In reported speech clauses, “would” is the past tense of “will.” First, listen to “will” in direct speech: ... When we change this to reported speech, we change “will” to “would”: Anita said (that) she would bring the drinks.

Would and could in reported speech?

Reporting speech with modals

Will, can, and shall change to would, could, and should when reported. Will is used to make statements about the future in English. When reporting this kind of statement, will becomes would.

What does would change to in reported speech?

These modal verbs do not change in reported speech: might, could, would, should, ought to: We explained, "It could be difficult to find our house." = We explained that it could be difficult to find our house. She said, "I might bring a friend to the party." = She said that she might bring a friend to the party.

What is an example of direct speech?

Direct speech is a sentence in which the exact words spoken are reproduced in speech marks (also known as quotation marks or inverted commas). For example: "You'll never guess what I've just seen!" said Sam, excitedly.

Will and would in a sentence?

Firstly, the word would is the past tense form of the word will. Jack said he would finish the work the next day. Ann said she would write us soon. He hoped she would come.

REPORTED SPEECH: Verb Tense Changes | Direct and Indirect Speech in English

42 related questions found

Where we use would?

We use would as the past of will, to describe past beliefs about the future: I thought we would be late, so we would have to take the train.

What are direct and indirect speech with examples?

Direct Speech: She says, “I am writing a letter to my brother.” ... Indirect Speech: She says that she was not writing a letter to her brother. Direct Speech: She said to me, “I am writing a letter to my brother.” Indirect Speech: She told me that she was writing a letter to her brother.

How do we use direct speech?

When we want to describe what someone said, one option is to use direct speech. We use direct speech when we simply repeat what someone says, putting the phrase between speech marks: Paul came in and said, “I'm really hungry.”

What are the most important changes we do when turn direct speech into reported speech?

To convert direct speech to reported speech, we must change all the present tenses in the direct speech to the corresponding past tenses in the reported speech.

What is the importance of direct and reported speech in communication?

Direct speech reveals the tone and moods of the characters. Indirect speech, if not used properly, creates a distance between the utterance and the reader's perception of it.

Can you help Reported speech?

When you report questions, the word order changes to look like a normal statement. For example: “Can you help me?” – She asked me if I could help her. “What's the time?” – He asked her what the time was.

What are the 4 types of reported speech?

Reporting different kinds of sentences

• Reporting statements. Put 'that' before the reported statement. Use the reporting verb 'said' or 'told'. ...
• Reporting WH-questions. Omit the question mark. ...
• Reporting Yes-No questions. Omit the question mark. ...
• Reporting imperative sentences. Put 'to' before the reported command or request.

How are you Martin asked us in reported speech?

"How are you?" Martin asked us. He asked, "Do I have to do it?" "Where have you been?" the mother asked her daughter. "Which dress do you like best?" she asked her boyfriend.

How do you explain direct and indirect speech?

In direct speech, the actual words spoken by a person (with no change in them) are conveyed to another person. In indirect speech, the actual words spoken by a person are slightly changed while conveying them to another person. For instance, the verb and pronouns are changed.

What is direct or indirect speech?

Direct speech describes when something is being repeated exactly as it was – usually in between a pair of inverted commas. ... Indirect speech will still share the same information – but instead of expressing someone's comments or speech by directly repeating them, it involves reporting or describing what was said.

What are the 20 examples of reported speech?

20 Reported Speech Example Sentences

• He said that he was living in Paris.
• She said she had taken Spanish lessons before.
• She says the exam is very difficult.
• Mary said, “My husband went with me to the show yesterday.”
• He said he had gone to London the week before.
• He said he could swim when he was four.

What are types of sentences?

The Four Types of Sentences

Declarative Sentences: Used to make statements or relay information. Imperative Sentences: Used to make a command or a direct instruction. Interrogative Sentences: Used to ask a question. Exclamatory Sentences: Used to express a strong emotion.

What are examples of narration?

• Example.
• Direct speech: He said, “I am happy”
• Indirect Speech: He said that he was happy.
• Direct speech: I said to him, “you are intelligent”
• Indirect Speech: I said him that he was intelligent. (“ You” changed to “he” the person of object of reporting verb)

Would in a sentence?

We often use would (or the contracted form 'd) in the main clause of a conditional sentence when we talk about imagined situations: If we had left earlier, we would have been able to stop off for a coffee on the way. If we went to Chile, we'd have to go to Argentina as well. I'd love to see both.

Is Would past tense or present?

Technically, would is the past tense of will, but it is an auxiliary verb that has many uses, some of which even express the present tense.

Would usage in past?

We can use would to talk about repeated past actions that don't happen any more. Every Saturday I would go on a long bike ride. My dad would read me amazing stories every night at bedtime. would for past habits is slightly more formal than used to.