Reported Speech

 

Reported Speech

Janpha Thadphoothon

What is Reported Speech?

Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is used to tell someone what another person said without quoting them directly. This involves changing the pronouns, verb tenses, and sometimes other words to match the context of the reporting.

Direct Speech vs. Reported Speech

Direct Speech:

- Directly quoting what someone said.

- Uses quotation marks.

- Example: She said, "I am happy."

Reported Speech:

- Paraphrasing what someone said.

- No quotation marks.

- Example: She said that she was happy.

How to Change Direct Speech to Reported Speech

1. Change of Pronouns:

   - Adjust pronouns to fit the perspective of the reporting speaker.

   - Example:

Direct: He said, "I am tired." 

Reported: He said that he was tired.

2. Change of Verb Tense:

   - Move the tense back one step into the past.

   - Example: 

     - Present Simple → Past Simple: "I eat" → he said that he ate

     - Present Continuous → Past Continuous: "I am eating" → he said that he was eating

     - Present Perfect → Past Perfect: "I have eaten" → he said that he had eaten.

3. Changes in Time and Place Words:

   - Adjust words that refer to time and place to fit the context.

   - Example: 

     - "now" → "then"

     - "today" → "that day"

     - "here" → "there"

4. Change of Questions:

   - Use the word "if" or "whether" for yes/no questions.

   - Example: Direct: She asked, "Are you coming?" 

              Reported: She asked if I was coming.

   - For WH-questions, use the question word.

   - Example: Direct: He asked, "Where do you live?"

              Reported: He asked where I lived.

5. Change of Requests and Commands:

   - Use "to" + infinitive for commands.

   - Example: Direct: He said, "Close the door."

              Reported: He told me to close the door.

   - Use "not to" + infinitive for negative commands.

   - Example: Direct: She said, "Don’t be late."

              Reported: She told me not to be late.

Examples

1. Statement:

   - Direct: She said, "I will go to the market."

   - Reported: She said that she would go to the market.

2. Question:

   - Direct: He asked, "Do you like pizza?"

   - Reported: He asked if I liked pizza.

3. Command:

   - Direct: They said, "Clean your room."

   - Reported: They told me to clean my room.

Exercises

1. Change the sentences from direct speech to reported speech:

   a. She said, "I am reading a book."

   b. He asked, "Where are you going?"

   c. They said, "We will help you."

   d. She asked, "Did you see the movie?"

   e. He said, "Don't touch that."

2. Convert these reported speech sentences back to direct speech:

   a. She said that she was reading a book.

   b. He asked where I was going.

   c. They said that they would help me.

   d. She asked if I had seen the movie.

   e. He told me not to touch that.

Answers to Exercises

1. Direct to Reported:

   a. She said that she was reading a book.

   b. He asked where I was going.

   c. They said that they would help me.

   d. She asked if I had seen the movie.

   e. He told me not to touch that.

2. Reported to Direct:

   a. She said, "I am reading a book."

   b. He asked, "Where are you going?"

   c. They said, "We will help you."

   d. She asked, "Did you see the movie?"

   e. He said, "Don't touch that."

They say Thai people are friendly and the food is great.

In the above sentence, "They say" is more like a general statement or common belief, not referring to a specific person or conversation.

The sentence is a simple statement about the reputation of Thai people and food.