Blog Challenge: Reported Speech and Direct Speech

Yes, when you want to quote someone's words or thoughts, you can do it in two ways: 'direct speech' (quoting the exact words that were said) or 'reported speech' or 'indirect speech' (without quoting the exact words).

In reported speech, the tenses, pronouns and other words may be different from those in the original sentence, for example:

She said (to me), 'I love you.'

She said that she loved me.

Right, it can be so challenging for a learner to use a report structure correctly, but the good news is that you may not need to learn all the complicated rules about reported speech.

Note that in reported questions, the subject of the question comes before the verb, just as it does in affirmative sentences - 'question marks' are not used. for example:

He asked, 'Why do we need a blog challenge?'

He asked me why we needed a blog challenge.

Sample Paragraph

Expector would ask, 'Do you think it's a good idea to take a blog challenge?' As for me, I think it's a good idea - I really enjoyed his blog challenges. I still remember that Expector once said we should help each other or learn from one another. I wonder if other members asked why they needed to join us in a blog challenge. While most of the members may have enjoyed Expector's blog challenges, some may not think it's a good idea.

You turn... (I'll correct you if you really want to be correctly in public - I won't correct you if I fail to see the 'correction' tag.)

Dear Doc Expector,

I don't know what to write at the moment. I was trying to participate, but my writing ends unfinished. I admit that I still learn much about grammar, but this is a basic important grammar as I see many member are often be mistaken.

Once I have asked to Danny Teacher... In reported speech, we don't need to change the tense as long as it is still the fact. I also read a grammar book, that if we speak on the same day, we don't need to change the tenses.

That's why it's a little difficult for me to come up in writing with this important grammar. It is usually used to write a story in the past. I may end with the resume on my blog. hehe...

Thanks for your challenge. I will support with the comments soon for sure.

This is on the motivation of Tanya's writing challenge. This is also in response to Expector's writing challenge, because it pertains the reported as…

The other day my daughter came to me and said that she had a crush on a boy who lived in our neighborhood. I asked her to tell me who is he; she star…

Summer What a boring summer! Liesel thought. She had finished all the house works and there was nothing she could do after that. She decided to clim…

You need to be a member of MyEnglishClub to add comments!

Join MyEnglishClub

Comments

Expector Smith August 31, 2016 23:08

Thanks Mehboob!
Mahboob l محبوب August 31, 2016 6:48

Dear Expector
Expector Smith August 18, 2016 1:27

@Mishaikh

Great! I'll check it out now!

@Onee

Yes, sometimes you don't need to change the tenses even after past 'reporting' verbs (e.g. she said, I thought) - when we're reporting things which are still true at the time we report them, for example: 'She said she is Indonesian.' (She is still Indonesian now.)

When the reporting verb is future, present, or present perfect, the tenses in reported speech are usually the same (not changed).

Hope you get it!
Onee-chan August 17, 2016 15:09

Dear Doc Expector,

I don't know what to write at the moment. I was trying to participate, but my writing ends unfinished. I admit that I still learn much about grammar, but this is a basic important grammar as I see many member are often be mistaken.

Once I have asked to Danny Teacher... In reported speech, we don't need to change the tense as long as it is still the fact. I also read a grammar book, that if we speak on the same day, we don't need to change the tenses.

That's why it's a little difficult for me to come up in writing with this important grammar. It is usually used to write a story in the past. I may end with the resume on my blog. hehe...

Thanks for your challenge. I will support with the comments soon for sure.
Mishaikh August 17, 2016 10:46

Expector,

http://www.myenglishclub.com/profiles/blogs/my-300th-blog

This blog of mine is in reply to your as well as Tanya's writing challenge.

Would appreciate your comment/s'

My 300th Blog

This is on the motivation of Tanya's writing challenge. This is also in response to Expector's writing challenge, because it pertains the reported as…
Expector Smith August 15, 2016 1:47

Hi setareh,

I'll check it out now! Thanks!
setareh August 14, 2016 18:38

Dear Expector, please have a look at my writing. Thanks in advance.

http://www.myenglishclub.com/profiles/blogs/expector-smith-s-blog-c...

Expector Smith's Blog Challenge : Reported Speech and Direct Speech: To have crush on someone.

The other day my daughter came to me and said that she had a crush on a boy who lived in our neighborhood. I asked her to tell me who is he; she star…
Expector Smith August 13, 2016 11:19

Many thanks, Alice, Peppo, Shoba!
Shoba August 13, 2016 7:27

Sir Expector,

Thank you very much for giving us this opportunity. Direct speech seemed a bit easy, but I was getting confused when I was using the reported speech. Please be kind enough to correct my writing. Thank you!

http://www.myenglishclub.com/profiles/blogs/expector-s-blog-challen...

Expector's Blog Challenge : Reported speech and Direct speech (Making a mountain out of a molehill)

My friend Anju and I were standing in line to book tickets for a movie. It was getting longer than we expected and Anju was getting annoyed. She…
Peppo August 13, 2016 5:09

Dear Expector!

Here is my blog. Please check and give correction, Thank you :)

Expector Smith's Blog Challenge : Reported Speech and Direct Speech

Summer What a boring summer! Liesel thought. She had finished all the house works and there was nothing she could do after that. She decided to clim…

of 2

This reply was deleted.