Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)
Reported speech is used to tell someone what another person said without using their exact words. When we report speech, the tenses usually change.
1. Tense Changes
Simple Present → Simple Past: “I play” → He said he played. Present Continuous → Past Continuous: “I am playing” → He said he was playing. Simple Past → Past Perfect: “I played” → He said he had played. Present Perfect → Past Perfect: “I have played” → He said he had played. Will → Would: “I will play” → He said he would play. Can → Could: “I can play” → He said he could play. Must → Had to: “I must play” → He said he had to play.
2. Time and Place Changes
Now → then, today → that day, yesterday → the day before/the previous day, tomorrow → the next day/the following day, here → there, this → that, these → those, ago → before.
3. Reporting Verbs
Say + (that): “He said that he was tired.” Tell + person + (that): “He told me that he was tired.” Ask: for questions. Other verbs: explain, suggest, admit, promise, claim, insist, complain.
4. Questions in Reported Speech
Wh-questions: “Where do you live?” → He asked me where I lived. Yes/No questions: “Do you like it?” → He asked me if/whether I liked it. Word order changes to statement order (subject + verb) and question marks are removed.
5. Commands and Requests
Commands: “Sit down!” → He told me to sit down. Requests: “Please help me.” → He asked me to help him. Negative commands: “Don’t touch!” → He told me not to touch.
Exercices
1. Report: “I am studying English.” → He said …
2. Report: “Did you see the film?” → She asked …
3. Report: “Don’t be late!” → He told …
مدونة التربية و التعليم في الجزائر – دروس، فروض، نتائج امتحانات مدونة التربية والتعليم في الجزائر | تحضير الدروس، فروض واختبارات، نتائج البكالوريا وBEM، مسابقات التوظيف، والتوجيه المدرسي للطلاب وأولياء الأمور.