“speech which tells you what someone said, but does not use the person’s actual words. — The Collins Dictionary
Formula of Reported Speech In direct speech Yes/no question we a dd the word “ if ” or “ whether ” or not “ Statement Request T he form of commands, invitations, or requestsuses 'to' or 'not to Orders Question This question sentence using 5W+1H can be changed to indirect speech by moving the modal to behind the subject . 1 3 4 2 A dding the word 'say/said‘ or 'tell/told'.
EXAMPLE 1. Statement “ I am living in London ” ; → She said that she was living in London . 2. Request “ Please facilitate me . ” → She asked Me to help her. 3. Orders “Do you fancy the dinner?” → He asked me if I enjoyed the dinner. 4. Question W here does one live ? → She asked Me where I lived.
Change of Pronouns Change of Modal Verbs Tranforming Direct Speech into R eported Speech
Changes of T enses Changes in tenses in direct speech must be changed to another form so that indirect speech is more easily accepted. Among them: Present tense → tense Present continuous → past continuous Present good → good perfect Simple future → past future Simple past → perfect tense Past continuous → perfect continuous Will → would, got to May → might, might