Introduction
In the TOEIC test, you may encounter reported speech in both the Listening and Reading sections. Reported speech is used to relay what someone else has said without quoting them directly. Understanding how to use and recognize reported speech is essential for effective communication in business settings, such as emails and conversations.
Explanation
Reported speech often involves changes in verb tense, pronouns, and time expressions. Here’s how it works:
Direct Speech: "I will attend the meeting," said John.
Reported Speech: John said (that) he would attend the meeting.
Key changes to note:
Present simple tense changes to past simple.
Direct: "I need help." → Reported: She said she needed help.
Present continuous changes to past continuous.
Direct: "I am working on the project." → Reported: He said he was working on the project.
Will changes to would.
Direct: "I will call you." → Reported: She said she would call me.
Common mistakes
Incorrect tense shift: Learners often forget to change the verb tense. Remember to shift the tense back when reporting.
Incorrect: He said he is busy.
Correct: He said he was busy.
Pronoun confusion: Ensure pronouns match the context of the reported sentence.
Incorrect: She said I will join the team.
Correct: She said she would join the team.
Tips for the TOEIC test
Pay attention to the context of the conversation or email. This will help you determine the correct pronouns and time expressions.
Listen for key reporting verbs like "said," "told," and "asked" to identify reported speech.
Practice identifying tense changes in reported speech to enhance your comprehension skills.
Mini practice
Convert the following direct speech into reported speech: "The manager said, 'We are launching the new product next week.'"
The manager said they were launching the new product the following week.
Rewrite the sentence in reported speech: "She said, 'I can finish the report by tomorrow.'"
She said she could finish the report by the next day.
Change the direct speech to reported speech: "He said, 'I have completed the assignment.'"
He said he had completed the assignment.