Backshift is the changing of a tense to an earlier one after the past form of a reporting verb. Reported speech is also known as indirect speech and is used to tell somebody else what another person said. We need to transform pronouns, verb tenses using something called the sequence of tenses, and place and time words. Choosing which one to use is a question of whether the person who was originally addressed is important or not, since with say this person is very rarely introduced into the conversation.
Direct and indirect speech exercises with all forms of tenses for your easy study. Time and place must often change when going from direct to reported speech. Reported speech the words or thoughts of a person can be expressed through direct speech in this case we repeat the more or less exact words that were said or filtered through the language and the memory of the speaker, changing pronouns, tenses and other words if necessary. Download reported speech exercise with present tenses, past tense, future tenses and sequence of tenses. Rewrite the sentences so that they have the same meaning as the original. Additional information and exceptions in reported speech. With reported speech, the pattern is the following. For exercises, you can reveal the answers first submit worksheet and print the page to have the exercise and the answers. The other way of repeating what a person says is called reported speech. Aug 31, 2017 the 2008 film, the dark knight, tells the story of batman, a fictional superhero. Indirect speech can be introduced by a verb in a present tense. If the reported sentence deals with a fact or general truth, the present tense is can be retained example.
On the other hand, if the reporting verb is in the past tense, then usually we change the tenses in the reported speech. Billyjoe and josephine have left us after the party. T he introductory verb is in the present, present perfect or future. Which is the correct ending of the sentence in reported speech. The general rule is that reported speech backs up one verb tense.
These exercises are intended for the easy study of beginner and elementary english language learner. Reported speech part 1 statements espresso english. Choose from the drop down menu and mind the tenses of the reporting verbs. Once the matchup cards have been printed, cut them into individual cards. Most likely your students are guilty of hypercorrection. In indirect speech we give the exact meaning of a remark or a speech, without necessarily using the he said that he had lost his umbrella. Reported speech or indirect speech free english grammar. Reported speech reporting verbs write these sentences in another way using the words at the end of the line. Here are some exercises to help you practice and understand. Changes from direct speech to reported speech when the reporting verb is in a past tense1 direct speech reported speech tenses. Though, their example use of were could possibly be considered to be a dialectal extended use of irrealis were according to the 2002 cgel where the usual expectation for indirect reported speech would be either the backshifted preterite was or the nonbackshifted am. Improve your understanding of reported speech here.
Imagine you want to repeat sentences that you heard two weeks ago in another place. Tense changes when using reported speech english grammar. There are some changes to the verbs with reported speech. Click here to read the explanations about reported speech reported statements.
Julia said she was taking a course in german that year. Present continuous past continuous i am writing the newsletter, she said. Reported statements mixed exercise change this direct speech into reported speech. Reported speech tense change list direct speech reported speech simple present i live in paris. But more importantly, continuous tenses are used by speakers to organize information in certain. The most widely used verbs in reported speech that introduce what someone said are say and tell. No change in verb tenses in reported speech 7 e s l. This simple power point provides a quick oral revision of reported speech that can be used with a whole class letting students guess in. Past progressive is used to talk about things happening in the past and were not finished then. The tenses may not change if the statement is still relevant or if it is a universal truth. She said, there is a big pool with lots of alligators. Read morereported speech exercise with present simple tense.
Reported speech indirect speech in english summary. Examplesreferences for not changing tense when using. Here are 10 exercises to help you practice and learn about reported speech using mixed english tenses. Transform the following sentences into reported speech. Phrase in direct speech equivalent in reported speech. Indirect speech for imperative and exclamatory sentences change in pronoun in indirect speech change in time and adverb in indirect speech. For statements, we insert that after the say verb in the reported speech. When the sayask verb is in the present or future, the reported speech does not change. Normally, the tense in reported speech is one tense back in time from the tense in direct speech. In one of those situations, you should absolutely not change the time tenses. This page may help if you would like to see a simple list of the tense changes click here. Specifically, shall we use shall or should in sentence b. Direct speech is found in conversations in books, in plays and in quotations. For the interview activity, print enough of the reported speech interviews worksheets in.
Microsoft word main changes from direct speech to reported speech. However, there are many cases where it is ok not to change the tense e. Heres a list of all the reported speech exercises on this site. She said, i am reading english grammar book she said that i. Lets say you and your friend, rebecca, are eating dinner at a restaurant on. Quoted and reported speech san jose state university. We explained that it could be difficult to find our house. Interrogative clauses difficulties in reported speech direct and indirect interrogative forms. Change pronouns and expressions of time and place where necessary.
Direct and indirect practice present tense exercise with solved answers and available for free download pdf. The general rule is that present tenses in direct speech change to past tenses in reported speech. Reported speech exercises with all tenses pdf download. Backshift of tenses verb tenses direct speech reported speech pronounsverb tenses simple present do you i am a carpenter. Reported speech tense shifting chart showing indirect speech to direct speech tense shift present simple to past simple, present continuous to past continuous, etc. Please contact me if you have any questions or ntact me if you have any questions or comments.
Present simple past simple present continuous past continuous. He says, i work for my company he said that he worked for my company. Learn how to use direct and indirect speech and tense changes when using reported speech in english with useful grammar rules and example sentences. Using reported speech in english can sometimes be difficult for nonnative speakers as we usually change the verbs, pronouns and specific times. English tenses exercises simple present tense simple past tense present perfect past perfect future 1 future perfect goingtofuture active and passive voice if clauses conditionals reported speech english reported speech exercises. Im sure people are familiar with the rule that the tense is moved backward when using reported speech i. Backshift of tenses direct speech reported speech present simple past simple john is the reporter, he said. Reported statements mixed exercise perfect english grammar. This reported speech exercise looks at statements with the past simple. Are you feeling past continuous simple past i was there last year. Change of tenses in reported speech english grammar. Pdf in reported speech, a thatclause depending on a reporting verb in the past tense can under certain conditions use the present tense.
Our committee meets on the first monday of every month. Tenses and reported speech simple past simple present simple future simple examples thomas edison developed the first light bulb. Direct and indirect present simple tense practice exercise with answers. Benjamin says that he often has a big hamburger he often had a big hamburger. The verbtell, requires the person addressed to be explicit they told me that he couldnt come.
Modal verbs in indirect speech the modals would, should, could, might, ought and must are usually unchanged in indirect speech. On of the most important things that you must know is how to change the tenses of the verbs. Simple past present continuous im working at the moment. Im going on holiday next week being reported a short time laterthe same day as he said he is going on holiday next week, which in my opinion invalidates the. Reported speech and passive voice reported speech if we report what another person has said, we usually do not use the speakers exact words direct speech, but reported indirect spee. Englishparts of speechverbstensesprogressive tenses. If you want to check your answers click the three question marks.
Reported speech and present simple other english exercises on the same topic. Peter said that billyjoe and josephine them after the party. Reported speech exercise 9 perfect english grammar. Mind the introductory sentences and backshift of tenses. As we know, in the indirect speech, if the sentence starts in the past, there is often backshift of tenses in reported speech. We explained, it could be difficult to find our house. The primary theme of the presidents speech will be peace. If the sentence starts in the past, there is often backshift of tenses in reported speech.
Reported speech and the sequence of tenses polished paper. The 2008 film, the dark knight, tells the story of batman, a fictional superhero. Keep reading to understand how to use reported speech and download this free. Changes of tenses, time and place in reported speech. At one point in the movie, batmans enemy, the joker, says the following lines. She said that she might bring a friend to the party.
Mar 07, 2015 2 tenses if the sentence starts in the present, there is no backshift of tenses in reported speech. The students may notice that verb tenses change in reported speech. When changing from direct to indirect speech, you need to change the grammar in certain ways. Changing time and place references english grammar ef. You do not need to change the tense if the reporting verb is in the present, or if the original statement was about something that is still true, e. For facts that are always true, we dont have to shift back in time. The second theme of the speech is going to be prosperity. We often use reported speech when talking about a conversation that happened in the past. Tense direct speech reported speech present simple i like ice cream. These modal verbs do not change in reported speech. Reported speech is often also called indirect speech. Additional information and exceptions in reported speech learn english online free exercises, explanations, games, teaching materials and plenty of information on english language. Reported speech or indirect speech free english grammar lesson. If you move your mouse over the reported speech banners on the right, the reported speech of the text in red will appear in the box.
Backshift of tenses in reported speech online exercise. Tense, direct and reported speech, english direct indirect speech and tense. Pdf constraints on tense choice in reported speech researchgate. Direct and indirect speech basic rules indirect speech for question sentence indirect speech for modals i. Choose from the dropdown menu and mind the tenses of the reporting verbs. Tense, direct and reported speech english study here.
The progressive tenses or continuous tenses are used to talk about things that are happening at that moment. You do not need to change the time tenses in the following situations. Present progressive is used to talk about things happening now. Tense changes when using reported speech english grammar ef. Present simple reported statement exercise quite easy in pdf here.
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