Reported speech is often considered very difficult. When changing from direct to indirect speech, you need to change the grammar in certain ways. Direct speech is when we use the exact words that were said. This is true no matter what tense is used in the quoted speech. Reported speech is called indirect speech by some people. Jul 16, 2012 direct speech peter asked me where i was going.
Choose from the drop down menu and mind the tenses of the reporting verbs. We need to transform pronouns, verb tenses using something called the sequence of tenses, and place and time words. Reported speech and the sequence of tenses polished paper. Present tenses in the direct speech will become past tenses in the indirect speech. Identify reported speech and reported speech before you move further, you must know the parts of direct speech. Backshift of tenses in indirectreported speech in english, simple present, simple past free online exercise. Your classmate gareth does not understand her, so you have to repeat every sentence to him. Students fear the backshifting of the tenses, because they often do not know the tenses very well. Present simple and present continuous the general rule is that present tenses in direct speech change to past tenses in reported speech.
The backshifting of tenses in reported speech means that, sometimes, past tenses are used to talk about present or even future events. My question is, if someone doesnt backshift the tense knowing for a fact that the statement is no longer true, is that still acceptable. The general rule is that present tenses in direct speech change to past tenses in reported speech. In reported speech, tenses are generally backshifted. She told me that they went had gone out last night the night before. The tenses, wordorder, pronouns may be different from those in the direct speech sentence. With reported speech, the pattern is the following. For exercises, you can reveal the answers first submit worksheet and print the page to have the exercise and the answers. Backshift of tenses when the reporting verb is in the past tense. Mixed tenses reflexive pronouns reported speech indirekte rede. As we know, in the indirect speech, if the sentence starts in the past, there is often backshift of tenses in reported speech. Sandy explained, i saw the accident at the corner of high street.
Reported speech backshifting games to learn english. The answer is no, tenses do not shift in reported speech. This change in tense is often called backshifting study the following sentences. Download reported speech exercise with present tenses, past tense, future tenses and sequence of tenses. Reported speech is often also called indirect speech. This page may help if you would like to see a simple list of the tense changes click here. If what was said is still true at the time of reporting then back shifting is optional. Tense changes when using reported speech english grammar. For statements, we insert that after the say verb in the reported speech. On of the most important things that you must know is how to change the tenses of the verbs. They just learn a few key words and their reported counterparts, and then they are able to form the reported speech correctly. The other one that is out of quoted marks, is called reporting speech. All downloads are in pdf format and consist of a worksheet and answer sheet to check your results.
In reported speech, a thatclause depending on a reporting verb in the past tense can under certain conditions use the present tense instead of the. If you want to check your answers click the three question marks. When the main verb in the reported speech is in the present tense, the verb in the reported phrase does not change. Um satze im englischen ins passiv zu verandern, wird ein backshift durchgefuhrt. Reported speech indirect speech with free online exercises, reported speech indirect speech examples and sentences. These modal verbs do not change in reported speech.
In this system students do not worry about the names of the tenses. Reported speech exercise future simple tense pdf download. Reported speech exercises with all types of sentences pdf download. Transform the following sentences into reported speech. English esl reported speech worksheets most downloaded 368. These exercises are intended for the easy study of beginner and elementary english language learner. We use backshift when it is logical to use backshift. English language learners stack exchange is a question and answer site for speakers of other languages learning english. Here are some exercises to help you practice and understand. Last year, the minister said, the crisis will be overcome next year. In this case, there are various possibilities for reported speech. Pay attention to backshift and the changes to pronouns, time, and place. Direct and indirect speech exercises with all forms and all types of sentences, study online or download in.
Simple past present continuous im working at the moment. These depend on the tense of the main verb in the reported speech. Page 1 direct and indirect speech rules pdf table of contents identify reported speech and reported speech direct and indirect speech punctuation rules use of conjunction that rules for changing pronouns in indirect speech indirect speech rules for all tenses rules for change in time and adverb in indirect speech. Do tenses in a time clause never backshift in reported. General points reported speech and direct speech there are two common ways to tell somebody report peoples words, thoughts etc.
So, for example, if two minutes ago john said i am. Mar 30, 2018 tense usually has to go back one tense present becomes past this is called backshift. We sometimes change the tense of the reported clause by moving it back one tense. Rs004 reported speech indirect commands intermediate.
Reported speech is usually a hard task to give in class, perhaps due to the huge framemark you have to work with. Choose from the drop down menu and mind the tenses of the. If you move your mouse over the reported speech banners on the right, the reported speech of the text in red will appear in the box. Direct speech alex said that he had been to australia. Normally, the tense in reported speech is one tense back in time from the tense in direct speech. She told me that she had been waiting for the bus when he. The past perfect tense does not change in the reported speech. Reported speech exercises with all tenses pdf download. Learn how to use direct and indirect speech and tense changes when using reported speech in english with useful grammar rules and example sentences. English esl reported speech indirect speech worksheets. Chalker and weiner offer an example of backshift where logically the present tense would be used. Reported speech pdf worksheets english vocabulary and. Jan 08, 2020 reported speech exercise future tense pdf download. And many times, problems appear when you have to put into the past time adverbs, personal and object pronouns, and such kind of words.
The expression lets is usually reported using suggest. Tenses reported speech within a conditional clause. Reported questions so now you have no problem with making reported speech from positive and negative sentences. Indirect speech as you can see from the above examples, present tenses in the direct speech are shifted back to corresponding past tenses in the indirect speech.
Additional information and exceptions in reported speech. Grammar worksheet reported speech from present simple statements write the sentences using reported speech with answer key and grammar note on. If they struggle with the formation of the past tense, you cannot expect them to. Mind the introductory sentences and backshift of tenses. Some english tenses do not backshift in reported speech. Reported speech without backshift change of pronouns. Which is the correct ending of the sentence in reported speech.
Online exercises reported speech indirect speech, questions and negative sentences. There is no change in verb tenses in reported speech when. For example, present simple goes back one tense to past simple. Do tenses in a time clause never backshift in reported speech. Backshift of tenses verb tenses direct speech reported speech pronounsverb tenses simple present do you i am a carpenter.
In reported speech, a thatclause depending on a reporting verb in the past tense can under certain conditions use the present tense instead of the past tense. Formal and informal english politeness or colloquial language future continuous tense. She told me that she had been waiting for the bus when he arrived. I mean that both sentences talk about a fact and its unreasonable to change the tense in reported speech to past simple as what the sentences talk about is still true. Imagine 3 people involved in the conversation and the person sitting furthest away from me doesnt hear my initial statement. Reported speech tense shifting chart showing indirect speech to direct speech tense shift present simple to past simple, present continuous to past continuous, etc. Backshift is the changing of a tense to an earlier one after the past form of a reporting verb. Oct 18, 2016 to avoid all this hassle i came up with a simple system to help students with the backshifting in reported speech. Backshift or backshifting may also occur when a verb in a subordinate clause is affected by the past tense in the main clause. The first of the other students to reconstruct the original direct speech statement or question wins the card. Reported speech indirect speech in english summary. Reported speech pdf worksheets english vocabulary and grammar. The part that is inside the quotation marks, is called reported speech. Reported speech in different english tenses exercise.
Indirect speech alex said, i have been to australia. The simple past tense usually changes to the past perfect in reported speech. Are you feeling past continuous simple past i was there last year. Future perfect simple and continuous progressive tense. Reported speech exercise pdf download sequence of tenses.
I didnt apply for the job, although i was female and had the right degree. When the sayask verb is in the present or future, the reported speech does not change. Benjamin says that he often has a big hamburger he often had a big hamburger. Backshift of tenses in indirect reported speech in english, simple present, simple past free online exercise. Reported speech indirect speech adjectives to describe feelings mood tone. Helen is in front of the class holding a presentation on london. Normally, the tense in reported speech is one tense back in time from the tense in. Or its right when we talk about facts to change the tense or keep it both are correct. Backshift of tenses in reported speech online exercise. In simple terms, the structure of reported speech is. Tense changes when using reported speech english grammar ef. Multiple choice, fill in the word, select from drop down. Other people regard reported speech simply as one form of indirect speech.
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