Reported Speech: DON’T MAKE THESE MISTAKES

Often, many of us make these mistakes when reporting a speech: 

1.  1. WRONG: She asked me where was I going.

    RIGHT: She asked me where I was going. 

Explanation:  The formation “was I”  (Verb + Noun) is a question. Reported Speech is a sentence,

so do not put Verb before a Noun.

2. WRONG: The teacher told me don’t do it again.

    RIGHT: The teacher told me not to do it again.

 Explanation: The formation “don’t do it again” is an order from a Direct Speech. It is a direct report

from the original sentence. So in Reported Speech, we have to change it to “not to do it again”. 

3.   3. WRONG: He asked me if could I help him.

     RIGHT:  He asked me if I could help him. 

Explanation: Again this is a Verb + Noun formation. Please refer to explanation No 1.

4.  4.  WRONG: I asked what is wrong with him.

     RIGHT: I asked what was wrong with him. 

Explanation: Remember, change the tenses when reporting a speech.

5.  5. WRONG: He said that he would come tomorrow.

    RIGHT: He said that he would come the next day/the following day. 

Explanation: Remember to change the time reference when reporting a speech.

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