Summary Comparison: Pronoun and Determiner Changes in Reported Speech

In reported speech, pronouns and determiners (such as articles, possessive adjectives, and demonstratives) often need to be changed to reflect the shift from the speaker's perspective to the perspective of the reporter. These changes occur because the pronouns and determiners in direct speech are typically based on the speaker's point of view, whereas reported speech adopts the reporter’s point of view.

1. Pronoun Changes:

1.1 First-Person Pronouns: I, We

In direct speech, the speaker often uses I or we as the subject. In reported speech, these pronouns are changed to he, she, they, etc. based on the gender and number of the person being referred to.

• Example:
  Direct speech: I am going to the market.
  Reported speech: He said that he was going to the market.

Explanation: The first-person pronoun I changes to he (or she, depending on the gender) in reported speech to reflect the perspective of the person reporting the speech.

1.2 Second-Person Pronoun: You

In direct speech, you is used for the person being spoken to. In reported speech, you changes to he, she, they (depending on the person being spoken to).

• Example:
  Direct speech: You should bring the book tomorrow.
  Reported speech: He said that I should bring the book tomorrow.

Explanation: The second-person pronoun you in direct speech changes to I in the reported speech when the person being addressed is the reporter, but it would change depending on the context (like to he or she when necessary).

2. Determiner Changes:

2.1 Articles (a, an, the)

In reported speech, definite and indefinite articles can change depending on the context, especially when the reference shifts from the speaker's immediate surroundings to a more general context.

• Example:
  Direct speech: I found a pen on the table.
  Reported speech: She said that she found a pen on the table.

Explanation: The article a (indefinite) in direct speech remains unchanged in this case, as it does not depend on the speaker's immediate context.

2.2 Possessive Adjectives (My, Your, His, Her, etc.)

Possessive adjectives, such as my, your, his, her, change to reflect the perspective of the reporter rather than the speaker in direct speech.

• Example:
  Direct speech: I lost my keys.
  Reported speech: She said that she had lost her keys.

Explanation: The possessive adjective my changes to her (or his, their, depending on the speaker in reported speech) to reflect the new perspective in the reported speech.

2.3 Demonstrative Determiners (This, These, That, Those)

Demonstrative determiners like this, these, that, those shift depending on the context and the perspective of the speaker.

• Example:
  Direct speech: This is my favorite book.
  Reported speech: He said that that was his favorite book.

Explanation: The demonstrative determiner this changes to that in reported speech to reflect the shift in perspective. Similarly, these may change to those depending on the context.

3. General Guidelines for Pronoun and Determiner Changes in Reported Speech:

• First-person pronouns (I, we) change to third-person pronouns (he, she, they) in reported speech, reflecting the speaker’s point of view.

• Second-person pronouns (you) change to first-person pronouns (I) when the reporter is the person being addressed.

• Possessive adjectives (my, your, his, her) change to reflect the new subject in the reported speech.

• Demonstrative determiners (this, these) are usually replaced with that, those when reporting.