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english:grammar:reported-speech

Reported Speech

What it is: Report what someone said (not exact quote). What it’s for: Storytelling, reporting conversations. Example: Direct: “I’m tired.” → Reported: “He said (that) he was tired.”

Common changes

  • Tense backshift (often):
    1. am/is → was
    2. are → were
    3. do/does → did
    4. will → would
  • Time words:
    1. today → that day
    2. tomorrow → the next day
    3. yesterday → the day before

Patterns

  • Statements: said (that) + clause
  • Questions: asked if/whether + clause
    1. “Do you like it?” → He asked if I liked it.

Hard words (Glossary)

  • *report* /rɪˈpɔːt/: tường thuật
  • *quote* /kwəʊt/: trích dẫn nguyên văn
  • *backshift* /ˈbækʃɪft/: lùi thì
english/grammar/reported-speech.txt · Last modified: by phong2018