Direct And Indirect Speech Questions Medium
The rules for changing reported verbs in indirect speech are as follows:
1. Change the tense of the verb: In indirect speech, the tense of the reported verb is usually shifted back one tense. For example, if the original sentence has a present tense verb, it is changed to past tense in indirect speech.
2. Change the pronouns: The pronouns used in the reported speech are usually changed to reflect the perspective of the speaker in indirect speech. For example, "I" becomes "he/she" and "you" becomes "they" or the appropriate third-person pronoun.
3. Change time and place references: If the original sentence includes specific time or place references, they may need to be adjusted in indirect speech to reflect the perspective of the speaker. For example, "today" may become "that day" or "here" may become "there."
4. Change adverbs and adverbial phrases: Adverbs and adverbial phrases used in the reported speech may need to be adjusted in indirect speech to reflect the perspective of the speaker. For example, "now" may become "then" or "yesterday" may become "the day before."
5. Use reporting verbs: In indirect speech, reporting verbs such as "said," "told," "asked," etc., are used to introduce the reported speech. These reporting verbs can be adjusted based on the context and the speaker's intention.
It is important to note that these rules may vary depending on the specific context and the tense of the reported speech. It is always advisable to consider the overall meaning and intention of the original sentence while converting it into indirect speech.