Reported Speech Practice Flashcards

This set covers the fundamental rules of Reported Speech, including verb tense shifts, adverbial changes, reporting verbs like Say and Tell, and the structures for reported questions, commands, and suggestions.

Direct Speech

Using the exact words that a person said, typically marked by quotation marks.

Reported Speech

Reproducing the words someone else said, which often involves changes in verb tenses, pronouns, and time expressions.

Present Simple shift

In reported speech, this tense changes to Past Simple (e.g., "I like" becomes "he liked").

Present Continuous shift

In reported speech, this tense changes to Past Continuous (e.g., "I am reading" becomes "he was reading").

Present Perfect shift

In reported speech, this tense changes to Past Perfect (e.g., "I have forgotten" becomes "she had forgotten").

Past Simple shift

In reported speech, this tense changes to Past Perfect (e.g., "I came" becomes "he had come").

Future (will) shift

In reported speech, the modal "will" changes to the conditional form "would."

Modal verb: Can

In reported speech, this modal verb changes to "could."

Modal verb: May

In reported speech, this modal verb changes to "might."

Modal verbs: Must / Have to

In reported speech, both of these forms change to "had to."

Adverb change: Now

This time expression changes to "then" in reported speech.

Adverb change: Today

This time expression changes to "that day" in reported speech.

Adverb change: Tomorrow

This time expression can change to "the next day", "the following day", or "the day after" in reported speech.

Adverb change: Yesterday

This time expression changes to "the previous day" or "the day before" in reported speech.

Adverb change: Ago

This time expression changes to "before" in reported speech.

Usage of "Say"

A reporting verb that is not followed by a personal object unless the word "to" is added (e.g., "She said to me").

Usage of "Tell"

A reporting verb that is normally followed directly by a personal object (e.g., "He told Mary").

Reported Yes/no questions

Questions reported using the structure: if/whether + subject + verb + complements.

Reported Commands

Requests or orders reported using the structure: Verb of Command + (not) to + infinitive.

Reported Suggestions

Suggestions reported either using the "-ing" form or the structure: suggest + (that) + subject + (should) + verb base form.