Place and Demonstrative Changes in Reported Speech

When retelling what someone has said, we often need to adjust words related to location and pointing out objects so they fit the new context. For example, words like "here" or "this" in direct speech might become "there" or "that" when reported indirectly. These subtle changes are important because they help the listener understand the intended meaning and maintain clarity. Making these adjustments in indirect speech ensures that the message remains accurate and relevant to the situation in which it is being reported.

Why place references change

When speech is reported, the context often shifts from the original speaker’s location to that of the reporter or listener. This shift in perspective is the main reason spatial references like “here,” “there,” “this place,” or “that” are often changed. The new context requires the language to adapt so that listeners can understand the intended location relative to the new speaker’s position or frame of reference. This adjustment helps avoid confusion and ensures the message remains clear, even if the original and new speakers are in different places.

Contextual Shifts in Reported Speech

Spatial expressions are inherently deictic, meaning their interpretation depends on who is speaking and where they are. When relaying someone else’s words, these references often need to be modified to fit the new context. For example, “here” spoken by the original speaker may become “there” when reported by someone at a different location.

• “here” → “there”
• “this” (place) → “that” (place)
• “come” → “go” (if direction changes)
• “in this room” → “in that room”
• “over here” → “over there”
• “right here” → “right there”
• “at my house” → “at his/her house”
• “nearby” → “there” or “over there”
• “in front of me” → “in front of her/him”
• “on this side” → “on that side”
• “next to us” → “next to them”
• “this way” → “that way”
• “from here” → “from there”
• “close to me” → “close to her/him”
• “opposite here” → “opposite there”
• “by my desk” → “by her/his desk”

Reasons for Changing Place References

Several factors motivate these adjustments:

• Deictic shift: The reference point moves from the original speaker to the reporter or listener.
• Clarity: Directly repeating the original reference can cause confusion if the listener is not in the same place as the original speaker.
• Perspective: The physical setting or viewpoint may have changed, requiring a new term to accurately represent location.
• Pronoun adjustment: Possessive or demonstrative pronouns often need to be modified to fit the new context.

Examples of Deictic Changes

In summary, adapting locational expressions in reported speech is crucial for maintaining clarity and accuracy. The changes reflect shifts in viewpoint, ensuring that listeners understand which place is being referred to, regardless of where the conversation is happening.

This, that, these, and those in reported speech

When shifting from direct to reported speech, demonstrative pronouns such as "this," "that," "these," and "those" often need to be adjusted to reflect changes in time and place. This adjustment helps clarify meaning and ensures that the listener understands what or whom is being referred to, especially when the original context is no longer immediate.

How demonstratives change

In reported speech, demonstratives typically shift away from the speaker's immediate context. For example, "this" and "these" (which refer to something close to the speaker) often become "that" and "those" (which refer to something farther away) in indirect speech. This change helps the listener interpret the reference from the reporter's perspective, not the original speaker's.

Patterns and exceptions

• "This" usually becomes "that" in reported speech, especially if the object is no longer near the reporter.
• "These" changes to "those" for similar reasons.
• "That" and "those" often remain unchanged, since they already indicate distance. However, context may sometimes require further clarification.
• Sometimes, if the context or the object is still present or relevant, demonstratives may not change. Use your judgment based on clarity.

Expanded examples of demonstrative changes

• Direct: "I can't lift this." → Reported: He said he couldn't lift that.
• Direct: "Put these on the table." → Reported: She told me to put those on the table.
• Direct: "Is that yours?" → Reported: He asked if that was mine.
• Direct: "Who owns those?" → Reported: She wondered who owned those.
• Direct: "Take this with you." → Reported: He told me to take that with me.
• Direct: "I like these." → Reported: She said she liked those.
• Direct: "This tastes strange." → Reported: He said that that tasted strange.
• Direct: "Can I borrow these?" → Reported: He asked if he could borrow those.
• Direct: "That is broken." → Reported: She said that that was broken.
• Direct: "Please move those." → Reported: He asked me to move those.

Understanding how demonstrative pronouns shift in indirect statements is key to clear communication. Always consider the location and relevance of the object or person being referred to, and adjust your language to match the new context.

Here and there in indirect speech

When converting direct speech to reported speech, words that indicate location—like here and there—often need to be adjusted to reflect the change in perspective. This shift helps clarify where the speaker and listener are in relation to the original context. Adjusting these place words is crucial for accurate and natural indirect reporting.

How place words change

In direct speech, here usually refers to the speaker’s current location, while there indicates a place further away. When reporting speech indirectly, these references often change based on the position of the reporter relative to the original speaker and listener. The correct substitution depends on whether the context has shifted or remains the same.

• here often becomes there: “I am waiting here” → She said she was waiting there.
• there can remain there: “I went there yesterday” → He said he had gone there the day before.
• Sometimes, here is replaced by a more specific location if clarity is needed: “I’ll meet you here at noon” → She said she would meet me at the café at noon.
• Other place expressions may also shift: this place → that place, over here → over there.

Common transformations

Changing place words isn’t limited to here and there. Demonstratives and related spatial expressions also adapt in reported statements. Here are several typical patterns:

• this → that
• these → those
• now → then (when referring to time, but sometimes used spatially)
• today → that day
• tonight → that night
• next week → the following week
• last year → the previous year
• right here → right there
• over here → over there
• nearby → at that place
• in this room → in that room
• on this side → on that side
• from here → from there
• to here → to there
• at this spot → at that spot
• by my side → by her side

Examples in context

To see how these changes work, compare direct and indirect forms in practice:

Summary points

• Place words change to maintain clarity and coherence in reported speech.
• Always consider the perspective of the new speaker and listener.
• Specific location names may replace general terms if needed for context.
• Consistent transformation of demonstratives avoids confusion.

Being aware of these shifts helps ensure your indirect speech is both accurate and natural-sounding.

Speaker perspective and location shifts

When direct speech is reported, the perspective often changes from the original speaker to the reporter. This shift affects how place references and demonstrative expressions (like here, there, this, and that) are used. The reported speech framework requires a realignment of spatial and deictic terms to match the new speaker's viewpoint, which can cause systematic changes in the forms used.

Adjusting spatial terms in reported contexts

Spatial expressions are frequently recalibrated when retelling someone else's words. For example, a statement like “I’ll meet you here” may shift to “He said he would meet me there” if the reporting speaker is not at the same location as the original. These changes maintain coherence and accurately reflect the new context.

• here → there
• this → that
• these → those
• now → then (when time reference is also involved)
• today → that day
• tomorrow → the next day
• yesterday → the day before
• Place names may stay the same or require additional specification
• Pronouns may shift to reflect the new speaker/addressee roles
• Deictic adverbs like over here or over there are adjusted as needed

Common patterns in demonstrative shifts

Demonstratives are highly sensitive to context changes. The selection between forms like this/that or these/those depends not only on physical proximity but also on psychological distance and the speaker’s alignment. When reporting speech, the demonstrative often shifts to indicate the original referent's distance from the new narrator.

Role of context and ambiguity

Sometimes, the shift in location or perspective can introduce ambiguity, especially if the new context is not clearly established. In these cases, speakers may add clarifying information, such as specifying a place name or using additional descriptive language. The aim is to ensure listeners can reconstruct the original situation as intended by the first speaker, despite the change in narrative viewpoint.

Overall, the adaptation of place and demonstrative terms in reported speech is systematic but context-dependent. Recognizing these shifts is essential for accurate retelling and for understanding how language encodes perspective and location.

Context-based demonstrative choices

When speech is reported, speakers often need to adapt demonstratives—words like "this," "that," "these," and "those"—depending on the new conversational setting. The selection of these terms is rarely arbitrary. Instead, it reflects shifts in perspective, location, and the relationship between the original utterance and the present context. Understanding how these choices work helps explain why demonstrative forms change so frequently in reported statements.

Factors influencing demonstrative selection

Several factors shape which demonstrative is used when quoting or paraphrasing someone else. These include:

• Physical location: Whether the referent is near the speaker, the listener, or neither.
• Deictic center: The perspective from which the event is recounted (original speaker, reporter, or listener).
• Temporal distance: How recent or remote the referenced event or object is.
• Shared knowledge: What is assumed to be familiar or accessible to all participants.
• Contrast: Distinguishing between multiple referents in the discourse.
• Emotional or discourse prominence: Emphasizing a particular item or event.
• Textual distance: How far the referent is from the current point in the narrative.
• Quoting style: Whether the speech is reported directly or indirectly.
• Language-specific patterns: Some languages have more than two demonstrative options, reflecting finer distinctions.
• Register and formality: Informal and formal contexts may favor different demonstrative forms.

Common patterns in reported speech

When re-telling what someone said, demonstratives often shift to reflect the new speaker’s perspective. For instance, a direct quote might preserve the original demonstrative, while indirect speech tends to adjust it to match the current context. Here are some common scenarios:

• If the original speaker says, "I want this book," a reporter may say, "She wanted that book," especially if the book is no longer present.
• When the referent is still accessible to the new speaker and listener, "this" might be retained: "He said, 'I need this pen,' and handed it to me."
• If quoting something that happened in another location, "that" is often used: "They said they enjoyed that restaurant."
• For events or objects previously mentioned, demonstratives help maintain coherence: "Earlier, she mentioned those issues."

Demonstrative shifts: Examples from English

English typically uses "this/these" for items close to the speaker or immediate context and "that/those" for more distant or previously mentioned items. In reported speech, these forms adapt as shown below:

Cross-linguistic variation

Not all languages handle these shifts in the same way. Some, like Japanese or Spanish, may have additional demonstrative forms that further specify proximity to the speaker, listener, or a third party. Others might use entirely different strategies for indicating distance or relevance.

In summary, the adaptation of demonstratives during the process of reporting speech is guided by contextual cues. These cues include spatial, temporal, and interpersonal factors, and the resulting choices can subtly alter the meaning or emphasis in the reported message.

Typical learner mistakes

Many English learners encounter challenges with place and demonstrative changes when switching from direct to reported speech. These issues often stem from confusion about which words should change, uncertainty about context, or simply forgetting to make the necessary adjustments. Understanding the most frequent slip-ups can help students avoid fossilizing bad habits and develop more accurate reporting skills.

Mixing up place references

One common error is neglecting to adjust words that indicate location, such as “here” and “there.” Learners sometimes keep the original term, even when the perspective has shifted. For example, reporting “I am here” as “He said he was here” instead of the correct “He said he was there.”

Incorrect demonstrative shifts

Demonstratives like “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” often cause confusion, especially when the context changes in reported speech. Students may not realize that the choice depends on the speaker’s and listener’s positions in time and space.

Overgeneralizing or omitting changes

Sometimes, learners apply rules too broadly, changing words that should remain the same, or they forget to change demonstratives and place words altogether. This leads to sentences that sound unnatural or are unclear.

Frequent mistaken patterns

• Leaving “here” and “now” unchanged in reported speech.
• Not adapting “this” to “that” or “these” to “those” when appropriate.
• Changing place or demonstrative words unnecessarily.
• Forgetting that some words (like “there”) may not need to change, depending on the context.
• Misreporting phrases like “come here” as “come here” instead of “go there.”
• Using “this” when “that” is needed after a time shift.
• Inconsistent changes within the same passage or conversation.
• Confusing the direction of change (e.g., “those” to “these”).
• Failing to consider the listener’s location or time frame.
• Directly translating from another language and missing English conventions.

Common direct & reported speech shifts

Tips for avoiding these errors

Learners can improve by paying attention to the context and practicing with varied examples. Reading reported speech in books or listening to native speakers can also help develop an instinct for correct usage. Reviewing the most typical changes and checking your own writing or speaking for these patterns will gradually build confidence and accuracy.

Homework

Complete the exercises below to practice how place references and demonstratives change in reported speech. Focus on perspective, location shifts, and whether words like here, this, these, and come need to be adjusted to fit the reporting context.

1. Rewrite with Correct Place and Demonstrative Changes

Rewrite each sentence in reported speech. Change place words and demonstratives where necessary.

1. “I’ll wait for you here,” she said.
2. “This is my seat,” he said.
3. “Put these boxes over here,” the manager said.
4. “Come to my office after lunch,” she told me.
5. “I left my phone on this table,” he said.
6. “Let’s meet in this café,” Anna said.
7. “Is anyone here?” he asked.
8. “Take this document with you,” she said.
9. “We’ll stay here for the night,” they said.
10. “I saw him standing right here,” she said.

2. Decide What Needs to Change

For each sentence, decide whether the place word or demonstrative should change. Then write the correct reported version.

1. He says, “I like this place.” (Reporting later, different location)
2. She said, “I’m waiting here.” (You are in a different place)
3. They say, “These instructions are clear.” (Instructions are still visible)
4. He said, “Come here immediately.” (You are reporting later)
5. She said, “I live here.” (Reporting from another city)
6. The guide says, “Stand here.” (Live instruction)
7. Anna said, “Those seats are taken.”
8. He said, “I’ll stay here tonight.” (Reporting the next day)
9. She says, “This is important.” (Still discussing the same issue)
10. They said, “We met here last year.” (Reporting elsewhere)