GR - Reported Speech part 1

Alright, everyone. We're starting a GrammarReminder series on how to report what someone said or wrote. This is called reported speech or indirect speech. Using this grammar point correctly in your writing and speaking shows that your English is at an advanced level. So let's practice!

First, make sure you have a good grasp of the verb tenses because we have to shift them when we report what someone said. Next, be aware of the pronouns, which need to be changed when you're talking about someone. Third, you may also have to modify time references depending on when you're reporting the speech.

Perhaps the part that you have to think about most when you report someone's speech is the change in the verb tense. Basically, we shift the tense back because we are talking about what someone said in the past.  In other words, if someone says something in the present tense, when we report what this person said, we change the verb to the past tense--btw, if you use "say" instead of "said", there is no need to shift verb tenses.

Here are the rules for shifting verb tenses from Quoted Speech to Reported Speech:

Quoted Speech       ----->     Reported Speech

present tense         ----->     past tense

past tense              ----->     past perfect tense

present perfect      ----->     past perfect tense

past perfect           ----->     (no change)

will                        ----->     would

can                       ----->     could

may                       ----->     might

imperative              ----->     infinitive

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minute (adj)

1. He has to work late, but he said there was a minute possibility he might be able to leave early.
2. He doesn't buy lottery tickets because the chances of winning are so minute.
3. Food labels now inform consumers if even minute amounts of nuts are found in the products since many people are allergic to nuts.
4. The room looked clean until we drew the curtains, let the light in, and saw minute particles of dust floating in the air.
5. He's fallen so far behind that the chances of him catching up with his classmates are now so minute.

Minute is pronounced /mai noot/ and is a synonym of minuscule from our Sept. 2 post. It means very small in amount, size, or significance. 


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minuscule (adj)

1. Experts say even minuscule amounts of second-hand smoke can be harmful.
2. Most people think radiation emitted by cell phones are so minuscule they're not worth worrying over.
3. He doesn't think he'll get the job; he says his experience is minuscule compared to the other applicants.
4. Studying English every single day even in minuscule amounts can make a huge difference in the long run.
5. Pennies on the sidewalk seem minuscule, but if you regularly pick them up, they add up.

Minuscule means very small in amount (or in size).

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