Quoting and Reporting in Our Own Words

Quoting and Reporting in Our Own Words:

When reporting what people think or say, we often paraphrase their words in our own language, especially when conveying the essence of their message is more important than their exact words. This is done through reporting clauses followed by reported clauses. For example:

• Original: She said, "I suppose you've heard the latest news."
• Reported: She mentioned that I must have heard the latest news.

Quoting Exact Words:

However, if the exact words are crucial or if a dramatic effect is desired, direct quotations are used. Quotations are enclosed within quotation marks and may have the reporting clause before, within, or after the quoted text. For instance:

• Original: "Of course," Carter replied, "you'll have to pay him to do the job."
• Reported: Carter replied that I would need to pay him to do the job.

Negatives in Reporting:

When reporting negations, the reporting verb is made negative. If the negation is to be included in the reported clause, it is usually placed there. Example:

• Original: "You're right, it isn't a good idea."
• Reported: He agreed that it wasn't a good idea.

Reporting Questions: For reporting wh-questions, a reporting clause is followed by a clause with a wh-word. Yes/no questions are reported using a reporting clause followed by a clause with "if" or "whether." In both cases, the word order is usually the same as in a statement. Examples:

• Original: "Where should we go next?" She asked.
• Reported: She asked where to go next.

How It Can Be Useful:

Learning how to report people's words and thoughts allows for effective communication in various contexts, including interviews, storytelling, and academic writing. Paraphrasing helps to convey the essence of a message concisely, while direct quotations add authenticity and credibility. Understanding the nuances of reporting enhances language proficiency and fosters clear and accurate communication skills.

Conclusion:

Mastering the art of reporting people's words and thoughts, whether through paraphrasing or direct quotations, is essential for effective communication. By learning these techniques and practising their application, students can convey information accurately and eloquently in both spoken and written discourse.

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Language Level