15.1 What Is Quoted Speech?

Quoted Speech refers to reproducing words exactly as they were originally spoken. This is also called direct speech.

15.1.1 Quoting a Sentence

These are the rules that you must follow for quoting one sentence.

She said, "My brother is a student."
In this sentence, use a comma after –she said–. Capitalize the first word of the quoted sentence. Put the final quotation marks outside the period at the end of t he sentence.

"My brother is a student," she said.
In this sentence, use a comma after –she said–. Capitalize the first word of the quoted sentence. Put the final quotation marks outside the period at the end of t he sentence.

"My brother is a student. He is attending the University," she said.
Quoting marks are placed at the beginning and at the end of a complete quote. Notice that there are no quotation marks after student.

15.1.2 Quoting a Question or an Exclamation

These are the rules that you must follow when quoting an exclamation or question.

She asked, "When will you be there?"
The question mark is place inside the quotation marks.

"When will you be there?" she asked.
If a question mark is used, no comma is used before she asked.

She said, "Watch out!"
The exclamation point is inside the quotation marks.

Exercise 1

Let's see if you got it! Add the necessary punctuation and capitalization to the f ollowing sentences.

1. Henry said there is a phone call for you.
, ""

2. There is a phone call for you he said.
" ",

3. There is a phone call it's for you sister said Henry.
" ",

4. I asked him where is the phone.
, ""

5. Where is the phone she asked.
" ",

15.2 What Is Reported Speech

Reported Speech refers to repeating what someone has said. No quotation marks a re used. Notice the changes in the verb forms from quoted speech to reported speech in the following examples.

Examples:

Quoted Speech
She said, "I watch TV every day."
She said,"I am watching TV."
She said, "I have watched TV."
She said,"I watched TV."
She said,"I will watch TV."
She said,"I am going to watch TV."
She said,"I can watch TV."
She said,"I may watch TV."
She said "I might watch TV."
She said "I must watch TV."
She said "I should watch TV."
She said "I ought to watch TV."
She said "Watch TV!"
She said "Do you watch TV?"

Reported Speech
She said (that) she watched TV every day.
She said she was watching TV.
She said she had watched TV
She said she would watch TV.
She said she was going to watch TV.
She said she could watch TV.
She said she might watch TV.
She said she might watch TV.
She said she must watch TV.
She said she had to watch TV.
She said she should watch TV.
She said she ought to watch TV.
She told me to watch TV.
She asked (me) if I watched TV

15.2.1 General Guidelines of Tense Usage

If the reporting verb (the main verb of the sentence) is in past, the verb in the reporting will usually also be in a past form.
This formal sequence of tenses in reporting is used in both speaking and writing.
However, sometimes in spoken English, no change is made in the verb, e specially if the speaker is reporting something immediately or very soon after it was said.

Immediate Reporting:

Teacher: I want you to read Chapter six.
A: What did the teacher just say?
B: He said he wants us to read Chapter six.

Later Reporting:
A: I didn't go to class yesterday. Did Mr. Jones make any assignments? B: Yes, he said he wanted us to read Chapter six.

Also, sometimes the present tense is retained even in formal English when the r eported sentences deal with a general truth.

Example:

A: The world is round.
B: She said that the world is round.

This because the world was round, is round and always will be round.

Exercise 2

Complete the sentences by reporting the speaker's words. Use formal sequence of tenses where appropriate.

1. Bob said, "I will help you."

2. "Do you need a pen?" Annie asked.

3. Jennifer asked "What do you want?"

4. Sid asked, "Are you hungry?"

5. "I want a sandwich," Jenny said.

15.2.2 Reporting "Wh" Questions

When you want to report some question that starts with Wh, you must invert t he subject and the auxiliary verb and use the chart of tenses above as well as in this example

Example:

Wh + Aux + Subj. +Verb+ Comp.
Where is she staying tonight?
Reported: He asked me where she was staying tonight.

In this sentence, we have inverted the subject and auxiliary verb, and changed the auxiliary verb is to was.

Wh + Aux + Subj .+Verb + Comp.
When do they sleep?
Reported: He asked me when they slept.

In this sentence, we have inverted the subject and put the verb in past directly.

Wh + Aux + Subj .+Verb + Comp.
When will we arrive?
Reported: He asked me when we would arrive.

In this sentence, we have inverted the subject and auxiliary verb, changing will to would as corresponds.

Exercise 3

Report the following Wh questions. You can use “he asked me...” or “he wanted t o know...”

1. Why do you work?

2. When does he work?

3. Where did they go?

4. Why have you done that?

5. Where can she put her things?

6. When will you learn to behave?

Exercise 4

Report the following conversation.

Teacher: Good morning George. How are you?
George: Not so well, I have been having trouble with these exercises. Can you help me?
Teacher: What are they about?
George: They are about reporting sentences.
Teacher: You have to follow the rules to get them right.
George: I know but It is difficult for me. Last night I spent three hours trying to figure them out!
Teacher: Ok. Show me an example.
George: What do you do?
Teacher: The answer to that is teach!
George: Oh you are so funny!