REPORTED SPEECH AND SUBJUNCTIVE CLAUSE (STRUCTURE 2)

Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)

Reported speech is when you tell somebody else what you or a person said before. Distinction must be made between direct speech and reported speech.

Direct speech vs Reported speech:

Direct speech	Reported speech
She says: "I like tuna fish."	She says that she likes tuna fish.
She said: "I'm visiting Paris next weekend"	She said that she was visiting Paris the following weekend.

Different types of sentences

When you use reported speech, you either report :

A. Reporting Statements

When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:

·         pronouns

·         tense

·         place and time expression

1-      Pronouns

In reported speech, you often have to change the pronoun depending on who says what.

Example: She says, “My dad likes roast chicken.” – She says that her dad likes roast chicken.

2-      Tenses

·         If the sentence starts in the present, there is no backshift of tenses in reported speech.

·         If the sentence starts in the past, there is often backshift of tenses in reported speech.

No backshift : Do not change the tense if the introductory clause is in a present tense (e. g. He says). Note, however, that you might have to change the form of the present tense verb (3rd person singular).

Example:
He says, “I write poems.” – He says that he writes English.

Backshift  : You must change the tense if the introductory clause is in a past tense (e. g. He said).

Example:
He said, “I am happy.” – He said that he was happy.

3-      Place, demonstratives and time expressions

Place, demonstratives and time expressions change if the context of the reported statement (i.e. the location and/or the period of time) is different from that of the direct speech.

B. Reporting Questions

When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:

·        Pronouns

·        place and time expressions

·        tenses (backshift)

Also note that you have to:

·        transform the question into an indirect question

·        use the question word (where, when, what, how) or if / whether

C. Reporting requests / commands

When transforming requests and commands, check whether you have to change:

·         pronouns

·         place and time expressions

Example: She said, “Sit down." - She asked me to sit down.

D. Other transformations

·        Expressions of advice with must, should and ought are usually reported using advise / urge.

Example:
"You must read this book."
He advised / urged me to read that book.

·        The expression let’s is usually reported using suggest. In this case, there are two possibilities for reported speech: gerund or statement with should.

Example:
"Let’s go to the cinema."
1. He suggested going to the cinema.
2. He suggested that we should go to the cinema

Subjunctive

            Subjunctive such as :

1.       Form

Use the simple form of the verb. The simple form is the infinitive without the "to." The simple form of the verb "to go" is "go." The Subjunctive is only noticeable in certain forms and tenses.

2.       Use

The Subjunctive is used to emphasize urgency or importance. It is used after certain expressions (see below).

Examples:

·         I suggest that he study.

·         Is it essential that we be there?

·         Don’t recommended that you join the committee.

3.       Notice

The Subjunctive is only noticeable in certain forms and tenses. In the examples below, the Subjunctive is not noticeable in the you-form of the verb, but it is noticeable in the he-form of the verb.

Examples:

·         You try to study often. you-form of "try"

·         It is important that you try to study often. Subjunctive form of "try" looks the same.

·         He tries to study often. he-form of "try"

·         It is important that he try to study often. Subjunctive form of "try" is noticeable here.

Verbs Followed by the Subjunctive

The Subjunctive is used after the following verbs:

to advise (that)
to ask (that)
to command (that)
to demand (that)
to desire (that)
to insist (that)
to propose (that)
to recommend (that)
to request (that)
to suggest (that)
to urge                                                                                                                                        (that)

Examples:

• Dr. Smith asked that Mark submit his research paper before the end of the month.
• Donna requested Frank come to the party.
• The teacher insists that her students be on time.