Отправлено: 06.05.10 09:56. Заголовок: Indirect speech/reported speech

Indirect Speech (also referred to as 'reported speech') refers to a sentence reporting what someone has said. It is almost always used in spoken English.

* If the reporting verb (i.e. said) is in the past, the reported clause will be in a past form. This form is usually one step back into the past from the original.

For example:

o He said the test was difficult.
o She said she watched TV every day.
o Jack said he came to school every day.

* If simple present, present perfect or the future is used in the reporting verb (i.e. says) the tense is retained.

For example:

o He says the test is difficult.
o She has said that she watches TV every day.
o Jack will say that he comes to school every day.

* If reporting a general truth the present tense will be retained.

For example:The teacher said that phrasal verbs are very important.

Changing Pronouns and Time Signifiers

When changing from direct speech to indirect speech, it is often necessary to change the pronouns to match the subject of the sentence.

For example:

* She said, "I want to bring my children." BECOMES She said she wanted to bring her children.
* Jack said, "My wife went with me to the show." BECOMES Jack said his wife had gone with him to the show.

It is also important to change time words (signifiers) when referring to present, past or future time to match the moment of speaking.

For example:

* She said, "I want to bring my children tomorrow." BECOMES She said she wanted to bring her children the next day.
* Jack said, "My wife went with me to the show yesterday." BECOMES Jack said his wife had gone with him to the show the day before.

Indirect Questions

When reporting questions, it is especially important to pay attention to sentence order. When reporting yes/ no questions connect the reported question using 'if'. When reporting questions using question words (why, where, when, etc.) use the question word.

For example:

* She asked, "Do you want to come with me?" BECOMES She asked me if I wanted to come with her.
* Dave asked, "Where did you go last weekend?" BECOMES Dave asked me where I had gone the previous weekend.
* He asked, "Why are you studying English?" BECOMES She asked me why I was studying English.

The following chart includes sentences changed from quoted speech to reported speech using a past form. Note: simple past, present perfect, and past perfect all change to past perfect in the reported form.

He said, "I live in Paris." He said he lived in Paris.
He said, "I am cooking dinner." He said he was cooking dinner.
He said, "I have visted London twice." He said he had visited London twice.
He said, "I went to New York last week." He said he had gone to New York the week before.
He said, "I had already eaten." He said he had already eaten.
He said, "I am going to find a new job." He said he was going to find a new job.
He said, "I will give Jack a call." He said he would give Jack a call.

 Отправлено: 06.05.10 10:03. Заголовок: Time change If the ..

Time change

If the reported sentence contains an expression of time, you must change it to fit in with the time of reporting.

For example we need to change words like here and yesterday if they have different meanings at the time and place of reporting.

Today "Today's lesson is on presentations."
+ 24 hours - Indirect speech She said yesterday's lesson was on presentations.

Expressions of time if reported on a different day
this (evening) › that (evening)
today › yesterday ...
these (days) › those (days)
now › then
(a week) ago › (a week) before
last weekend › the weekend before last / the previous weekend
here › there
next (week) › the following (week)
tomorrow › the next/following day

In addition if you report something that someone said in a different place to where you heard it you must change the place (here) to the place (there).

For example:

At work How long have you worked here?"
At home She asked me how long I'd worked there.

 Отправлено: 06.05.10 10:06. Заголовок: Reporting Verbs Whe..

Reporting Verbs

When using reported speech, most students learn to use "say" and "tell":

Examples:

John told me he was going to stay late at work.
Peter said he wanted to visit his parents that weekend.

These forms are perfectly correct for reporting what others have said. However, there are a number of other reporting verbs which can more accurately describe what someone has said. These verbs take a variety of structures. The following list gives you reporting verbs in various categories based on sentence structure. Notice that a number of verbs can take more than one form.

verb object infinitive

advise
encourage
invite
remind
warn

Examples:
Jack encouraged me to look for a new job.

They invited all their friends to attend the presentation.

verb infinitive

agree
decide
offer
promise
refuse
threaten

Examples:
She offered to give him a lift to work.

My brother refused to take no for an answer.

verb (that)

admit
agree
decide
deny
explain
insist
promise
recommend
suggest

Examples:
Tom admitted (that) he had tried to leave early.

She agreed (that) we needed to reconsider our plans.

verb gerund

deny
recommend
suggest


Examples:
He denied having anything to do with her.

Ken suggested studying early in the morning.

verb object preposition gerund

accuse
blame
congratulate

Examples:
They accused the boys of cheating on the exam.

She blamed her husband for missing the train.

verb preposition gerund

apologize
insist


Examples:
He apologized for being late.

She insisted on doing the washing up.

 Отправлено: 06.05.10 10:49. Заголовок: How many of these se..

How many of these sentences can you transform using indirect speech?

1) John: "Mandy is at home."
2) Max: "Frank often reads a book."
3) Susan: "I'm watching TV."
4) Simon: "David was ill."
5) Peggy: "The girls helped in the house."
6) Richard: "I am going to ride a skateboard."
7) Stephen and Claire: "We have cleaned the windows."
8) Charles: "I didn't have time to do my homework."
9) Mrs Jones: "My mother will be 50 years old."
10) Jean: "The boss must sign the letter."