Questions tagged [reported-speech]
For questions about the report of one speaker or writer on the words spoken, written, or thought by someone else.
291
questions
0
votes
2answers
26 views
We asked him what was his name - reported speech
Is the following sentence incorrect?
We asked him what was his name.
Should I put the verb after the subject because I'm using reported speech (ie We asked him what his name was) ?
0
votes
1answer
26 views
What is the correct way to refer to future that is spoken about in the past?
I want to talk about a moment in the future that I though about in the past. Is any of these sentences correct and why?
I thought we might become more than just friends in the far future, when our ...
0
votes
1answer
53 views
They asked me where I live. Is that question correct?
I know in reported speech we have to change the present simple to the past simple but this question really makes me wonder if I can write it like
They asked me where I live.
Since it's something ...
1
vote
1answer
31 views
Meaning of had better
I have to convert the following sentence into its imquoted indirect form for narration.
"You'd better leave the dog alone," the man said.
Which one of the following two is correct?
The man ...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
“This” vs. “That” in reported speech
1- Let's suppose that Mary is saying this on September 2019, and I'm reporting her words in November of the same year; can I keep (this winter) in the reported speech, or should I stick to the rule ...
0
votes
0answers
27 views
What do they vs What they
I wonder ____________. ---Pandas.
A. what do they call these animals.
B. what they call these animals.
C. what they do call these animals.
I guess if it is a personal conversation, it would be "...
0
votes
1answer
34 views
“If he were” or “if he would be”?
Direct:
He said, "If I were a bird!"
Indirect:
***** He wished that he would be a bird.
OR
***** He wished that he were a bird.
I'm confused whether the former or the latter is correct.
...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
How a sequence of sentences is reported?
For example this.
Jack: Federer will play against Nadal today. That will be their 4th
meeting on grass. Federer will probably win.
How that is reported?
Jack said that Federer would play ...
0
votes
0answers
20 views
Correct tense with reported speech?
From a multiple choice question in my English assignment:
He will probably want to know if you
A. will have been drinking
B. didn't drink
C. had drunk
D. have been drinking
I heard ...
0
votes
0answers
23 views
Is this sentence rewritten correctly?
"What do you usually do on Fridays?" she asked.
I have to rewrite this sentence using did.
She wanted to know what I usually did on Fridays.
Is this sentence correct?
0
votes
0answers
17 views
Reported Speech for thinking about past
We use would have past participal for hypothetical/imagination sentences. Do we need to use them in a reported speech?
Direct:(Talking to myself) Probably this would be the last time I am here.
...
1
vote
2answers
31 views
Converting “Give my best to Alex” into indirect speech
Suppose somebody told me: "Give my best to Alex".
How do I convey this to Alex (i.e., transform into indirect speech)? I think something like "Sue gave her best to you" would be okay, but when I ...
0
votes
1answer
37 views
How do I write this sentence in reported speech?
Jason doesn't like reading so he won't study literature .
How will it go ?
Will it be :
He said Jason didn't like reading so he won't study literature .
Thank you in advance
0
votes
2answers
25 views
Past simple in reported speech
In the following sentence, both “spoke” and “was” are in past simple.
The first language I spoke was Japanese”
The solution I came up with is:
She said that the first language she had spoken was ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
Should I use 'Told' instead of 'Said' in the following Indirect Narration Speech?
My classmate said to me,"Good morning,You have finished your homework".
My classmate wished me good morning and told me/said that I had finished my homework.
which is appropriate to be used?
-1
votes
1answer
27 views
What should be the tense in this reported speech? [closed]
How to make this sentence better:
I said to him that if he wanted to say something,now would be the good
time
0
votes
1answer
32 views
Reported speech structure
Direct speech: 'I am your English teacher' said Mr. James
Reported speech: Mr. James said that he was our English teacher.
My understanding of the reported sentences is that Mr. James was a ...
0
votes
1answer
38 views
Reported speech sentence
The sentence goes: If you do not do it by Friday, you will be punished.
What is the reported speech of the above sentence please? Is it:
She said if I did not do it by Friday I would be punished
She ...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
Reported speech long sentence
I'm having trouble transforming this sentence into reported speech.
She asked : " What was the last place you went to four days ago with
this girl ? "
Following the basic rules, I would say it ...
0
votes
1answer
2k views
'tell me what I should do' vs 'tell me what should I do' [duplicate]
These are questions and with questions you put the verb first and then the pronoun.
For example:
Affirmative : You can.
Question: Can you?
But sometimes when speaking I hear people not applying ...
2
votes
1answer
114 views
Direct speech to Indirect speech
A man says, " May I drop you there in my car?"
Convert the above sentence to reported speech.
Is the following a correct attempt?
A man asked if he might drop somebody there in his car.
Not a ...
0
votes
1answer
58 views
About Reported Speech
we were doing direct indirect speech and there was a sentence :
Stop what u were doing and listen to me
I choosed this variant but my teacher said it has to be
Stop what u were doing and ...
1
vote
1answer
23 views
How to change a reported speech into a direct speech, in Magic's song 'Rude'
In the words of Magic's song "Rude" there is a following sentench.
You say I'll never get your blessing 'til the day I die.
Which will be correct, if this sentence is put into direct speech?
(a) You ...
0
votes
1answer
26 views
How to use 'I learned that if I faced' in its reported-speech kind of context
It is said that in reported speech, verbs tense will change. Also, when using 'if', verb tenses change. So what is the correct form of the below sentence?
I learned that if I faced another question ...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
How to report your status? [closed]
I'm working in IT company and here we have daily standup meetings where people report theirs statuses to the customer. I'm trying to improve my team's reports quality by collecting good sentence ...
1
vote
1answer
42 views
is this example a reported speech and why no backshifting
When my mum asked me, why I "was getting" bad marks at school last year.
direct speech "Why were you getting bad marks last year" so reported speech should be "why had you been getting bad marks ...
0
votes
0answers
9 views
How do I write the following using reported speech? [duplicate]
How do I write the following using reported speech?
Enviamos las solicitudes de las becas para que la dirección de becas reconsiderara los requerimientos pero el director de becas rechazo las ...
-1
votes
1answer
26 views
sentences in reported speech [closed]
How to rewrite each of the sentences in reported speech?
"what time does the post office open on a Saturday?" [asked bob / bob asked]
"what did you say to the policeman when he stopped you?" [asked ...
4
votes
1answer
522 views
Is “let” a modal?
Must the verb that follow let always be an infinitive regardless of the context, even in a reported speech? For example,
He told us to let him saw her one last time.
Is that correct?
0
votes
1answer
43 views
How to tell someone that the boss told me to tell them to call the boss?
The situation is my boss said to me to inform Person1 to call the boss.
He said to me that he wants you to call him.
Is this correct? Or can say like
He wants you to call me.
I prefer to ...
0
votes
2answers
179 views
You may leave the room,how can we report it
How could we report
"You may leave the room"Teacher said
Can we report it as
Teacher gave me the permission to leave the room
OR
Teacher said to me that I might/could/may leave the room.
May,...
0
votes
0answers
91 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
63 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
411 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
45 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
47 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
70 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
73 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
54 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
60 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
32 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
166 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
127 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
38 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
106 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
384 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
367 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
56 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
61 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
93 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 ‘...
