class, we covered the concept of Reported Speech in English. The goal was to simplify the understanding of reported speech so students can use it confidently. A comprehensive guide and a quiz on reported speech are provided in a free PDF available through a sign-up link shared during the class.

Key Points

  1. Basics of Reported Speech:

    • Direct Speech Example: "I like chocolate."
    • To convert into reported speech, follow three main rules:
      1. Add a reporting verb (e.g., "said" or "told").
      2. Backshift the tense (move the tense back by one stage in time).
      3. Change the pronouns to match the perspective.

  2. Converting to Reported Speech:

    • Example Conversion:
      • Direct: "I like chocolate."
      • Reported: "She said that she liked chocolate."
        • Added "said" as the reporting verb.
        • Backshifted "like" to "liked."
        • Changed "I" to "she."

  3. Usage of Reporting Verbs:

    • Common reporting verbs include "say" and "tell."
    • Example:
      • "She said that she loved the movie." or "She said she loved the movie."
      • When using "tell": "She told me that she loved the movie."

  4. Structure when using 'tell':

    • Always include the person you are reporting to.
    • Example: "She told me that she loved the movie."

  5. Backshift in Tenses:

    • When changing perspective, tenses are generally shifted back:
      • Present Simple to Past Simple (e.g., "I run" to "He said that he ran.")
      • Present Continuous to Past Continuous.
      • Present Perfect to Past Perfect.
    • No change in tense is necessary for Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous.
    • Future tenses ("will") change to "would."

  6. Examples for Practice:

    • Convert from "I plan to visit" to "Lucy said that she planned to visit."
    • Convert "I am studying" to "Lucy said that she was studying."
    • Convert "I have finished" to "Lucy said that she had finished."

  7. Exceptions:

    • Tenses do not always need to be changed if the information is still current or is a habit.

Additional Resources

  • PDF Guide: Includes comprehensive rules, a quiz for practice, and a tense conversion list.
  • Courses and Offers:
    • British English Pronunciation course offering a discount with code YOUTUBE10.
    • Free lesson PDFs and updates for those who sign up for the mailing list.

Further Learning

  • Follow instructor on social media for more learning content and listen to subtitled vlogs for listening practice and vocabulary acquisition.

Please download the PDF for detailed explanations and exercises to consolidate your learning further!