What is Reported Speech?

Reported speech (also known as indirect speech) is a way of conveying what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. Instead of using quotation marks and repeating the speaker’s words word-for-word, we paraphrase or summarize the original statement.

In reported speech, we often make changes to pronouns, verb tenses, and time expressions to fit the context of the new sentence.

Why is Reported Speech Important?

Reported speech is essential because it allows us to share information, stories, and conversations without repeating every word exactly. It is widely used in news reporting, storytelling, everyday conversations, and academic writing.

Imagine listening to a long conversation and then having to repeat every sentence verbatim! Instead, we use reported speech to summarize and convey the main points efficiently.

Direct Speech vs. Reported Speech

Direct speech involves quoting the speaker’s exact words, while reported speech involves rephrasing. Here’s a simple comparison:

Key Differences:

1. Quotation Marks: Direct speech uses quotation marks, while reported speech does not.

2. Tense Changes: The tense usually shifts back in reported speech (present to past).

3. Pronoun Changes: Pronouns often change based on the context (e.g., I → he/she).

4. Time and Place Expressions: Words like today and now often change (e.g., today → that day).

Example Sentences:

To make this concept clearer, here are some examples:

1. Direct Speech:

   • He said, “I am going to the store.”

   • She said, “I will visit you tomorrow.”

   • They said, “We are planning a trip.”

2. Reported Speech:

   • He said that he was going to the store.

   • She said that she would visit me the next day.

   • They said that they were planning a trip.

Tips for Using Reported Speech:

• Always pay attention to the context and time frame.

• Practice by taking a few sentences in direct speech and changing them to reported speech.

• Remember that the reporting verb (e.g., said, told) plays a crucial role in structuring the sentence.

• Use “that” after the reporting verb when forming reported statements (optional but common).

Quick Recap:

• Reported speech lets you paraphrase and summarize spoken or written words.

• It is commonly used in everyday conversations, storytelling, and formal writing.

• To change from direct to reported speech, you often need to adjust pronouns, tenses, and time expressions.

By the end of this section, you will be able to identify and correctly form sentences using reported speech, making your communication clearer and more effective.