There are two main ways to report someone's words: direct speech uses exact words, while indirect speech makes the words part of the reporting sentence by changing pronouns, tenses, and other words as needed based on changes in situation. Basic rules for indirect speech include changing pronouns and tenses to reflect a change in speaker or time. Reported questions do not use question marks or auxiliary "do", and yes/no questions are reported with "if/whether" while wh-questions use the interrogative without inversion. Certain verbs like "promise" and "order" are reported with infinitives or object + infinitive when reporting actions.

1. REPORTED SPEECH

2. INTRODUCTION There are two main ways of reporting people’s words, thoughts, beliefs, etc: ‘ direct speech’: We can give the exact words that were said. So he said, ‘ I want to go home ’, and just walked out. ‘ indirect speech’: We can make a speaker’s words part of our sentence, using conjunctions, and changing pronouns, tenses and other words where necessary So he said that he wanted to go home , and just walked out .

3. Basic Rules for Indirect Speech Change of situation Words that are spoken or thought in one place at a different time, and perhaps by another person. These changes are mostly natural and logical. Bill (on Saturday evening): I don’t like this party. I want to go home now . Peter (on Sunday morning): Bill said that he didn’t like the party, and he wanted to go home right away .

4. Pronouns A change of speaker may mean a change of pronoun. “ Here and now” words A change of place and time may mean changing words like here, this, now, today. Tenses A change of time may mean a change of tense: the person reporting uses tenses that relate to the time when s/he is making the report, not to the time when the original words were used. So after past reporting verbs, the verbs of the original speech are usually ‘backshifted’-made more past.

5. Sometimes this means that past verbs are used to talk about the present or the future. Your mother said that I could play here today. After present, future and present perfect reporting verbs, tenses are usually the same as in the original (because there is no important change of time). He says he doesn’t want to play any more.

6. Reported Questions The subject normally comes before the verb in Standard English, and auxiliary do is not used (except in negative questions). The same structure is used for reporting the answers to questions. He wanted to know when I was leaving (not…*when was I leaving) Question marks are not used in reported questions We asked where the money was

7. Yes/No questions are reported with if or whether The driver asked if/whether I wanted the town centre. I don’t know if/whether I can help you. Wh-Questions used the interrogative particle insteaf of if/whether, but there’s no inversion either I asked who has led the research A reporter asked what the names of the offenders were . Say and tell are not used to report questions

8. Actions: promises, orders, requests, advice, etc.. Speech relating to actions (e.g. promises, agreements, orders, offers, requests, advice and suggestion) is often reported with infinitives, or object + infinitive. He promised to write She agreed to wait for me I told Andrew to be careful Ann has offered to baby-sit tonight The policeman told me not to park there I advise you to think again before you decide. When we use the verbs ‘suggest’ or ‘recommend’ in the past, we use the verb in gerund or a that-clause + subject+ vb in base form Beth suggested going to the theatre The doctor recommended that Paul should stay in bed.

9. Reporting Verbs Say, tell and ask only introduce the message without adding more information. Affirmative: claim, answer, admit, agree, boast, apologise, complain, declare, deny, explain, inform, insist, offer, mention, promise, refuse, remind, reply Questions: enquire, request, want to know, wonder Command: order, shout, demand, warn Beggin: beg Suggestions: advise, suggest, recommend, invite.