What are the rules for changing reported intentions in indirect speech?

Direct And Indirect Speech Questions Medium



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What are the rules for changing reported intentions in indirect speech?

The rules for changing reported intentions in indirect speech are as follows:

1. Use a reporting verb: Begin the reported speech with a reporting verb such as 'say', 'tell', 'ask', etc.

2. Change the pronouns: Change the pronouns in the reported speech to reflect the perspective of the speaker in the original statement. For example, if the original statement says "I will go to the party," in reported speech it would be changed to "He/she said he/she would go to the party."

3. Change the tense: Shift the tense of the verb in the reported speech according to the rules of sequence of tenses. For example, if the original statement says "I am going to visit my parents," in reported speech it would be changed to "He/she said he/she was going to visit his/her parents."

4. Change time and place references: Adjust any time and place references in the reported speech to match the perspective of the speaker in the original statement. For example, if the original statement says "I will meet you tomorrow at 5 pm," in reported speech it would be changed to "He/she said he/she would meet me the next day at 5 pm."

5. Use reporting verbs appropriately: Use reporting verbs like 'promise', 'intend', 'plan', etc., to accurately convey the intention expressed in the original statement. For example, if the original statement says "I promise to help you," in reported speech it would be changed to "He/she promised to help me."

It is important to note that these rules may vary depending on the context and the specific intention being reported.