Maybe you recognise the lyrics from the famous song "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson. But, why are we talking about it today? Because there is something in the lyrics that makes them grammaticaly different. But, what is it? Let's see 👀

 REPORTED SPEECH

We call reported speech to the act of quoting someone else's words without them being the exact same words. For this to be grammatically correct, there are some simple rules to follow. 🠇

The reporter must change:
  • Tenses (backshift) 
  • Possessive adjectives and pronouns
  • Time
  • Demonstratives

DIRECT SPEECH vs INDIRECT SPEECH

We understand direct speech as the words said or written by the original speaker. On the contrary, indirect speech occurs when a person quotes the original speaker's words. 


This is an example of direct speech.
In the case of indirect speech the sentences would be 'My mama told me when I was young we were all born superstars' or 'There was nothing wrong with loving who I am'

Here are some verbs of reporting:
  • Say
  • Mention
  • Wonder
  • Ask
  • Apologise 
  • Groan
  • Tell
Other verbs take an object...
  • Tell, inform, remind, notify, persuade, convince and reassure. 
The teacher informed us that the final exam would be postponed for the following week.

...but also and object + to infinitive

The teacher reminded us to study for the final exam. 

BACKSHIFT

Present simple / continous       ðŸ †     Past simple / continuous 

Past simple or continuous        🠆    Past perfect simple / continuous
/ present perfect simple or continuous 

Past perfect simple / continuous 🠆  No change


⚠ The reporter can break the rule when the words are still valid in the present. ⚠


'She said I am the one' and not 'She said I was the one' because the reporter is still being told that he is the one.

MODALS

will 🠆 would
can  🠆 could
may 🠆 might 
must 🠆 had to (necessity)
must 🠆 must (certainty) 

should, would, ought to and might DO NOT CHANGE.

QUESTIONS

The word order doesn't change, it follows the same order of the affirmative sentence. 

What are you doing tonight? she asked what I was doing that night. 

ORDERS AND REQUESTS

  • Tell / Ask + object + to inf. 
My mum asked me to pick up my sister from school.

ADVERBIALS OF TIME 




PRONOUNS AND DEMONSTRATIVES

From 1st and 2nd person pronouns to 3rd person pronouns 

'I told Phillipe not to go to the party' She had told him not to go. 

This rule can be broken when the person mentioned by the original speaker is the same person mentioned by the reporter.

'You must low the car speed' The police officer told me I had to low the speed.

LOOK AT THIS VIDEO 👇


NOW LOOK AT THIS EXAMPLE TAKEN FROM ANOTHER SONG


The possible option of direct speech for the first sentence may be 'I hate your friends'. In this case, the verb 'hate' in the present simple changes to the past simple 'hated'. The same happens with the verb 'was' in the third sentence. The possible options of direct speech for this one may be 'You're wrong' or 'Your opinion is wrong'

THANKS FOR VISITING OUR BLOG, WE HOPE TO BE HELPFUL. ❤️





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