Unit 10: Grammar: Reported Speech - Part 2 (said, asked & told) : cours 1 Bac SM

1Learning Objectives

This lesson builds directly on Chapter 1 (reporting statements) and focuses on reporting questions using the verb 'ask'. By the end of the lesson, students should master both yes/no and wh-questions in reported speech.

This section introduces the core learning objectives for Unit 10, Part 2. These objectives build directly on your understanding of reported statements (Chapter 1) and extend your skills to reporting questions using the verb ask . By mastering the content in this lesson, you will be able to handle both yes/no questions and wh-questions in reported speech—a skill that is frequently tested in regional examinations.

Identify the key difference between reporting a statement (using said or told) and reporting a question (using asked). Report yes/no questions correctly using if or whether as connectors in reported speech. Report wh-questions correctly by using the wh-word (why, what, where, when, how, etc.) as a connector. Apply the three essential transformations when converting direct questions to reported questions: word order change, tense backshift, and removal of the auxiliary do/does/did. Remove question marks and quotation marks when converting direct questions to reported form. Recognize and avoid the common mistakes that frequently appear in regional exam questions.

Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)

A way of reporting what someone said without using their exact words. In reported speech, we use a reporting verb (such as said, told, or asked) followed by a clause that conveys the original message. The tense, word order, and pronouns may change depending on the context and the type of sentence being reported.

Reporting Verb

The verb used to introduce reported speech. For statements, we use said or told . For questions, we use asked . The choice of reporting verb determines the structure of the reported clause that follows.

Yes/No Question (Closed Question)

A question that expects a yes or no answer. In reported speech, yes/no questions are introduced with asked and connected using if or whether . Example: 'Do you like coffee?' becomes 'He asked if I liked coffee.'

Wh Question (Open Question)

A question that begins with a question word (why, what, where, when, how, who, which, whose) and expects a more detailed answer. In reported speech, wh-questions are introduced with asked and the wh-word itself serves as the connector. Example: 'Why are you late?' becomes 'She asked why I was late.'

The Three Key Transformations

Word Order

In direct questions, the auxiliary verb comes before the subject (e.g., 'Do you like pizza?'). In reported questions, the word order becomes subject + verb (e.g., 'He asked if I liked pizza'). The question structure is 'flattened' into a statement-like order.

Tense Backshift

When the reporting verb is in the past tense (e.g., 'asked'), the tense of the reported clause typically shifts back one level. Present tense becomes past tense, past tense becomes past perfect, etc. Example: 'What do you do?' \to 'He asked what I did.'

Removal of do/does/did

The auxiliary verbs do, does, and did disappear in reported questions. They are not needed because the word order has already changed. Example: 'Does she study English?' \to 'He asked if she studied English' (not 'if she does study').

Understanding these objectives and the transformations they involve is essential for success in this unit. The skills you develop here will allow you to move fluidly between direct and reported speech, a competency that is tested regularly in examinations and is vital for effective communication in English.

Before moving to questions, students must recall the rules for reporting statements, since tense backshift and pronoun/time shifts also apply to reported questions.

say (that)

Used without a personal object. Structure: subject + said + (that) + clause. Example: He said (that) he was tired.

tell + object (that)

Used WITH a personal object (the listener must be mentioned). Structure: subject + told + person + (that) + clause. Example: He told me (that) he was tired.

Tense backshift when reporting statements

Pronoun shifts : I \to he/she; we \to they; you \to I/me (depending on context) Time shifts : now \to then; today \to that day; tomorrow \to the next day Place shifts : here \to there; this \to that

Reporting a statement

Statement

Direct speech: Salma said, 'I am studying English now.'

Method

Apply say/told rule, backshift the tense, and shift pronouns and time expressions.

Solution

Identify reporting verb: said (no personal object) \to keep 'said' Backshift tense: am studying (present continuous) \to was studying (past continuous) Shift pronoun: I \to she Shift time expression: now \to then

Interpretation

Reported speech: Salma said (that) she was studying English then.

These same shifts — tense backshift, pronoun change, and time/place change — also apply when reporting questions. The next step is learning the special word order and structure needed to report a question instead of a statement.

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