Explicacion reported speech

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How to use reported speech

Starting from an indirect style sentence, we must follow the following steps to pass it to an indirect style:

Define the type of sentence:

Affirmation

QuestionTitle / Order

Define in what tense is the introductory sentence: the introductory sentence is that it will become main clause in the new sentence in indirect style. This can be either present or at some time past. If it is present, it will not be necessary to change the verb of the subordinate; if it is in a past time it will be necessary to change it so that it agrees. For example

Paul always says: "those were the best years of my life"> Paul always says those were the best years of his life.

Paul said: "those were the best years of my life"> Paul said those had been the best years of his life.

Define whether to change the person (the personal pronoun): just as with verbs, the person must also agree when we pass a sentence in indirect style. This may mean, in some cases, a change in personal and possessive pronouns (not when referring to a third person). For example:

Andrew said: "it is all my fault"> Andrew sad it was all his fault

Mary told me "you are my best friend"> MAry told me I was her best friend

Robert said: "the guests are about to arrive"> Robert said the guests were about to arrive.

Define whether to agree verb tenses: as we have said before, if the verb in the introductory sentence is not present, that means that we have to change the tenses to match. Here we leave you a chop, so that you know that verbal time replaces each one:

Present simple> Past Simple

Past Simple> Past Perfect

Present perfect> Past Perfect

Past perfect> Past Perfect

Will (future)> Would

If you look closely, what these verbs do is give a "step back in time". Keep this in mind and this will help you.

Define whether to change the expressions of time and place: just as with verbs, these expressions must conform to the new time of the indirect style. Besides, not only the weather changes, but also the place is susceptible of being dstinto. Although the change will not always be necessary, the decision must be made taking into account the concordance, for example:

This afternoon> that afternoon

Today> that day

Now> then

A week ago> a week before

Next month> the following month

Tomorrow> the following / next day

Here> There