[Vocabulary] DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH

[NABADIP]

My question is

Why is reporting verb always in simple past, simple present or simple future?

Ram said, " i have taken food".

Answer is : -- Ram said that he had taken food.

Now, the questions are

Ram had said, " I have taken food"
or
Ram has said, " I have taken food"

Are these questions valid? What are the formula of changing tense in reported speech if the tense in reporting verb is present prefect, or present continuous ?

For example : Ram is saying " I have taken food"



Nabadip Chakravarty

 

[Raymott]

Now, the questions are

Ram had said, " I have taken food"
or
Ram has said, " I have taken food"

Are these questions valid? What are the formula of changing tense in reported speech if the tense in reporting verb is present prefect, or present continuous ?

You're mixing up the two verbs in the sentence. It's two different issues.
Ram said, " I have taken food".
Just because Ram uses a perfect tense in his sentence doesn't mean you have to use one to report it. The reported version is "Ram said that he had taken food."
Also, the reporting verb is sometimes in the perfect form if that is appropriate.
"Because Ram had said he had taken food, I began to wonder if he was a thief." (Note that "taking food" rarely means "eating". I'm assuming here that he stole it.)

 

[5jj]

Although you mention reported and indirect speech, Nabadip Chakravarty, there are no examples in your post.

"Ram said, "I have eaten". This is how we write direct speech.
Ram said (that) he has/had eaten. This is how we write indirect/reported speech.

 

[bigC]

I am not a teacher

In Raymtt's example, the indirect speech changes tense.

In 5jj's example, the indirect speech does not change tense.

Would you explain why?

 

[bhaisahab]

I am not a teacher

In Raymtt's example, the indirect speech changes tense.

In 5jj's example, the indirect speech does not change tense.

Would you explain why?

Backshifting in reported speech is not always necessary but it's always correct.

 

[Winwin2011]

Backshifting in reported speech is not always necessary but it's always correct.

John: My father lives in London.
1. John said that his father lives in London.
2. John said that his father lived in London

Which of the above reported speech is more common in conversation?

Thanks.

 

[bhaisahab]

They are equally common.

 

[tzfujimino]

I am not a teacher

In 5jj's example, the indirect speech does not change tense.

Would you explain why?

Hello, bigC.:-D
If you are referring to 5jj's "Ram said (that) he has/has eaten.", then it's just a small typo.
(The second has should have been had - backshifting.)

 

[Tdol]

I have changed has to had.

 

[bigC]

I am not a teacher

"John said that his father lived in London".

Does this sentence imply that John's father no longer live in London when John said.

If "yes", then it deviates in meaning from the original direct speech, "John: My father lives in London."

 

[5jj]

"John said that his father lived in London".

Does this sentence imply that John's father no longer lives in London when John said that.

We cannot say precisely what such sentences mean/imply without the full context. The speaker of those words knew what the situation was; the listener probably did. The context could be:

That was true at the time John said these words, and is still true.
That was true at the time John said these words, but is no longer true.
That was not true at the time John said these words, but John believed it to be true.
That was not true at the time John said these words, and John knew that.