What Is Reported Speech?
When we tell someone what another person said, we use reported speech (also called indirect speech).
Direct speech (exact words):
Maria said, "I am learning English."
Reported speech (telling someone what Maria said):
Maria said that she was learning English.
Basic Tense Changes (Backshift)
When the reporting verb is in the past (said, told, asked), the tense in the reported speech usually shifts back one step:
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| Present Simple: "I work here." | Past Simple: She said she worked there. |
| Present Continuous: "I am working." | Past Continuous: She said she was working. |
| Past Simple: "I worked yesterday." | Past Perfect: She said she had worked the day before. |
| Present Perfect: "I have finished." | Past Perfect: She said she had finished. |
| Will: "I will come." | Would: She said she would come. |
| Can: "I can help." | Could: She said she could help. |
| Must: "I must go." | Had to: She said she had to go. |
Example
Direct: Tom said, "I am tired and I want to go home." Reported: Tom said that he was tired and he wanted to go home.
Changes in Pronouns and Time/Place Words
When we report speech, we also change pronouns and time/place references:
Pronouns
- "I" → he / she
- "we" → they
- "my" → his / her
- "our" → their
Time and Place
| Direct | Reported |
|---|---|
| today | that day |
| yesterday | the day before / the previous day |
| tomorrow | the next day / the following day |
| now | then / at that time |
| here | there |
| this | that |
| ago | before / earlier |
| last week | the week before / the previous week |
| next month | the following month |
Example
Direct: "I will call you tomorrow from here." Reported: She said she would call me the next day from there.
Reporting Questions
Yes/No Questions
Use if or whether + normal word order (NOT question word order):
Direct: "Do you like coffee?" Reported: She asked me if I liked coffee.
Direct: "Have you been to Paris?" Reported: He asked whether I had been to Paris.
Wh- Questions
Use the question word + normal word order:
Direct: "Where do you live?" Reported: She asked me where I lived.
Direct: "What are you doing?" Reported: He asked what I was doing.
Important: Do NOT use question marks or question word order in reported questions:
- Wrong:
She asked where did I live? - Correct: She asked where I lived.
Reporting Commands and Requests
Use told / asked / ordered + person + to + infinitive:
Direct: "Close the door." Reported: She told me to close the door.
Direct: "Don't be late." Reported: He told us not to be late.
Direct: "Could you help me?" Reported: She asked me to help her.
Reporting Verbs
Using different reporting verbs makes your English more precise and natural:
| Verb | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| say | general reporting | She said (that) she was tired. |
| tell | + person | She told me (that) she was tired. |
| ask | questions, requests | He asked if I could help. |
| explain | giving information | She explained that the meeting was cancelled. |
| suggest | making suggestions | He suggested going to a restaurant. |
| admit | accepting fault | She admitted that she had made a mistake. |
| promise | making a commitment | He promised to call me back. |
| warn | giving a warning | She warned me not to touch the stove. |
| complain | expressing dissatisfaction | He complained that the food was cold. |
| deny | saying something is not true | She denied taking the money. |
| refuse | saying no | He refused to answer the question. |
| insist | saying strongly | She insisted that she was right. |
| recommend | giving advice | The doctor recommended resting for a week. |
Patterns
- say/tell/explain + (that) + clause: He said (that) he was busy.
- suggest/recommend + -ing: She suggested going to the park.
- promise/agree/refuse/offer + to + infinitive: He promised to help.
- warn/advise/tell/ask + person + to + infinitive: She warned me to be careful.
When NOT to Backshift
You do not need to change the tense when:
-
The information is still true:
"The Earth goes around the Sun." → He said the Earth goes around the Sun.
-
The reporting verb is in the present:
She says she is coming to the party.
-
The situation hasn't changed:
"I love chocolate." → She said she loves chocolate. (She still does!)
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using question word order in reported questions
- Wrong:
She asked what was my name. - Correct: She asked what my name was.
Mistake 2: Forgetting to change pronouns
- Wrong:
He said "I am happy."→ He said that I was happy. - Correct: He said that he was happy.
Mistake 3: Using "say" with a person
- Wrong:
She said me that... - Correct: She told me that... / She said that...
Mistake 4: Using "told" without a person
- Wrong:
She told that she was tired. - Correct: She told me that she was tired. / She said that she was tired.
Practice Tips
- Report your conversations: After talking to someone, practice retelling the conversation: "She told me that... He asked if... I said that..."
- Read a news article and practice reporting what people said: "The president said that..."
- Watch an interview on YouTube and pause to report what the person said.
- Keep a journal: Write about your day using reported speech: "My colleague told me that the meeting was postponed."