Definition of Grammar Grammar

of a speaker and contains most but not all of that speaker’s exact words or thoughts. 15 Reported speech refers to reproducing the idea of a speaker’s words. Not all of the speaker’s exact words are used: verb forms and pronouns may change. Quotation marks are not used. 16 In Cambridge dictionary, Reported Speech is defined as the act of reporting something that was said, but not using exactly the same words. 17 A.J. Thompson and A.V. Martinet stated in A Practical English Grammar , “In indirect speech we give the exact meaning of a remark or a speech, without necessarily using the speaker’s exact words. Example: “He said that he had lost his umbrella”. 18 Michael Swan stated in Practical English Usage that reported speech was to quote somebody’s words or thoughts without quoting the exact words that had been used and connected it more closely to our own sentence. 19 The report of one speaker or writer on the words said, written, or thought by someone else. 20 From several definitions above, it can be comprehended that reported speech is a way to report someone’s words or thoughts without quoting the exact words that heshe said. 2. The Transformational Rules from Direct Statement into Reported Speech of Statement As mentioned in chapter one, the study is limited only in reported statement. Reported Speech also called Indirect Speech is used to communicate what someone else said, but without using the exact words. A 14 Michael Swan, Practical English Usage, Oxford University Press, 1980, p. 471. 16 Maurer, loc. cit. 17 Azar, loc, cit. 15 Cambridge University, op. cit,, p. 735. 18 Martinet, loc. cit. 19 Swan, op. cit., p. 533. 20 http:grammar.about.comodrsgreportedspeechterm.htm , April 30, 2013. few changes are necessary; often a pronoun has to be changed and the verb is usually moved back a tense, where possible. 21 In indirect speech there are no quotation marks. The first word of the indirect speech is not capitalized, and the reporting statement is not followed by a comma. Note that indirect speech is presented as a noun clause and can be introduced by the word that. That is sometimes omitted in conversation and informal writing. Examples: “Taylor said that he wanted to keep going to public school. Taylor told his mother that he wanted to keep going to public school. Taylor told Chuck and Marie that he wouldn’t go.” 22 There is no comma after say in indirect speech, that can usually be omitted after say and tell + object. But it should be kept after other verbs: complain, explain, object, point out, protest, etc. 23 To indicate that is quoting or reporting what someone has said or thought by using a reporting verb, every reporting clause contains a reporting verb. Here is a list of reporting verbs which can be used to report what people say: Table 2.1 The List of Reporting Verbs Acknowledge Add Admit Advise Agree Announce Answer Argue Ask Assert Assure Concede Confess Confirm Continue Convince Cry Declare Demand Deny Describe Direct Imply Inform Inquire Insists Instruct Invite Maintain Mention Mumble Murmur Mutter Predict Proclaim Promise Prophesy Propose Reassure Recall Recite Recommend Record Refuse Say Scream Shout Shriek State Stipulate Suggest Swear Teach Tell Threaten 21 http:www.usingenglish.comglossaryreported-speech.html , April 30, 2013. 22 Maurer, op. cit., p. 452 23 Martinet, loc. cit.