1. Lesson Overview
In this lesson, you will learn how pronouns, possessive forms, and reference expressions change when direct speech is transformed into reported speech.
When we report what someone said, the point of view often changes. As a result, pronouns and reference words must be adjusted to reflect the speaker, listener, and reporting context.
In addition to pronouns, expressions referring to time and place frequently change during reporting.
Example:
Direct speech:
She said, “I will finish my work tomorrow.”
Reported speech:
She said that she would finish her work the next day.
In this transformation:
-
I → she
-
my → her
-
tomorrow → the next day
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
-
correctly adjust pronouns in reported speech
-
change possessive determiners according to the speaker
-
modify time and place expressions appropriately
-
avoid common learner errors involving reference changes
2. Concept Introduction
Consider the following example:
Direct speech:
John said, “I finished my project yesterday.”
Reported speech:
John said that he had finished his project the previous day.
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| I | he |
| my | his |
| yesterday | the previous day |
These changes occur because the reporter describes the statement from a different perspective.
3. Core Explanation
When converting direct speech into reported speech, the speaker’s perspective changes, and several reference elements must be adjusted.
The most common changes involve:
-
personal pronouns
-
possessive determiners
-
time expressions
-
place expressions
Example:
Direct speech:
She said, “We are working here today.”
Reported speech:
She said that they were working there that day.
4. Rule Table
Pronoun Changes
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| I | he / she |
| we | they |
| you | I / we / they (depending on context) |
| me | him / her |
| us | them |
Example:
Direct:
She said, “I am reviewing the data.”
Reported:
She said that she was reviewing the data.
Possessive Determiner Changes
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| my | his / her |
| our | their |
| your | my / our / their |
| mine | his / hers |
| ours | theirs |
Example:
Direct:
He said, “My research is complete.”
Reported:
He said that his research was complete.
Time Expression Changes
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| today | that day |
| tomorrow | the next day |
| yesterday | the previous day |
| now | then |
| tonight | that night |
| next week | the following week |
| last year | the previous year |
Example:
Direct:
She said, “I will present the report tomorrow.”
Reported:
She said that she would present the report the next day.
Place Expression Changes
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| here | there |
| this place | that place |
| these | those |
Example:
Direct:
He said, “The meeting will take place here.”
Reported:
He said that the meeting would take place there.
5. Usage
1. Adjusting the speaker’s perspective
Example:
She said that she had finished her work.
2. Changing possessive forms
Example:
He said that his project was successful.
3. Reporting future events
Example:
She said that the experiment would begin the next day.
4. Reporting past events
Example:
He said that he had visited the laboratory the previous week.
5. Reporting statements involving location
Example:
She said that the meeting would take place there.
6. Signal Words
Certain expressions frequently appear when reporting speech and adjusting references.
| Expression | Example |
|---|---|
| said that | She said that she would start the project. |
| told | He told us that the system had failed. |
| explained that | The instructor explained that the experiment required precision. |
| mentioned that | She mentioned that the report needed revision. |
| reported that | The technician reported that the device had malfunctioned. |
7. Special Cases
When Pronouns Do Not Change
Pronouns remain the same if the speaker and perspective remain unchanged.
Example:
Direct speech:
I said, “I will finish the report today.”
Reported speech:
I said that I would finish the report that day.
The pronoun I remains unchanged because the reporter and original speaker are the same person.
Context Determines Pronoun Change
The pronoun “you” may change differently depending on the situation.
Example:
Direct speech:
She said to me, “You should check the data.”
Reported speech:
She told me that I should check the data.
8. Additional Notes
Reference changes in reported speech ensure that the sentence reflects the correct perspective and time relationship.
Without these adjustments, reported speech may become confusing or misleading.
Example:
Incorrect:
She said that I will finish my work tomorrow.
Correct:
She said that she would finish her work the next day.
9. Common Errors
⚠ Incorrect pronoun reference
Incorrect:
She said that I completed the project.
Correct:
She said that she completed the project.
Explanation:
Pronouns must reflect the speaker in the reported clause.
⚠ Incorrect possessive determiner
Incorrect:
He said that my research was successful.
Correct:
He said that his research was successful.
Explanation:
Possessive determiners must match the speaker’s perspective.
⚠ Incorrect time expression
Incorrect:
She said that she would start the project tomorrow.
Correct:
She said that she would start the project the next day.
Explanation:
Time expressions usually shift in reported speech.
⚠ Incorrect place reference
Incorrect:
He said that the meeting would take place here.
Correct:
He said that the meeting would take place there.
Explanation:
Place expressions often change.
⚠ Multiple reference errors
Incorrect:
She said that I will finish my work tomorrow.
Correct:
She said that she would finish her work the next day.
Explanation:
Pronoun, tense, and time expressions must all be adjusted.
10. Lesson Mastery
After completing this lesson, you should now be able to:
✅ adjust pronouns correctly in reported speech
✅ change possessive forms according to the speaker
✅ modify time and place expressions appropriately
✅ avoid common learner errors involving reference changes