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Meaning & use

reported speech grammar

noun·Academic

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UK/rɪˌpɔːtɪd ˈspiːtʃ ˌɡræmə/
US/rɪˌpɔːrt̬ɪd ˈspiːtʃ ˌɡræmɚ/

Meanings

  1. noununcountabletechnical

    The set of rules for turning a speaker's exact words into a report of what was said, with matching tenses, pronouns and time words.

    Grammar: Used as an uncountable topic noun: 'Reported speech grammar is tested in Part 2.'

    Patterns

    • reported speech grammar rules
    • change direct speech into reported speech
    • in reported speech

    Reported speech grammar tells you to backshift the verb: 'I like it' becomes 'She said she liked it.'

    Our teacher gave us a worksheet on reported speech grammar with twenty sentences to rewrite.

    Getting reported speech grammar right means changing pronouns as well as tenses.

  2. noununcountable

    The study or practice of these rules in a particular language or course.

    Grammar: Often follows 'the' when you mean the grammar of one language: 'the reported speech grammar of English'.

    Patterns

    • the reported speech grammar of a language
    • learn reported speech grammar

    The reported speech grammar of English differs from that of German in how it handles the subjunctive.

    She teaches reported speech grammar to advanced classes every spring.

Common combinations

direct speech
Direct speech keeps the exact words inside quotation marks, unlike reported speech.
backshift the tense
In reported speech you usually backshift the tense: 'will' becomes 'would'.
reporting verb
Common reporting verbs are 'say', 'tell', 'claim' and 'explain'.
change the pronouns
When you report a sentence, you must change the pronouns to match the new speaker.
time and place words
Words like 'today' and 'here' often change to 'that day' and 'there' in reported speech.

Synonyms and how they differ

indirect speech
The more traditional name for the same thing; 'reported speech' is now the more common term in learner materials.
indirect discourse
A formal, mostly written term used in linguistics for the same structure.

Opposites

direct speech

Word family

report verb
To tell someone about something that happened or was said.
reporter noun
A person who gathers and presents news.
reporting clause noun
The part such as 'she said' that introduces the reported words.

Commonly confused: reported speech grammar or direct speech? reported speech grammar or reported question?

reported speech grammar vs direct speech

Direct speech repeats the original words in quotation marks; reported speech changes them to fit the reporter's sentence.

reported speech grammar vs reported question

A reported question is one type within reported speech; it uses statement word order, with no question mark.

Practice

Complete the reported version: "I will call you tomorrow," Tom said. → Tom said he ___ call me the next day.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “reported speech grammar”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.

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