Reported/Indirect speech.

 

In American English, "reported speech" and "indirect speech" are generally used interchangeably to refer to the same concept. Both terms describe the act of conveying someone else's words or thoughts without using their exact words. In reported or indirect speech, the speaker provides a summary or paraphrase of what was said or thought.

Here are a few examples:

1. Direct speech: Mary said, "I am going to the store."

   Reported/Indirect speech: Mary said that she was going to the store.

2. Direct speech: "I love this movie," John exclaimed.

   Reported/Indirect speech: John exclaimed that he loved that movie.

3. Direct speech: "I will call you later," she promised.

   Reported/Indirect speech: She promised that she would call later.

4. Direct speech: "We need to finish this project by Friday," the boss stated.

   Reported/Indirect speech: The boss stated that they needed to finish the project by Friday.

In these examples, the reported/indirect speech provides a summary of what was said or thought, often using verb tense changes, pronoun changes, and other necessary modifications to match the new context. The reported/indirect speech is usually introduced by a reporting verb, such as "said," "exclaimed," "promised," or "stated," followed by a conjunction like "that."