Grammar Topic
Reported (Indirect) Speech
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Explanation
Reported speech reports what someone said without using their exact words. Tense, pronouns, and time/place words shift when converting from direct to reported speech.
Tense shifts: Present Simple -> Past Simple, Present Continuous -> Past Continuous, Past Simple -> Past Perfect, Will -> Would, Can -> Could, May -> Might.
Pronoun changes: 'I am tired' -> She said she was tired.
Time/place word changes: today -> that day, tomorrow -> the next day, here -> there, this -> that.
Reporting verbs: said, told (+ person), asked, suggested, ordered, promised, warned.
Reported questions: Yes/no questions use 'if' or 'whether': 'Do you like coffee?' -> She asked if I liked coffee. Wh-questions keep the question word: 'Where do you live?' -> He asked where I lived.
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Examples
Direct: 'I am tired.' -> She said she was tired.
Direct: 'I will help you.' -> He said he would help me.
Direct: 'Where do you live?' -> He asked where I lived.
Direct: 'Do you like coffee?' -> She asked if I liked coffee.
Direct: 'I have finished.' -> She said she had finished.
Direct: 'I can swim.' -> He said he could swim.
Direct: 'Don't go there.' -> She told me not to go there.
Direct: 'Please help me.' -> She asked me to help her.
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Test Your Knowledge
Mini Quiz
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Convert to Indirect: John said, 'I am feeling tired.'
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