Reported Speech

REPORTED SPEECH

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REPORTED SPEECH

INTRODUCTION.

Exercises in translating passages of direct speech into reported speech should not be treated as mere practice in mental gymnastics. Exercises of this type are really essays in comprehension and flexibility of expression. The following observations are offered as having particular relevance to the exercises that follow: 1. There aremany verbs besides say and tell that can be used in reported speech and that are often more expressive than these two rather neutral verbs. a. Some verbs used in direct speech cannot be used in reported speech, and have to be expressed with said and an appropriate adverb of manner indicating the way in which something was said. b. Sometimes the tone of the original can be preserved in thereported version only by the use of said, again with an appropriate adverb of manner. Tenses are not always changed mechanically when speech is reported. It is especially important to remember this when dealing with conditionals. In longer passages particularly, it is most important to preserve the spirit of the original, and this consideration should be before a strict adherence to the form. Studentsmust, therefore, not only understand the content but also appreciate the style and tone of the original if their own version is not to sound flat or unnatural by comparison.

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IMPERATIVE SAY. Usually with the actual words spoken. It is never used with the infinitive in reported speech. TELL. Never used in a sense of recount, with the actual words spoken. A personal object isalways present. Imperatives become infinitive phrases in reported speech preceded by a verb such as tell, order, command, ask, with a (pro)noun for the person addressed. Bring me a book. He asked her (him, us, etc.) to bring him a book.

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REPORTED SPEECH STATEMENT.

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When the reporting verb is in the PRESENT SIMPLE, PRESENT PERFECT, or FUTURE SIMPLE tense, there is no change oftense in the words reported. Notice only the necessary change of person. I am very sorry. He will tell you He says (that) he is very sorry. He has just told me

When the reporting verb is in the PAST SIMPLE or, PAST PERFECT tense, or is in a should/would form, the words reported are viewed in a different perspective. The speech is now remote, and seen as relating a sequence of events happening inthe past, the tenses being changed accordingly. I am a student, and I have studied for three years. He said (that) he was a student and had studied for three years. So the following tense changes are automatic after past tense reporting verbs:

DIRECT SPEECH Present continuous Present simple Present perfect Past perfect Past simple Past continuous shall/will Can Could Must Should Ought to MayImperative

REPORTED SPEECH Past continuous Past simple Past perfect No change Past perfect No change (usually) Would Could No change Had to or no change No change No change Might Infinitive

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Adverbs of time and place and a few other expressions also change. Here are some examples (to be taken as convenient equivalents, not as rules):

Speaker's wordsTomorrow Yesterday Here This/that This morning today Tonight Next/on Tuesday Last Tuesday The day after tomorrow Ago

Reported Statement The next day/the following day The day before There The That morning That day That night The following Tuesday The previous Tuesday In two day's time Before/previously

But these equivalents should be used with common sense. This vehicle isn't safe. He said that thevehicle was not safe. (the not that unless this is stressed). And is not always necessary to use any equivalent at all, as the past tense of the introducing verb is often quite sufficient. I am coming to see you now. He said he was coming to see me. (then is not wanted) Must: In ordinary speech must has three possible meanings, each of which has a different form when reported. Can and needn't...