🎓 Mastering Reported Speech (With Arabic Explanations)
.png "The Reported Speech")
Reported Speech (Indirect Speech) is used to communicate what someone else said without using their exact words.
الكلام المنقول (Reported Speech) هو نقل ما قاله شخص آخر بأسلوبنا الخاص، مع تغيير الضمائر والأزمنة لتناسب السياق الجديد.
When transforming Direct Speech into Reported Speech, three main elements typically change:
Verb Tenses تغيير زمن الفعل (الرجوع بالزمن للوراء)
Time & Place Expressions ظروف الزمان والمكان
Pronouns الضمائر (أنا تصبح هو/هي، إلخ)
1. Verb Tense Changes (The Backshift)
The Golden Rule: When the reporting verb is in the past (said, told), we move one step back into the past.
القاعدة الذهبية: إذا كان فعل القول في الماضي (said/told)، نغير زمن الجملة خطوة واحدة إلى الوراء (الماضي).
| Direct Speech Tense | Becomes... | Reported Speech Tense | Arabic Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present Simple "I am a pilot." | ➡ | Past Simple He said (that) he was a pilot. | المضارع البسيط يصبح ماضياً بسيطاً |
| Present Continuous "I am coming." | ➡ | Past Continuous She told me she was coming. | المضارع المستمر يصبح ماضياً مستمراً |
| Present Perfect "I haven't seen it." | ➡ | Past Perfect He said he hadn't seen it. | المضارع التام يصبح ماضياً تاماً |
| Past Simple "Jack broke his leg." | ➡ | Past Perfect He said Jack had broken his leg. | الماضي البسيط يصبح ماضياً تاماً |
| Future Simple (Will) "I will win." | ➡ | Conditional (Would) He said he would win. | المستقبل (will) يتحول إلى (would) |
⚡ Modal Verb Changes
| Direct Modal | Becomes... | Reported Modal |
|---|---|---|
| Can (يستطيع) | ➡ | Could |
| May (قد / ربما) | ➡ | Might |
| Must / Have to (يجب) | ➡ | Had to |
| Will (سوف) | ➡ | Would |
| Should / Could / Might | ➡ | (No Change) لا تتغير |
2. Time & Place Changes
We change these words because we are not in the same place or time as the original speaker.
نغير ظروف الزمان والمكان لأننا ننقل الكلام في وقت مختلف ومكان مختلف.
| Category | Direct Speech | Reported Speech | Arabic Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Now | Then | حينئذ / عندئذ |
| Today | That day | ذلك اليوم | |
| Tonight | That night | تلك الليلة | |
| Yesterday | The day before / The previous day | اليوم السابق | |
| Tomorrow | The next day / The following day | اليوم الموالي | |
| Place | Here | There | هناك |
| Pointer | This | That | ذلك / تلك |
3. Reporting Functions (Verbs)
This is the most important part for the Bac Exam. Instead of just using "said", use verbs that explain what the speaker was doing (advising, warning, promising, etc.).
بدل استخدام "said" فقط، يجب استخدام أفعال توضح نية المتحدث (نصح، حذر، اقترح...) وهذه اللائحة مهمة جداً للامتحان الوطني.
Group A: Verb + TO + Infinitive
| Verb | Arabic Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Agree | يوافق | He agreed to sign the contract. |
| Offer | يعرض المساعدة | She offered to help me. |
| Promise | يعد | He promised to buy me a gift. |
| Refuse | يرفض | The guard refused to let him in. |
| Threaten | يهدد | He threatened to call the police. |
Group B: Verb + Object + TO + Infinitive
| Verb | Arabic Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Advise | ينصح | The doctor advised him to stop smoking. |
| Ask | يطلب | She asked me to open the door. |
| Invite | يدعو | He invited her to attend the party. |
| Order | يأمر | The officer ordered him to stop. |
| Remind | يذكر | She reminded me to lock the door. |
| Warn | يحذر | He warned the child not to touch the fire. |
Group C: Verb + Gerund (-ing)
| Verb | Arabic Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Apologize for | يعتذر عن | He apologized for being late. |
| Accuse (someone) of | يتهم بـ | They accused him of stealing the money. |
| Admit | يعترف | He admitted breaking the vase. |
| Deny | ينكر | The thief denied stealing the bag. |
| Regret | يندم على | She regretted leaving school early. |
| Suggest | يقترح | He suggested going to the cinema. |
📝 Practice Exercises
- A. Rewrite the sentences using the suggested reporting verbs.
"Keep the environment clean!" He said.
The city councillor ordered the residents...
"Don't leave your luggage unattended!" The notice said.
The notice reminded passengers...
"I can't put up with this noise." She said.
She told the children...
"We want peace and harmony." They shouted.
The crowd shouted that...
"You must unload your luggage so I can check it." The officer said.
The customs officer told me...
"I'll phone you back later tonight." He said.
He let me know...
"When I retire, I'll set up my own business." The man said.
The man declared that...
- B. Report the following questions.
- انتبه: في السؤال المنقول، نحذف علامة الاستفهام ونرجع ترتيب الجملة إلى أصله (Subject + Verb).
"How much did you pay for your new flat?"
My neighbour wanted to know...
"Do you often travel in business class?"
He wondered...
"How long have you been married?"
The officer asked the couple...
"Can you trust that man?"
My mother enquired...
"Will it take you long to come back?"
He asked her...