Questions tagged [reported-speech]
For questions about the report of one speaker or writer on the words spoken, written, or thought by someone else.
0
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0answers
65 views
“Where my sister was” vs. “Where was my sister”
He asked me: Where my sister was.
or
He asked me: Where was my sister.
Are both correct? If one of them is not correct, what is the reason for that?
0
votes
1answer
28 views
The relation between direct and indirect speech
‘Mary, I want to take you out to dinner,’ he had lied, to break the
frost.
I would like to know what is the syntactic relation between the direct and indirect speech - whether there is any kind of ...
2
votes
4answers
385 views
Difference Had been Twins and Were Twins
What is the meaning of below sentence ?
a) I asked if he and my father had been twins.
Does it mean
b) I asked if he and my father were twins.
If Yes , then when to use a) and when b) ?
0
votes
1answer
22 views
Tense in imperative sentence
My question is :The officer said to the peon ,"Let the boy come in".
Its indirect speech: Option 1-The officer ordered the peon to let the boy come in.
or
...
1
vote
1answer
32 views
Which one is the correct form of reported speech for the following sentence?
Which one is the correct form of reported speech for the following sentence? why?
"When were you born?", he asked him.
=>
1- He asked him when he had been born.
2- He asked him when he was born....
2
votes
2answers
49 views
Reporting a sentence with an 'if' condition
If someone said, for example,
"I will not cry if I lose"
how could I report their speech correctly?
He said he wouldn't cry if he ... (loses or lost ?)
The same question about another sentence:
...
2
votes
1answer
35 views
Converting Direct Speech to Indirect Speech - “Our” to “Their”
Today, my teacher gave me a few rules on changing direct speech to indirect speech. One of the rules was -
1) Change pronouns - "Our" changes to "Their".
After this I was given an exercise. I was ...
2
votes
1answer
34 views
“Have” or “had” in “She told them to raise their hands if they HAVE a question”?
My problem is regarding indirect speech.
She told them to raise their hands if they have a question.
Is this sentence grammatically wrong?
If this sentence is correct, is there basis or evidence?
...
1
vote
2answers
53 views
What is the correct and more-native position of the word 'are' in the following sentences?
What is the correct and more-native position of the word 'are' in the following sentences?
*someone asked me what are my plans for halloween
*someone asked me what my plans for halloween are
1
vote
1answer
24 views
Changing to indirect speech without affecting the meaning
I'm trying to convert these two sentences into indirect speech. I tried not to distort the meaning, but the results sound unnatural. Could anyone provide any better solutions?
"Is that the doorbell?...
0
votes
1answer
21 views
Time Reference in Reported Speech?
I quote what is written down in bold from a grammar book:
"Time reference changes when we use reported speech.
For example:
Anne said, ‘I’m going swimming this afternoon.’ ➟ Anne told me that she was ...
3
votes
1answer
110 views
“she was raped” or “she had been raped” in this reported speech
A) A 21 year old girl studying in Vidynagar alleged that she was raped by a boy in a hotel in the city on August 23. Based on above complaint police arrested accuse.
B) A 21 year old girl ...
0
votes
1answer
26 views
Are both of these sentences correct?
I have to transform the following sentence into indirect speech:
'I haven't got any money',he said
My transformation is :
He said he hadn't got any money.
The answer key only lists
He said ...
0
votes
2answers
24 views
Past simple for a reported speech still true
Jenny said she had a problem with the modern world
The original sentence said by Jenny was "I have a problem with the modern world." This is true when Jenny said it but when it is reported is it ...
0
votes
1answer
67 views
Why is “will” used instead of “would” in “He said he will do everything in his power…”?
He said he will do everything in his power to make sure the problems is not repeated.
Source: VOA Standard English, 0516-2013
Why the bold words are not "would" and "were"?
The speaker ...
1
vote
3answers
89 views
Change possible habitual actions to indirect speech
Hi I recently took an exam but got one wrong. However, I think that I'm right and the answer could be wrong.
The question
The elephant asked, "Mr. Crocodile, will you tell me what you have for ...
2
votes
1answer
36 views
Reported Speech for simple past, Simple past or past perfect?
A dead body was found and neighbors informed the police about it. How to construct Sentence in Reported speech.
a) Police Said that neighbors informed them that the body had been found on the ...
0
votes
1answer
45 views
Indirect speech: If Pres.Perf. becomes Past Perf. and Past Simple also becomes Past Perf. What was in direct sentence?
Could you please help me to realize the reverse operation. If Pres.Perf. becomes Past Perf. and Past Simple also becomes Past Perf. how can I define what was in direct speech?
For example: Indirect ...
0
votes
1answer
60 views
Past continuous in reported speech
I am confused with present continous tense in reported speech do we need backshifting or not ? and if we do backshifting should we backshift the second part of the sentences? ( "when" part )
He said ‘...
0
votes
1answer
19 views
How to use Past Perfect correctly in Reported Speech?
Is the below sentence construction is correct using had been?
"The homemaker was returning after dropping Siddhesh to school when the bridge had collapsed."
This sentence construction seems awkward ...
1
vote
3answers
43 views
The form of 'subject' in indirect speech
Look at these examples below:
"Let me come in", He said.
If we change it in the indirect speech which of the options is correct and why?
a) He requested that he might be allowed to come in.
...
0
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0answers
15 views
To change or not to change the tense? [duplicate]
I think that I have understood the simplest cases of indirect speech:
She said that she was hungry.
She said that she had waited for me.
But what about indirect speech introduced in a complex ...
0
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2answers
45 views
Reported speech for things not related with communication [closed]
Which of these sentences would be correct?
"Currently we've got no clue how consciousness works."
Or
"Currently we've got no clue how consciousness worked."
1
vote
1answer
43 views
Indirect speech - past tense
I can remember the english class where the claim was:
When building indirect speech in past, all the tenses are moved towards the past.
He said he was ill = He said: "I am ill"
She told me she ...
0
votes
1answer
32 views
Uses of past perfect in reporting speech
"The student told us she believed it was pre-planned. The accused's daughter had also come to the police station with her. She told us her father had done something unbelievable and must be punished," ...
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0answers
15 views
nagging doubt about indirect speech
direct : He asked, "Do you love me?"
indirect : He asked if I loved him.
Has it to be "LOVED" or "LOVE"? Rules says simple present changes to simple past.
But, "He asked if I love him" makes more ...
1
vote
1answer
117 views
Should this reported speech use “was” or “had been” to convert “was”?
When you have a sentence in the direct speech talking about someone’s age such as “a producer discovered me when I was 13”
How does it change into the reported speech?
he said a producer had ...
0
votes
0answers
46 views
Reported versions of the sentences like “If I wanted to go, I would go”
I am having trouble in terms of the reported versions of the sentences which include the word "if". Can you please tell me what the reported versions of these "direct speech" kind of sentences below ...
1
vote
2answers
25 views
When to use Present tense in reporting speech?
When to use present tense in reporting speech?
In below news reporter has used Present tense "Sits" to indicate past event. Can it be replaced by sat?
"She sits in the cab along with the other 6-7 ...
0
votes
0answers
39 views
reported speech example
how can I write this sentence using reported speech?
I watched a Ted talk in which the presenter said a colleague had told her: "They don't pay me to like the kids. They pay me to teach a lesson. ...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
No backshift to maintain time relation between two clauses
The seller told me :" Just after you had paid another man asked for it."
He told me that just after I had paid, another man asked for it".
No backshift here to maintain the time relation between ...
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0answers
40 views
Is Past Perfect or Simple past is optional in Reporting speech.?
In below linked NEWS i can see the Use of past perfect tense, Had alleged, in most of the sentences. It is very difficult to understand if it is really require there. it does not indicates two actions ...
0
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1answer
27 views
Tense for Indirect speech
I have a question on 'Indirect Speech': are there any situations that the tense of a sentence would change into "has been doing"?
For example, "He did say he has been receiving your emails and that ...
1
vote
2answers
53 views
how to properly distinguish between two indirect sentences?
He mentioned that he had been in court the previous day.
meaning, I am saying this to someone else, that he (someone), sometime after the event took place, mentioned it, that: "I was in court the ...
1
vote
2answers
260 views
Future in indirect speech
In my English book for Russian students, I have found a confusing sentence:
A second conference will be held tomorrow morning and Brigg's agent said that an interview ________ (give) by the actor ...
0
votes
1answer
83 views
Reported speech in this case
Tom said the following.
We have to win this game.
Will the subject change in the reported speech?
Tom said to me that they had to win that game.
or
Tom said to me that we had to win that ...
0
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0answers
807 views
Which choice best expresses “I will keep your secret.” in Passive/Active voice?
the below-mentioned question is asked in my exam, I think my answer is correct, please tell if I am right, I have to challenge the question in 2 days if its answer given is wrong.
correct answer is ...
5
votes
3answers
756 views
Changing the verb for indirect quote/reported speech expressing habitual actions
The below-mentioned question is asked in my exam, I think my answer is correct, please tell if I am right, I have to challenge the question in 2 days if its answer given is wrong.
correct answer is ...
3
votes
2answers
63 views
Should I treat quotes from God as universal truth for narration?
This is totally for my assignment not a theist atheist thing.
Actually the sentence I need to narrate is
Lord Shiva once said, "I am responsible for everything."
Now Shiva is actually a Hindu god ...
2
votes
1answer
64 views
“until something” in reported speech
How can I transform the following sentence into reported speech?
Let's say my colleague said to me:
I will practice until I reach my goal
If I want to say it in reported speech, should it be
...
0
votes
0answers
259 views
Is “I don't know what this refers to.” a correct sentence?
I came up with the sentence:
I don't know what 'XYZ' refers to.
I know that it doesn't have the question mark because it isn't a question. But it still sounds weird to me.
Is this sentence ...
1
vote
1answer
511 views
Facts in reported speech – to backshift or not
Are these two sentences right ?
Mona told me that London was the biggest city in England.
He wanted to know where Manchester was.
I found these two sentences by chance in exercise book ...
0
votes
1answer
209 views
Word order right after direct speech
“Why do you think it was him?” Mary asked.
“Why do you think it was him?” asked Mary.
Since both options are common in books, I’m sure they both are perfectly correct in terms of grammar. But is ...
0
votes
2answers
443 views
reported speech for 'what do you do?'
What do you do in your spare time?
What is the proper way if I want to convert above mentioned sentence into reported speech.
He wanted to know what I did in my spare time.
or
He wanted to ...
0
votes
1answer
37 views
tenses agreement on reported speech
'Do you understand the instructions?'
What is the proper reported speech for the above mentioned sentence?
The teacher asked us if we understand the instructions.
vs
The teacher asked us if we ...
1
vote
1answer
42 views
“Which hers was” OR “which was hers”
if i want to convert :
She said, "I don't remember which is mine"
to reported speech ,
which one of these is correct ?
She couldn't remember which was hers.
OR
She couldn't remember which ...
0
votes
1answer
42 views
How to change into Reported Speech [duplicate]
How do I change this direct speech into reported speech?
Father said,"Never say never."
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1answer
55 views
Is "The mother is asking her son 'Does your hand hurt?' grammatical?
The mother is asking her son ‘Does your hand hurt?’
The sentence is about a picture in which a mother is talking to her son and he is injured. Is the structure and punctuation of the sentence OK?
...
1
vote
2answers
485 views
Narration: Past Tense
1 He said, "When I saw them they were cooking food".
A. He said that when he had seen them, they had been cooking food. (my answer)
B. He said that when he saw them they were cooking food. (Answer ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
Sentence Construction in Reporting speech.
Is below sentence construction is correct for reported speech?
A woman has complained to the police that her husband had mailed her an instant triple talaq on a Rs 100 stamp paper after months of ...
