Reported speech refers to the way that one person’s utterance is made out (reported) by someone else. There are two ways in which this can be done. The person’s speech is either quoted as in:
“I will deal with it myself”, the Principal said.
The Principal said that he will deal with the situation himself. In this second example the Principal’s speech has been rephrased and no longer constitute a direct speech. It is
now known as indirect speech or reported speech. What should be noted here is that the reported/ indirect speech must convey the same idea. Though, the exact words may not be used.
Features of Indirect/Reported Speech
Change in Person
The personal pronoun in all the persons (first –third person singular and plural) are used in the reported speech, the speaker can use the first person singular (I and we) and plural for himself.
Examples:
“I was the architect of his fortune”, Michael retorted.
“We made the difference, while we were in control” the former governor said.
However, when this is being reported it will be changed to the third person singular or plural; He /she or they or them. The usual pattern is a follows:
I he /she
Me him / he
You he, him she, her, they, them
My, our, your his, hers, theirs,
Yours his, hers, theirs
This that
These those
We they
Us them
Other words like all, former and latter can be used to refer to person(s) to avoid ambiguity.
“You will do well in the exam” the lecturer said.
The lecturer said all the students will do well.
Change in Tense
This is also important in reported/indirect speech. The basic assumption is that reported speech is at a time later than when the speech was made, it therefore behoves the reporter to change the tense (verb form) of the speech. In what is regarded as back-shifting the tense is usually changed to the past from the present or the perfect from the past.
Examples:
“I will come”, Tola said.
This is reported as
Tola said she would come.
The only exception is where the direct speech expresses a universal or habitual truth.
Examples:
“I take a cold bath every morning”, Kelvin said
Kelvin said he takes a cold bath every morning
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