Reported Speech Questions Medium
When using reported speech, there are several common mistakes that people often make. Here are some examples:
1. Incorrect verb tense: One common mistake is using the wrong verb tense when reporting someone's words. For example, saying "He said he will come tomorrow" instead of "He said he would come tomorrow." The verb tense in reported speech should typically be shifted back one tense.
2. Incorrect pronoun usage: Another mistake is using the wrong pronoun when reporting someone's words. For instance, saying "She said that he is coming" instead of "She said that he was coming." The pronouns should be changed to reflect the perspective of the original speaker.
3. Omission of reporting verbs: Sometimes, people forget to include the appropriate reporting verb when relaying someone's words. For example, saying "He said he was tired" instead of "He told me he was tired." It is important to include the appropriate reporting verb to indicate who is speaking.
4. Failure to change time and place references: Another mistake is not adjusting time and place references when reporting someone's words. For instance, saying "She said, 'I am going to the store now'" instead of "She said she was going to the store then." Time and place references should be changed to match the time and place of the reported speech.
5. Incorrect punctuation: Sometimes, people make mistakes with punctuation when using reported speech. For example, saying "He said 'I am happy'" instead of "He said, 'I am happy.'" It is important to use the correct punctuation marks, such as quotation marks and commas, to indicate reported speech.
These are just a few examples of common mistakes made when using reported speech. It is important to be aware of these errors and practice using reported speech correctly to effectively convey someone's words.