Reported Speech
If we report what another person has said, we usually do not use the speaker’s exact words (direct speech), but reported (indirect) speech. Therefore, you need to learn how to transform direct speech into reported speech. The structure is a little different depending on whether you want to transform a statement, question or request.
Example:
- Þ She asked me “what is your name?”
- Ø She asked me what your name was.
- Þ Peter asked “where does Stephaney?”
- Ø Peter asked where Stephaney lived
- Þ “How long have you studied English?”
- Ø He asked to me how long I had studied English
- Þ John asks “Does Susan live near here?”
- Ø John ask if Susan lived near here
- Þ “Carol, speak English.“
- Ø He told Carol to speak English.
- Þ Why don’t you speak English?”
- Ø He asked me why I didn’t speak English.
- Þ “Do you speak English?”
- Ø He asked me whether / if I spoke English.
