Lecture Notes: Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)

Overview

• Speaker: Arnell
• Topic: Understanding and using reported speech (also known as indirect speech) in English.
• Key Areas Covered:
  • Direct Speech
  • Back Shifting
  • Reporting Verbs
  • Modal Verbs
  • Reported Questions
  • Reported Commands

Direct Speech

• Definition: The exact words someone uses.
• Recognition in Writing: Quotation marks.
  • American English: Double quotation marks preferred.
  • British English: Single quotation marks preferred.
• Example: "I love your earrings."
  • Amy said, "I love your earrings."
  • Reported: Amy said she loved my earrings.
  • Changes Include:
    • Present simple to past simple (back shifting).
    • Pronoun changes (I -> she, your -> my).

Back Shifting

• Definition: Changing tenses when reporting speech.
• Why: Reflects the change in time and perspective.
• Examples:
  • "I forgot to do my homework." -> He told the teacher he had forgotten...
  • Present simple -> Past simple
  • Past simple -> Past perfect

Reporting Verbs

• Common Verbs: Say and tell.
  • Say: Can be used in direct speech; no need for "to someone."
  • Tell: Requires a recipient ("told you," "told him").
• Usage Examples:
  • "Why aren’t you going out tonight?" -> "I already said/told you I was sick."

Tenses in Reported Speech

• Present:
  • Present simple -> Past simple
  • Present continuous -> Past continuous
• Past:
  • Past perfect and past perfect continuous remain the same.
• Future:
  • Will -> Would

When Not to Backshift

• If the information is still true.
• If an event hasn't happened yet.
  • Example: "I live in the UK." -> She said she lives/lived in the UK.

Modal Verbs in Reported Speech

• Changes Include:
  • Will -> Would
  • Can -> Could
  • May (possibility) -> Might
  • May (permission) -> Could
  • Must (obligation) -> Had to
• No Change: Must (speculation)

Reported Questions

• Yes/No Questions:
  • Use "if" or "whether."
  • Example: "Are you a student?" -> She asked if I was a student.
• WH Questions:
  • Maintain question-word order (who, what, where, etc.).
  • Example: "Where do you live?" -> She asked where I lived.

Reported Commands

• Imperatives:
  • Structure: Tell + person + to + base verb
  • Example: "Sit down." -> My mom told me to sit down.

Conclusion

• Understanding reported speech involves mastering changes in tense, pronoun, and structure.
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