he always does his homework

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he always do vs he always does

Explained by Jennifer Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: July 08, 2024 • 70485 views

he always do

This phrase is incorrect. The verb "do" should be conjugated to match the third person singular subject "he."

• Dec 3, 2022 ... “He always do” is grammatically incorrect. You could say “he always is doing”. But “He always does” would be correct.
• Apr 13, 2012 ... " He always do " is grammatically incorrect because verb (do) isn't agree with the subject. But I search on http://corpus.byu.edu/coca/ and found a couple of ...
• Aug 13, 2022 ... New viewer here, does he always do this "morphing" routine?
• May 18, 2018 ... It's not why he always do this,it's your own fault.the first time he do so,you choosed to tolerate him,it seemed that you two had a better ...
• Aug 30, 2015 ... Why did he always do this. r/pokemon - Why did he always do this · imgur.com. Open. Upvote 243
• 23 hours ago ... 266 likes, 23 comments - xo.deoni on October 21, 2024: "Yess God is good he always do things way better #explorepage #Godfirst ...
• PA is like a cheated hero, why does he always do critical when the chance is only 15% ? ... Because when you roll the dice sometimes you lose and sometimes you ...
• Apr 28, 2015 ... Like he always do that, just smiling and staring. ·. Apparently, he likes your style. A lot. But he's to shy to approach you, so the ball is ...
• Jan 3, 2021 ... Like he always do that, just smiling and staring. ·. Apparently, he likes your style. A lot. But he's to shy to approach you, so the ball is ...
• Feb 21, 2017 ... 1) he always do it. 2)he always does it. Which one is the correct? See a translation. Report copyright infringement. Answers.

Alternatives:

he always does

• he always performs
• he always executes
• he always carries out
• he always accomplishes

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

• He always does his homework before dinner.
• He always does a great job on his projects.
• He always does what he promises.
• He always does his best in every situation.
• He always does well in his exams.
• Oct 31, 2021 ... HE ALWAYS DOES - Five Nights at Freddy's Animated Afton Family Short. 1.1M views · 2 years ago #Halloween2021 #FNaFAnimation ...more. BonBun ...
• Oct 21, 2023 ... 192 likes, 9 comments - mariamilitomm on October 21, 2023: "Billy Joel ROCKED MSG last night (as he always does ) with Mark Rivera AND ...
• Feb 13, 2018 ... He always does this... r/Magic - He always does this... Archived post. New comments cannot be posted and ...
• Jul 2, 2019 ... "He prepared for school like he always does ." is the correct usage. The preparing for school is past tense because the preparing happened in ...
• Grateful to @snoopdogg for bringing it like he always does ! #nflhonors. Robert Meyers and 844 others. 󰤥 845. 󰤦 106. 󰤧 8. 󰞣. Show previous comments.
• Oct 13, 2018 ... “What he always does” is a clause and has something meaningful but “what do always does” is nothing but an absurd aggregation of words.
• Aug 15, 2019 ... Are you sure that's what you meant to ask about? “What he always does ” is fine.
• Jul 30, 2017 ... He always does .'' Kosperry on DeviantArthttps://www.deviantart.com/kosperry/art/He-will-come-back- He-always-does -695763295Kosperry. Deviation ...
• he always acts

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Do or Does: Which is Correct?

By: Author Dr. Patrick Capriola

Posted on Published: November 29, 2021

The verb “do” is among the most common English verbs, and like most verbs we use a lot, it’s irregular. “Do” and “does” are both forms of the verb “do” in the simple present, so which is correct, “do” or “does?”

When you talk about yourself, you should say, “I do” as in “I do the dishes,” not “I does the dishes.” Even though the verb “do” is irregular, it still follows the rule that a present tense verb, in the third-person singular, needs an “s” at the end. For example, “I eat” and “he eats.” Like other verbs, “do” gets an “s” in the third-person singular, but we spell it with “es” — “does.”

Let’s take a closer look at how “do” and “does” are different and when to use each one. We’ll also talk about how to make negative sentences and questions with “do” and “does,” and we’ll even check out some common phrasal verbs and expressions that use “do.”

Do Is a Verb: What Does It Mean?

“Do” and “does” are action verbs, and we use them to describe an activity in the present tense ( source ). Remember that we use the simple present tense to talk about habits or activities that happen consistently over time.

Is It “I Do” or “I Does”?

Say “I do” when you are talking about work or an activity you are performing yourself. Here are some examples:

• I always do my homework before dinner.
• I do the dishes after we eat.

You only need to use the word “does” when you use the third-person singular to talk about another person or thing ( source ). Look at these sentences:

• He always does his homework before dinner.
• She does the dishes after we eat.
• That car does well in the snow.

Can We Use “Do” with “I”?

As we’ve learned from the previous examples, you can use “do” with “I.” Bearing that in mind, which of these sentences is correct?

• I do all my chores on Saturday.
• I does all my chores on Saturday.

If you chose the first sentence, you’re correct! Remember, we need “do” when the subject is “I.”

Can We Use “Does” with “I”?

This also raises the question of whether we can use “does” with “I.” Simply put, no, you cannot use “does” with “I.” Consider the next examples. Which sentence is correct?

• I does it as many times as it takes.
• I do it as many times as it takes.

The second sentence is correct. Remember, the third-person singular is the only subject that uses “does.” You can say, “He does it as many times as it takes,” but you cannot say, “I does it as many times as it takes.”

“Does” and “Do” Chart

Here’s an easy chart to help you remember when to use “does” or “do.”

As you can see from the chart, you should always use “do” in the simple present tense when you are talking about anyone except he, she, or it. For those subjects, you need “does.”

Do or Does Singular

For proper subject-verb agreement, the singular subjects “I” and “you” need the word “do.” To describe how singular subjects “he,” “she,” or “it” complete an action, you will need to use the word “does.”

• I do my best.
• You do my hair exactly how I like it.
• She does everything with a smile.

Of course, if you are using someone’s name or the name of an “it,” you’ll also use “does.”

• Mr. Garcia does car repair from his shop.
• This printer also does color, as well as black and white.

Do or Does Plural

In contrast, for proper subject-verb agreement, you should use “do” with all plural subjects, like “we,” “they,” or the plural “you.”

• We do the laundry every week.
• They do their jobs well.
• You do your best all the time.
• They do volunteer work at the library. 

“Does” and “Do” Examples

Now you try! Look at these sentences and decide if you should use “do” or does.”

1.    Mr. and Mrs. Lee always _____ what they say.

2.    You guys ______ that project, and we can _____ this one. (you → plural)

3.    The horse ______ laps around the track.

4.    I _____ the sewing by hand.

5.    You and I ______ whatever we want.

6.    You _____ a good job when you cook. (you → singular)

7.   I _____my work from home now.

Here are the answers. How did you do?

1.   do

2.   do, do

3.   does

4.   do

5.   do

6.   do

7.   do

Using Do and Does With Various Sentence Structures

There are many different ways to use the verbs “do” and “does,” whether as main verbs or helping verbs. In this section, we’ll review the main applications for both.

Do and Does in a Positive Sentence for Emphasis

Occasionally, we can use “do” and “does” as helping verbs . However, this isn’t very common in positive sentences unless you want to give extra emphasis to the sentence’s main verb. You will still use “does” with the third-person singular and “do” with all other personal pronouns. 

Here are some examples of how either “do” or “does” can provide emphasis for your main verb:

• I do want to go ; please call me! (You do not think I want to go)
• He does like pickles on his sandwich. (You thought he did not like them.)
• Sally and Harry do want to get married; they just don’t know when.

Making Negative Sentences With Do and Does

We also use “do” and “does” as helping verbs in negative sentences if the main verb is not “be.” Just add the adverb “not” after the helping verb “do” or “does,” then use your main verb. You will still use “does” for “he,” “she,” and “it” and “do” for all other personal pronouns. Consider the following examples:

• I do not want to go .
• You do not need to help me.
• Marla does not eat meat.
• We do not exercise on Fridays.
• You (plural) do not use plastic forks.
• They do not think it will happen.

Any of these sentences are fine. However, it’s much more common to make a contraction with “not,” especially when you are speaking. Simply combine “do” or “does” with “not” into one word, and then replace the “o” in “not” with an apostrophe.

• I don’t want to go.
• You don’t need to help me.
• Marla doesn’t eat meat.
• We don’t exercise on Fridays.
• You don’t use plastic forks.
• They don’t think it will happen.

Making Questions With Do and Does

A very common way to ask questions in English is by using “do” and “does” as helping verbs. Use them when you are asking a question that needs a “yes” or “no” answer. 

The rule for when to use “do” and “does” is still the same. You need to use “does” with “he,” “she,” or “it” and “do” with “I” and all other personal pronouns ( source ). Here are some examples:

• Do you like chocolate ice cream?
• Does he need help?
• Do they make a lot of money?
• Do we have a meeting today?

The answer to all of these questions can be a simple yes or no. If you need a longer answer to a question, you can add a question word — who, what, where, when, why, how, which — before “do” or “does.”

• Why does he always arrive late?
• How do you spell that?
• What do I use to clean this?
• Who do they live with?

However, there are times you do not need to use “do” and “does” when you ask a question. We’ve already talked about one — when your main verb is a form of “be.” Here are two more:

• When your main verb is a compound verb, like “are going.”
• When you use a modal verb, like “can,” should,” have,” etc.

Making Negative Questions With “Do” and “Does”

To make negative questions, you should use the contractions “don’t” and “doesn’t.” It’s very rare to form a negative question by saying or spelling “do not” or “does not.” Instead, just put these contractions at the beginning of the sentence, before the subject. These questions only need a “yes” or “no” answer.

• Don’t I look pretty?
• Doesn’t that dog need a bath?
• Don’t we have a meeting today?

Do and Does Can Substitute for Other Verbs

If your listener knows what action you are talking about, you can also follow “do” and “does” with the pronoun “it.”

• We do it every week. (the laundry.)
• He never does it until the weekend. (his homework.)
• They do it with love. (their cooking)
• This machine does it better. (the function of the machine you are talking about)

Speaking of pronouns, be aware that it’s not a good idea to directly follow “do” or “does” with a pronoun that refers to a person, like “him,” “her,” or “us.” Sentences like that are either so casual that they sound uneducated, or they can refer in a derogatory way to activities that you wouldn’t talk about in normal conversation.

However, you can use possessive pronouns, like “my” and “her,” followed by a noun.

• I do her hair every morning.
• Does Mr. Smith do your yard three times a week?

Other Ways to Use Do and Does

You can also use “do” and “does” with indefinite pronouns like “everything” and “nothing” to talk about activities.

• I do everything around the house.
• She does nothing unless someone asks her.

And finally, you can use “do” and “does” with an adverb to describe how you performed that activity.

• Matthew does his homework quickly.

Pronouncing Do and Does

“Do” and “does” also have irregular pronunciation, but don’t worry! Once you learn how to say them, they are easy to remember. The following pronunciation guides use Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary ( source ) and IPA symbols to help you ( source ).

Some Useful Idioms and Phrasal Verbs With “Do”

Since we use “do” and “does” a lot, there are also many expressions and idioms that use these two words ( source ). Here are a few:

Do (someone) a favor → to do a kind or helpful act for someone:

• Molly, would you do me a favor and help me move these boxes?

Do business → to sell or buy from:

• That deal sounds good; can we do business?

Do you good → a good thing that will help you:

• Take this medicine; it does you good.

Do a number on → to hurt or harm someone or something:

• The puppy does a number on my shoes.

Do-over → a second try to accomplish a task that was previously unsuccessful:

• Can I have a do-over?

Do the trick → to produce the desired result:

• I fixed the picture frame with a nail; that should do the trick.

Do you read me → this is serious; it is important that you do as I say:

• Jonathan, do not play in the street. Do you read me?

How to Answer “How Are You Doing?”

Finally, what should you say when someone asks you, “How are you doing?” You can’t answer this with the present tense “I do.” Instead, you need to use the present continuous, as they did in their question. This article was written for strategiesforparents.com.

You might answer, “I’m doing well” or “I’m doing good.” Both are correct, but they mean different things. Check out this article on the difference between “doing well” and “doing good.”

Final Thoughts

Remember, you should use “does” for the third-person singular. Use “do” for all other personal pronouns, both singular and plural. This rule applies when you use “do” as an action verb, as well as when you use it as a helping verb.

The more you listen to native speakers and practice your own speaking, the more you will discover that using “do” and “does” correctly will soon become natural for you. 

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Adverbs of Frequency Sentence Placement

Use these adverbs to tell how often something occurs or did occur

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Adverbs of frequency tell us how often something happens/is the case, happened/was the case, will happen/will be the case, etc.

There are lots of them. Here are some adverb of frequency examples:

• always - Peter is always getting into trouble.
• usually - They usually get their work done on time.
• frequently - My sister frequently goes shopping in Seattle.
• rarely - They rarely ask questions about the homework.

Most Common Adverbs of Frequency Examples

The most common adverb of frequency examples in English in order from most often to least often:

• always - He always does his homework.
• usually - They usually complete the work on time.
• often - I often watch movies online.
• sometimes - Jack sometimes comes over for dinner. 
• occasionally - She occasionally asks a question.
• rarely - They rarely have any homework.
• never - I never complain at work. 

Where Do They Appear in the Sentence?

Word order can be confusing with adverbs of frequency. Here are different rules for placement in sentences.

1. In a Sentence With One Verb

If the sentence has one verb in it (e.g. no auxiliary verb) we usually put the adverb in the middle of the sentence, i.e. after the subject and before the verb:

subject / adverb / verb / predicate

• Tom usually goes to work by car.
• Mary often asks me for help. 

2. Usually After the Verb "Be"

The adverb usually comes after the verb "be":

subject / verb / adverb / predicate

• Tom is often late.
• Anne isn't usually sick.
• Peter isn't always right.

This is not the case if we put the adverb at the beginning or end of the sentence for emphasis .

This rule also does not apply to short answers:

• Is she usually on time?
• Tell her not to be late.
• Yes, she usually is.
• She never is.

The rule is broken in other cases too, such as in these adverb of frequency examples:

Conversation 1

• Speaker A: What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at school?
• Speaker B: I normally am at school at this time, but my teacher is ill. 

Conversation 2

• Speaker A: You're late again!
• Speaker B: usually am late on Mondays because the traffic is so bad.

Conversation 3

• Speaker A: Tom is late again!
• Speaker B: Tom usually is late. 

3. In a Sentence With More Than One Verb

If the sentence has more than one verb in it (e.g. auxiliary verb ) we usually put the adverb after the first part of the verb:

subject / helping verb or modal / adverb / main verb / predicate

• I can never remember his name.
• Anne doesn't usually smoke.
• The children have often complained about the playground facilities.

In sentences with "have to" the adverb is in position A:

subject / adverb / have to / main verb / predicate

• We often have to wait for the bus.
• She never has to do any housework.
• They sometimes have to stay after class. 

4. When Using for Emphasis

For emphasis, we can put the adverb at the beginning or end of the sentence.

At the end is unusual—we usually only put it there when we have forgotten to put it in earlier.

adverb / subject / main verb / predicate

• Sometimes we go to school by bus.
• Often he waits for her after class.
• Usually, Peter arrives early for work.

subject / main verb / predicate / adverb

• We go to school by bus sometimes.
• They like to watch TV often.
• Jennifer buys a new car rarely.

Exceptions:

"Always" can't go at the beginning or end of the sentence.

"Never", "seldom", and "rarely" can't go at the end of a sentence. They only go at the beginning of a sentence in "polemic statements". Then they have to be followed by the word order for questions:

• Never has there been a better time to overcome our differences.
• Rarely do we have an opportunity like this.
• Seldom had the orchestra given a worse performance. 

5. In Question Form

When using adverbs of frequency in the question form, put the adverb before the main verb.

auxiliary verb / subject / adverb / main verb / predicate

• Do you often go to the cinema?
• Did he sometimes leave the classroom?
• Do they usually come late to class?

"Never", "seldom", "rarely" and other adverbs of frequency with a negative sense are not usually used in the question form.

6. In the Negative Form

When using adverbs of frequency in the negative form, put the adverb before the main verb.

subject / helping verb / adverb / main verb / predicate

• They don't often go to the cinema.
• She doesn't usually wait for an answer.
• Peter doesn't normally want to come with us. 

"Never", "seldom", "rarely" and other adverbs of frequency with a negative sense are not usually used in the negative form.

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Reflexive Pronouns

Table of Contents

What are reflexive pronouns.

A dictionary definition of the adjective “reflexive” refers to something “directed or turned back on itself”

In grammar, r eflexive pronouns are used when the object is the same as the subject . For example, in the sentence “ he hurt himself “, he and himself refer to the same person.

Examples of reflexive pronouns include “ myself “, “ yourself “, “ himself “, “ herself “, “ itself “, and “ themselves “.

• She was looking at herself in the mirror when I saw her. (“ Herself ” refers back to “ she “.)
• They were enjoying themselves , celebrating their victory. (“ Themselves ” refers back to “ They “.)

Forming Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns are formed by combining a personal pronoun with the suffix “-self” (singular) or “-selves” (plural). The choice of the pronoun depends on the grammatical person and number of the subject. Here’s how you can form reflexive pronouns:

List of reflexive pronouns With Examples:

Uses Of Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns are used for various reasons:

1. Reflexive Pronouns for Referring Back to A Subject

Reflexive pronouns are typically used to refer to a previously named noun or pronoun as in the following examples.

• She hurt herself
• John bought  himself   a bar of chocolate.
• He blames himself for what happened.
• You might cut yourself.
• We will enjoy ourselves at the party.

2. Reflexive pronouns For Emphasis

Reflexive pronouns are also used for emphasis. In this case, they are referred to as intensive pronouns . For example, in the sentence “I spoke to the president himself “, the speaker emphasizes that he spoke to the president personally NOT somebody else.

Compare the following examples:

• John bought  himself   a bar of chocolate. (“ Himself ”  here is reflexive, referring back to John)
• John himself bought a bar of chocolate. (“ Himself ” here is intensive, emphasizing that it’s John who bought a bar of chocolate.)

Here are other examples of the intensive use of reflexive pronouns:

In the above examples, the reflexive pronouns (i.e., intensive pronouns) can be removed without much change in meaning.

3. By + Reflexive Pronouns

The preposition “ by ” preceding a reflexive pronouns as in “ By myself ” means “ alone ” and ” without any help.”

• I did the entire project by myself .
• James completed the challenging puzzle by himself .
• By itself , the machine can perform complex calculations.

Reflexive pronouns Functions In A Sentence

1. reflexive pronouns as objects of verbs.

Reflexive pronouns may function as a direct or indirect object of a verb in a sentence:

• She washed herself after a long day at work.
• The cat groomed itself meticulously.
• He bought himself a gift to celebrate his achievement.

2. Reflexive Pronouns As Objects of Prepositions

Reflexive pronouns may be used as the object of a preposition:

• He made a cup of coffee for himself .
• He was talking to himself .
• She did the job by herself .
• Look at yourself !

Every morning…

I look at myself in the mirror.

3. Reflexive Pronouns Emphasizing Nouns

Reflexive pronouns are also used for emphasis. In this case, they are called intensive pronouns . Intensive pronouns can be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence.

• I met the king himself .
• The president himself announced the news.
• He sent the letter himself .

Position of Reflexive Pronouns

• She treated herself to a day at the spa. (Direct object)
• He bought a new camera for himself. (Indirect object)
• She went on a vacation by herself. (Object of the preposition “by”)
• They shared the news with themselves. (Object of the preposition “with”)
• The president himself addressed the crowd. (Emphasis on the president)
• The team itself celebrated the victory. (Emphasis on the team)

Common Mistakes in Using Reflexive Pronouns

While reflexive pronouns can add precision and emphasis to your language, there are common mistakes that often arise. Let’s explore some of these errors and understand how to avoid them:

1. Overgeneralization Of The Rule:

It is Incorrect to use  “hisself,” “theirselves,” and “theirself” instead of “himself,” “themselves.” This mistake is probably due to the overgeneralization of a morphological rule (her + self = herself).

• Incorrect: “John praised theirselves for the effort.”
• Correct: “John praised themselves for the effort.”

2. Incorrect Usage With Plural Nouns:

It is inaccurate to use “themself” and “yourself” instead of “themselves” and “yourselves” when referring to plural nouns.

• Incorrect: “The team celebrated themself after the victory.”
• Correct: “The team celebrated themselves after the victory.”

3. Misuse Of Subject And Object Pronouns:

A common mistake with reflexive pronouns is the incorrect use of reflexive pronouns in place of subject or object pronouns. Ensure proper use of subject and object pronouns in sentences.

• Incorrect: “Mr. Jordan and myself will give a talk about our new book.”
• Correct: “Mr. Jordan and I will give a talk about our new book.”
• Incorrect: “Myself will send the email.”
• Correct: “I will send the email.”

4. Incorrect Use of Objects Of Prepositions:

Another common mistake is the use of reflexive pronouns incorrectly as objects of prepositions. Choose the appropriate object pronoun.

• Incorrect: “You may send the email to Mrs. Lynch or myself.”
• Correct: “You may send the email to Mrs. Lynch or me.”

Being mindful of these common pitfalls will enhance your command of reflexive pronouns, contributing to clearer and more polished communication.

What is a reflexive pronoun, and can you provide examples?

A reflexive pronoun is a pronoun that reflects the action of the verb back onto the subject. Examples include “myself,” “yourself,” “himself,” “herself,” “itself,” “ourselves,” “yourselves,” and “themselves.” For instance, in the sentence “She dressed herself,” “herself” reflects the action back to the subject “she.”

What is the proper position for reflexive pronouns in a sentence?

Reflexive pronouns are placed in various positions based on their functions. They can appear after verbs as direct or indirect objects, after prepositions as objects of prepositions, or after nouns for emphasis. For example, “She treated herself,” “She went by herself,” and “The president himself addressed the crowd.”

How are reflexive pronouns formed?

Reflexive pronouns are formed by adding “-self” (singular) or “-selves” (plural) to personal pronouns. Examples include “myself,” “yourself,” “himself,” “ourselves,” etc.

Could you share examples of reflexive pronouns suitable for Class 7?

Certainly! Examples suitable for Class 7 include sentences like “I completed the homework by myself” and “They enjoyed the party all by themselves.”

In what way can reflexive pronouns be used effectively in sentences?

Reflexive pronouns are used for emphasis, to reflect the action back to the subject, or to indicate actions done alone. For example, “He himself solved the puzzle,” “She hurt herself”, or “She prepared the meal by herself.”

How do reflexive and intensive pronouns differ from each other?

Reflexive pronouns reflect the action back to the subject (e.g., “I did it myself”). Intensive pronouns, on the other hand, emphasize a preceding noun or pronoun (e.g., “John himself bought a new car”). While both end in “-self” or “-selves,” their functions in a sentence distinguish them. Additionally, removing intensive pronouns from a sentence doesn’t result in much change of meaning. Consider this example: “He himself sent the email” Vs. “He sent the email.” The same is not true for reflexive pronouns. You can’t say “She hurt”; you have to add the reflexive pronouns for the meaning to be complete: “She hurt herself.”

You may also be interested in:

• subject pronouns,
• object pronouns
• possessive pronouns,
• and possessive adjectives.

Related pages

• Exercise on reflexive pronouns.

Simple Present, Exercise on Use

Taking place once, never or several times.

Put the verbs into the correct form.

• On Mondays he (go) to the gym.
• You never (arrive) on time.
• I seldom (go) to the zoo.
• Francis occasionally (drink) coffee.
• Ron seldom (do) his homework.
• They (not / often / sing) songs.
• Pierre (not / play) tennis every week.
• I (not / usually / watch) TV in the mornings.
• (they / spend) their holidays in Canada every year?
• (he /always / wear) a hat?

→ Exercise on actions taking place one after another

How to use Reported Speech

We use reported speech when we want to repeat what someone had previously said.

Let's look at the difference between direct speech and reported speech:

Direct Tomie said = ' I am tired.'

Reported Speech = 'Tomie said (that) she was tired.'

In reported speech we need to use the past tense form of the verb. In direct speech the present tense is used. As you can see, in the above sentence 'am' changes to 'was' when we use reported speech.

changing to the past tense to make reported speech

Here are some of the important verb changes we use when making reported speech:

am becomes was

Direct John: 'I am going.' Reported : 'John said that he was going.'

is becomes was

Direct John: 'She is tall.' Reported : 'John said that she was tall.'

do becomes did

Direct John: 'I always do my homework.' Reported : 'John said that he always did his homework.'

does becomes did

Direct John: 'My mother does the cleaning.' Reported : 'John said that his mother did the cleaning.'

have becomes had

Direct John: 'I have your number.' Reported : 'John said that he had my number.'

has becomes had

Direct John: 'He has caught a cold.' Reported : 'John said that he had caught a cold.'

go becomes went

Direct John: 'I go shopping on Sunday.' Reported : 'John said that he went shopping on Sunday.'

will becomes would

Direct John: 'I will call Frank.' Reported : 'John said that he would call Frank.'

can becomes could

Direct John: 'I can ride a horse.' Reported : 'John said that he could ride a horse.'

want becomes wanted

Direct John: 'I want a girlfriend.' Reported : 'John said that he wanted a girlfriend.'

When not to change the verb tense

When direct speech uses the past tense we do not need to make a change:

Direct John: 'I broke my arm.' Reported : 'John said that he broke his arm.'

It is also OK to change the past tense to the past perfect :

Direct John: 'I broke my arm.' Reported : 'John said that he had broken his arm.'

using reported speech for questions

So far we have looked at using 'said' in reported speech . When a question is asked we do not use 'said'. Instead we use 'asked'. We also need to use an interrogative (wh- word) or if / whether. Take a look at the examples:

questions using interrogatives

Direct John: 'What is your name?' Reported : 'John asked me what my name was.'

Direct John: ' Where does she live?' Reported : 'John asked me where she lived.'

questions using if / whether

Direct John: 'Does he play golf?' Reported : 'John asked if he played golf.' Reported : 'John asked whether he played golf.'

using reported speech for requests

As we have seen, 'said' is used for statements and 'asked' is used for requests. We use 'told' for requests and 'to' before the clause:

Direct John: 'Go home' Reported : 'John told me to go.'

Direct John: 'Stop crying' Reported : 'John told me to stop crying.'

using suggestions in reported speech

When someone gives us advice in direct speech we use 'suggested' or 'recommended' in reported speech:

Direct John: 'You should take a holiday' Reported : 'John suggested that I took a holiday.'

Direct John: 'You should take a holiday' Reported : 'John recommended that I took a holiday.'

For stronger language we can use 'insist' or 'demand':

Direct John: 'You must see a doctor.' Reported : 'John insisted that I saw a doctor.' Reported : 'John demanded that I saw a doctor.'

• 'My brothers are taller than me.' He said that his brothers were taller than him. He said that brothers are taller than him. He told me that his brothers are tall than him. He said me his brothers were taller than him.
• 'I will see you soon.' He said he would see me soon. He said I will see me soon. He asked if he would see me soon. He said would see me soon.
• 'I have a cold.' She said had a cold. She asked if I had a cold. She said that she had a cold. She said has a cold.
• 'I know the way.' He said he know the way. He asked me the way. He told me he know the way. He said that he knew the way.
• 'He lost his phone.' He said he losts his phone. He said he has loses his phone. He said that he had lost his phone. He said that lost his phone.
• 'Do you want a coffee?' He asked if I wants a coffee. He asked I wanted a coffee. He said if I wanted a coffee. He asked if I wanted a coffee.
• 'Are you Simon?' She asked whether I was Simon. She asked whether if I was Simon. She asked whether I Simon. She asked whether am simon.
• 'Why do you like Jazz?' She asked why I likes Jazz. She ask why I like Jazz. She asked if I like Jazz. She asked why I liked Jazz.
• 'Bring your ball.' He tells me to bring my ball. He told me bring a ball. He told me to bring my ball. He asked me if I brought my ball.
• 'You must come to my party.' She asked me to come her party. She said that I come to her party. She recommended that I come to her party. She insisted that I came to her party.

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