Now that you know some of the reported speech rules about backshift, let’s learn some exceptions.
There are two situations in which we do NOT need to change the verb tense.
For example, if someone says “I have three children” (direct speech) then we would say “He said he has three children” because the situation continues to be true.
If I tell you “I live in the United States” (direct speech) then you could tell someone else “She said she lives in the United States” (that’s reported speech) because it is still true.
When the situation is still true, then we don’t need to backshift the verb.
But when the situation is NOT still true, then we DO need to backshift the verb.
Imagine your friend says, “I have a headache.”
We also don’t need to backshift to the verb when somebody said something about the future, and the event is still in the future.
Here’s an example:
Let’s look at a different situation:
Quick review:
Those were the rules for reported statements, just regular sentences.
What about reported speech for questions, requests, and orders?
For reported requests, we use “asked (someone) to do something”:
For reported orders, we use “told (someone) to do something:”
The main verb stays in the infinitive with “to”:
For yes/no questions, we use “asked if” and “wanted to know if” in reported speech.
The main verb changes and back shifts according to the rules and exceptions we learned earlier.
Notice that we don’t use do/does/did in the reported question:
For other questions that are not yes/no questions, we use asked/wanted to know (without “if”):
Again, notice that we don’t use do/does/did in reported questions:
Also, in questions with the verb “to be,” the word order changes in the reported question:
Learn more about reported speech:
If you want to take your English grammar to the next level, then my Advanced English Grammar Course is for you! It will help you master the details of the English language, with clear explanations of essential grammar topics, and lots of practice. I hope to see you inside!
I’ve got one last little exercise for you, and that is to write sentences using reported speech. Think about a conversation you’ve had in the past, and write about it – let’s see you put this into practice right away.
Hi, I’m Shayna. I create courses helping English as a Second Language learners become more fluent in just a few minutes a day – so they can speak English naturally and confidently in work and daily life.
Reported speech is a very common aspect of the English language. You use it nearly every day, both in conversations and in writing. This reference covers key sections about reported speech, including what it is, examples, rules, and verb tense changes. You’ll also learn about modal verbs, changes in time and place, and different reporting verbs.
Reported speech is simply when you tell somebody what someone else said. You can do this in your writing, or in speech. Reported speech is very different from direct speech , which is when you show what somebody said in the exact way that they said it . In reported speech though, you do not need to quote somebody directly.
Instead, you use a reporting verb, such as ‘say’ or ‘ask’. These reporting verbs are used to report the speech to someone else. There are many different reporting verbs that can be used.
In short, reported speech is the linguistic technique that you use to tell somebody what someone else’s direct speech was. In reported speech though, you may need to make certain changes to the grammar to make the sentence make sense. Some examples below highlight what needs to be changed.
When using reported speech, you are usually talking about the past. The verbs, therefore, usually have to be in the past too.
For example :
Another example :
Table of Changes :
Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
---|---|
I am | He said he was |
I have | She said she had |
I will | They said they would |
Verb tense changes in reported speech.
When the reporting verb is in the present tense, only small changes are needed.
When the reporting verb is in the past tense, you need to change the tense of both the reporting verb and the main verb.
The tenses generally move backward as follows:
Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
---|---|
Past Simple | |
Present Continuous | Past Continuous |
Past Perfect | |
Past Simple | Past Perfect |
Past Continuous | Past Perfect Continuous |
Past Perfect | Past Perfect (remains unchanged) |
For sentences about the future, you also need to change the future verbs.
Here are the changes for future tenses:
Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
---|---|
Will | Would |
Will be | Would be |
Will have | Would have |
Will have been | Would have been |
Modal verbs also change when used in reported speech.
Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
---|---|
Can | Could |
Could | Could (unchanged) |
Have to | Had to |
Must | Must/Had to |
May | Might |
Might | Might (unchanged) |
Should | Should (unchanged) |
Some modal verbs do not need to change tense because they fit naturally.
Here are both correct and incorrect examples of reported speech for clarity:
To correct these:
Changes in time and place in reported speech.
References to time and place often need to change when you use indirect speech. Here is a useful guide to these changes:
Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
---|---|
Now | Then |
Today | That day |
Here | There |
This | That |
Tomorrow | The following day/ The next day |
Next week | The following week/ The week after |
Yesterday | The previous day/ The day before |
Last week | The previous week/ The week before |
Ago | Previously/ Before |
Tonight | That night |
In some cases, verb tenses do not change when you report speech indirectly. Here are the key instances:
Reporting verbs are crucial in indirect speech. Here is a list categorized by their usage:
When converting questions from direct to indirect speech, you follow rules similar to those for statements. Verbs used include inquire, wonder, want to know, ask.
Commands and requests in Indirect Speech are formed using the to-infinitive and not to-infinitive . Common reporting verbs include order, shout, demand, warn, beg, command, tell, insist, beseech , threaten, implore, ask, propose, forbid.
Pronoun and tense changes are needed when shifting from direct to indirect speech.
Exercises on reported speech.
If we report what another person has said, we usually do not use the speaker’s exact words (direct speech), but reported (indirect) speech. Therefore, you need to learn how to transform direct speech into reported speech. The structure is a little different depending on whether you want to transform a statement, question or request.
When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:
Type | Example |
---|---|
“I speak English.” | |
He says that he speaks English. | |
He said that he spoke English. |
→ more on statements in reported speech
When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:
Also note that you have to:
Type | Example | |
---|---|---|
“Why don’t you speak English?” | ||
He asked me why I didn’t speak English. | ||
“Do you speak English?” | ||
He asked me whether / if I spoke English. |
→ more on questions in reported speech
Type | Example |
---|---|
Carol, speak English. | |
He told Carol to speak English. |
→ more on requests in reported speech
Apart from the above mentioned basic rules, there are further aspects that you should keep in mind, for example:
→ more on additional information and exeptions in reported speech
Requests in reported speech.
Speech can be direct and indirect, or reported.
When you express your thought orally or in writing, it is direct speech. We usually put it in quotes.
When you communicate what someone else said, it is reported speech.
Sue: "I am hungry."
Sue says (that) she is hungry.
To transfer a positive or a negative sentence to reported speech, we need two parts:
Pay attention
In the reported speech, we must replace the pronouns. Otherwise, we won't keep the meaning.
Mary: "I am glad to help you!"
Mary says she is glad to help me . BUT NOT Mary says I am glad to help you.
You should also be careful with time indicators (today, now, next week etc.) not to lose the idea of the original direct statement.
The word that can be used or left out, both options are correct.
When we have a sentence that consists of the main and the dependent part we need to be careful with the verb tenses. The tense in the main part affects the tense in the dependent part. This is called backshifting.
If the main part is in the present simple (e.g., "she says...", "he tells me..."), the dependent part remains unchanged.
John: "I have just got up."
John says he has just got up. "Says" is the present simple → no backshifting
If the main part is in the past simple, we have to do the backshifting. Its basic principle is that the past simple in the main part "pushes" the tense of the dependent part one step back in time. This way we balance both parts of the sentence.
tense | changes to | direct speech | he said... |
---|---|---|---|
present simple → | past simple | I don't have a pen | He he a pen |
present continuous → | past continuous | I am having a shower | He he a shower |
present perfect → | past perfect | I haven't finished yet | He said he yet |
past simple → | past perfect OR doesn't change | I didn't like the film | He said he hadn't liked the film OR He said he didn't like the film |
past continuous → | past perfect continuous | I was reading a book | He said he a book |
will → | would | I will help you | He said he me |
can → | could | I can ride a horse | He said he a horse |
You can view the topic ' reported statements ' with an explanation and exercises.
If the direct question began with a question word (when, what, how, why and so on), then in the reported speech:
"Why did you leave the door open?" → She asked me why I had left the door open.
"Where have you been?" → She asked me where I had been.
If the direct question didn't have a question word (it was a yes/no question), we add the word "if" to transform it into reported speech. The rules of backshifting are the same.
"Will it rain tomorrow?" → They wanted to know if it would rain the next day.
"Can I lend your pen for a second?" → I asked if I could lend his pen for a second.
You can also view the topic ' reported questions ' for a detailed explanation and exercises.
If we want to transform somebody's demand or request into reported speech, we say:
If the imperative was negative (don't go, don't do), we put "not" before "to": tell somebody not to do something.
"Do not cross the red line, please!" → The officer told us not to cross the red line.
"Could you put the flowers in the vase, please?" → She asked me to put the flowers in the vase.
You can also view the topic ' reported requests & demands ' for a detailed explanation and exercises.
Communicative Function
Do you get home and tell your family how your day was, do you talk to your friends about the latest news.
These are examples of real uses of Reported speech in everyday situations.
Through this topic, you will learn how to use reported speech in negatives sentences as well as using reporting verbs to express the ideas.
This topic is quite essential because its use is widespread in the daily use of the English Language.
Along with the topic, you will work with the four skills as follows.
So let’s start!
By the end of this topic, you will: Be able to use Reported Speech from conversations and ideas from a third person to transmit them in its negative form.
Brian. (2014). Reinventing the Wheel: Shakespeare for Community Theaters. Tomada de: http://ticketpeak.com/blog/blog/reinventing-the-wheel-shakespeare-for-community-theatres/#sthash.RbtGugYf.dpbs
Check the following chart to get to know this critical topic.
In English, we have two ways of repeating what another person said.
When you report people’s words, you can give exact words; this is called “direct speech.”
You can also report someone’s ideas or words as part of your sentence; this is “reported speech”.
Foammi, J. (2016). Hermanas. Tomada de: https://pixabay.com/es/ni%C3%B1as-chismes-mujeres-la-moda-1733357/
We can use reported speech in a variety of situations, for example:
You use say when You don’t want to mention the person who is listening to the information.
Note: If you want to mention the person who is listening to the information, you need to use the preposition “TO”
NA. (2015). Llamada. Tomado de: https://pixabay.com/es/hablar-tel%C3%A9fono-la-comunicaci%C3%B3n-845619/
The following common reporting verbs follow the same pattern as SAY
verb + (that) + clause
Admit Answer Agree Confirm Deny Suggest Mention Insist
(ELT base, 2008-2016)
Altmann, G. (2013). Parley. Tomado de: https://pixabay.com/es/intercambio-de-ideas-debate-222788/
We use tell when we want to mention the person who is listening to the information or receiving it.
verb + direct object + (that) + clause
advise convince promise warn
When you report it is necessary to pay attention to some aspects
Present Simple | Past Simple | She does laundry on Saturday. | She said she did her laundry on Saturday. |
Present Continuous | Past Continuous | Spike is sleeping in the couch. | She said Spike was sleeping in the couch. |
Present Perfect | Past Perfect | David has seen a psychiatrist since 1990 | She said David had seen a psychiatrist since 1990. |
Present Perfect Continuous | Past Perfect Continuous | We have been looking for an apartment for the last four months | She said they have been looking for an apartment for the last four months. |
Past simple | Past Simple Past Perfect | My dog ate my homework | She said her dog ate her homework. She told me her dog had eaten her homework |
Past Continuous | Past Continuous Past Perfect Continuous | I was running this morning. | She said she was running this morning. She told me she had been running this morning. |
Future “Will” | Would | You will clean up your room before playing soccer. | My mom told me I would clean-up my room before playing soccer. |
Is/are/am going to | Was/were going to | We are going to Las Vegas next week. | They told me they were going to Las Vegas next week. |
Can | Could | Sarah can help you. | She said Sarah could help me. |
May | Might | I may go to a party. | She said she might go to a party. |
Would | Would | Fany would love to win the lottery. | She said Fany would love to win the lottery. |
Should | Should | He should tell her the truth. | She said to him He should tell the truth. |
I | He / She | |
We | They | |
My | His / Her | |
Our | Their |
Remember you have to consider logical changes. If you are reporting the information and you are the person or included in the group who did the action, you may not need to make any change.
Now | Then | |
Today | That day | |
Yesterday | The day before The previous day | |
Tomorrow | The day after The next day | |
Next week, month, etc. | The following week, month, etc. The week, month, etc. after | |
Last week, month, etc. | The previous week, month, etc. The week, month, etc. before | |
This morning or afternoon | That morning or afternoon | |
These days | Those days | |
Here | There |
When we report negative sentences it is necessary to remember they are not negatives to the person you are talking to, you are just telling that person that somebody denied something.
In these sentences you can use auxiliary verbs.
Direct: I didn’t say anything yesterday
The student | said | anything | ||
Mention the person who talked | Use reporting verb | Change tense, if necessary | Change the time expression if necessary |
Indirect: The student said he didn’t say anything the day before.
What did you say yesterday?
Direct: I don’t know what I said but I deny everything. I wasn’t thinking
Indirect: She said she didn’t know what she said but she denied everything. She said she wasn’t thinking .
Colette and Jason are a famous couple. They were so renowned in the ’80s that they were usually on the front page of magazines. Unfortunately, one morning Colette was murdered, and the prime suspect was Jason.
Colette wrote the following letter to Jason a few days before her death. You will practice your reading comprehension.
Read the letter and answer the questions, explain your answers.
Click here for the reading: A letter from Colette to Jason.
Now answer to the following questions, in the end, you will know your performance.
The myths and truths about america’s sweethearts..
The next conversation took place at a psychologist practice during Jason and Colette’s session, you will practice your understanding of Reported Speech, negative sentences by reporting only 5 negative ideas from the conversation above. Before you send your activity make sure it has the following characteristics.
Jason: Hello! (1) You don’t look well. Colette: (2) I am not feeling ok. Jason: (3) I have not seen you like this before. Colette: (4) I haven’t felt this broken ever. Jason: Is there anything I can do for you? (5) I wouldn’t like to thing I am responsible of your pain. Colette: (6) You are not. Jason: Good. (7) I won’t say I’m perfect but I want to try. Colette: (8) You can’t know how much I love you. Jason: (9) No, I can’t but I will try to love you just as much.
To post your contribution, click on the Add assignment button. A word processor will appear and you can type your activity or answer. Once you finished, save your work by clicking on the Save changes button.
As we mentioned before, Jason and Colette were the most famous couple in America. In the next exercise, decide if the following statements are True or False by choosing the appropriate option according to the reading. You can know your score at the end of the exercise.
You will listen to a news show commenting on Jason Thompson's case. Through this activity, you will practice your listening comprehension, and the topic reviewed along with the unit, then decide if the sentences are True (T) or False (F).
To hear the audio click here:
What is the information told by the media.
Along with the exercises you have noticed about the sad story of Jason and Colette. Change the following sentences from the audio into reported speech. Be careful to make the appropriate changes.
Re-tell your favourite scene from a movie or TV show. Reported Speech will help you re-tell what other people said. You do not have to use reported Speech all the way, but you have to use it when you mention their dialogues. Use between 120 – 150 words.
Look at the following example:
E.G. My favorite movie is “Kill Bill” by Quentin Tarantino. The title sounds very vindictive but everything is so exaggerated that it is actually funny. My favorite part is when Daryl Hannah dresses as a nurse and talks to Uma Thurman while she is in a comma.
Daryl Hannah said she might never have liked Uma. She said that in fact she despised her but that shouldn’t suggest Daryl didn’t respect her.
Daryl Hannah said to Uma that dying in their sleep was a luxury for their kind (they are assassins) while she was inserting a needle in Uma’s intravenous line she receives a call from her boss Bill. He told her Daryl should leave the hospital and she had to wait for further instructions.
Please, check your activity, make sure it has the characteristics of the following checklist:
After typing your activity on a word processor, save it to your computer. Click on the Submit button and browse the file in your computer. Click on Upload this file and press the Save changes button.
Read the letter attached below which was written by Colette Tompson to her husband to learn new vocabulary from context and drag the highlighted words or phrases to the following meanings.
Click here for the reading: A letter from Colette to Jason
Once you finished, begin your activity. Drag the different options to the appropriate spaces to complete the sentences. You have two attempts to answer the exercise. You can know your score at the end of the exercise.
Colette's 911 call of 1993..
Here you can listen to the complete audio with all the verbs!
Remember to consider all the appropriate changes. You will practice everything checked in this topic. The following are excerpts from the two 911 calls Colette Brown Thompson made to police on Oct. 25, 1993, from her townhouse.
Report what they said.
DISPATCHER: What does he look like?
COLETTE: He's Jason Thompson. You don't know that! Could you send somebody over here?
DISPATCHER: What is he doing there?
COLETTE: I don't know.
DISPATCHER: Can you wait a minute? What kind of car is he in?
COLETTE: No, I can't! He is not in a car. He's in a white Bronco.
(Jack Walraven, 1993)
Once you have finished reading the dialogue, record yourself reporting the facts.
Make sure it has the following characteristics and the aspects described in the rubric:
Listen to the following example:
Activity 2.
In the exercise below, you will practice the changes you must do while reporting sentences.
You must drag the words in the box to the correct space to complete the text coherently. There are two extra options.
When you finish press submit to check your answers.
When I was younger, you couldn’t watch the television without catching something about Jason Thompson, who was a massive football star at the end of the ’80s, but I am not a huge fan of sports, so I am not sure, anyway.
Colette's 911 call of 1993
The following are excerpts from the two 911 calls Colette Brown Tompson made to police on Oct. 25, 1993, from her townhouse.
Basic references.
ELT base. (2016). ELT base . Obtenido de http://www.eltbase.com/notes.php?id=59 Jack Walraven. (1993). The Simpson Trial Transcripts. Recuperado de http://simpson.walraven.org/index.html
Perfect English Grammar. (2016). Reported Speech. Taken from: http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/reported-speech.html English Lessons4u. (2015). Grammar: Learn to use reported speech in English . URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcnVMh0tR9w Teacher PhilEnglish. (2015). Changing Direct into Indirect Speech. URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew4YHmNigRs Lopera, A. (2015). Reported Speech explicado de forma sencilla. URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLFqFIjelFg
What is reported speech, direct speech vs reported speech.
Direct speech | Reported speech |
---|---|
She says: “I like tuna fish.” | She says that she likes tuna fish. |
She said: “I’m visiting Paris next weekend.” | She said that she was visiting Paris the following weekend. |
He asked Betty: “Do you like cheese?” | He wanted to know if Betty liked cheese. |
When you use reported speech, you either report:
1- pronouns.
Shifting back tense | Direct speech | Reported speech |
---|---|---|
(no backshift) | “I poems.” | He that he poems. |
(backshift) | “I poems | He that he poems. |
Do not change the tense if the introductory clause (i.e., the reporting verb) is in the present tense (e. g. He says ). Note, however, that you might have to change the form of the present tense verb (3rd person singular).
Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
---|---|
He said: “I happy” | He said that he happy |
He said: “I for my keys” | He said that he for his keys |
He said: “I New York last year” | He said that he New York the previous year. |
He said: ” I here for a long time “ | He said that he there for a long time |
He said: “They the work when I “ | He said that they the work when he “ |
He said: “I football when the accident “ | He said that football when the accident |
He said: “I football for two hours.” | He said that football for two hours |
He said: “I a newspaper when the light “ | He said that he a newspaper when the light |
He said: “I the door.” | He said that the door. |
He said: “I a Mercedes if I rich” | He said that he a Mercedes if he rich |
Modal | Direct speech | Reported speech |
---|---|---|
can | “I do it.” | He said that he do it. |
may | “ I go out?” | He wanted to know if he go out. |
must | “She apply for the job.” | He said that she apply for the job. |
will | “They call you.” | He told her that they call her. |
Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
---|---|
Time Expressions | |
today | that day |
now | then |
yesterday | the day before |
… days ago | … days before |
last week | the week before/the previous week |
next year | the following year/the next year/ the year after |
tomorrow | the next day/the following day |
Place | |
here | there |
Demonstratives | |
this | that |
these | those |
Types of questions | Direct speech | Reported speech |
---|---|---|
With question words (what, why, where, how…) | “Why don’t you speak English?” | He asked me why I didn’t speak English. |
Without question words (yes or no questions) | “Do you speak English?” | He asked me whether/if I spoke English. |
Direct speech | Reported speech |
---|---|
“Nancy, do the exercise.” | He told Nancy to do the exercise. |
“Nancy, give me your pen, please.” | He asked Nancy to give him her pen. |
Tenses are not relevant for requests, simply use / + verb (infinitive without “to”) |
For affirmative use + infinitive (without to) For negative requests, use + infinitive (without to). |
Main clauses connected with and/but, punctuation rules of the reported speech, can we omit that in the reported speech, list of reporting verbs.
Direct speech | Reported speech |
---|---|
simple present | simple past |
simple past | past perfect |
present continuous | past continuous |
past continuous | past perfect continuous |
will | would |
shall | should |
may | might |
can | could |
must | had to |
1. reported commands.
The word tell in introductory sentences in Reported Commands can be substituted with other words, e.g.
There is no backshift of tenses, no matter which tense is used in the introductory sentence.
Do not use the infintive after suggest . Father suggested to watch a film.
Changing direct speech to reported speech, changing the tense (backshifting), no change of tenses, questions in reported speech, demands/requests, expressions with who/what/how + infinitive, typical changes to time and place markers, what is reported speech.
Reported speech is when we repeat what another person has said but instead of using their exact words in quotation marks (direct speech), we use subordinate clause introduced by a reporting verb like the ones below:
Often, we have to change the tense, pronouns and time markers in reported speech.
Learn the rules for writing indirect speech in English with Lingolia’s simple explanation. In the exercises, you can test your grammar skills.
“I’ve prepared a presentation about the product, if you’re interested?” “I would love to see it. … This product is exactly what my company has been looking for! Is there any room to negotiate on price?” “I’m happy to hear that. Unfortunately, pricing is fixed.” “That’s a shame, but I appreciate your transparency. Could you send me a written offer?” “Yes, I will contact you tomorrow to finalise the details.” |
I had an appointment with a new client yesterday. I told him that and he said . |
When turning direct speech into reported speech, we may have to change all or some of the following:
If the reporting verb is in the simple past (e.g. said, told, asked, replied … ), the tense has to be set back by one degree (see the table below). This is known as backshifting .
Direct Speech | Reported Speech | |
---|---|---|
simple present | → | simple past |
present progressive | → | past progressive |
simple past | → | past perfect simple |
present perfect simple | ||
past perfect simple | ||
past progressive | → | past perfect progressive |
present perfect progressive | ||
past perfect progressive | ||
future with going to | → | was / were going to |
future with will | → | conditional (would) |
would |
The verbs could, should, would, might, must, needn’t, ought to, used to normally do not change.
If the reporting verb is in the simple present (e.g. says, tells, asks, replies … ), then the tense remains unchanged.
While the tense remains unchanged, we often still have to change the verb form to match the new pronouns.
We often omit the word that after a reporting verb, especially in spoken language and informal contexts.
When turning questions into reported speech, we follow the same rules as for declarative sentences: we change the pronouns as well as the time and place markers and backshift the tense as needed.
In addition, we also have to bear in mind the following:
Questions in reported speech do not end in a question mark.
When turning orders, demands and requests into reported speech, we only need to change the pronouns and the time and place information.
We don’t have to pay attention to the tense – we simply use an infinitive rather than a conjugated verb.
If the imperative is negated, then we use not + infinitive .
To express what someone should or can do in reported speech, we leave out the subject and the modal verb and instead we use the construction who/what/where/how + infinitive .
Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
---|---|
today | that day |
now | then at that moment/time |
yesterday | the day before |
… days ago | … days before |
last week | the week before |
next year | the following year |
tomorrow | the next day the following day |
here | there |
this | that |
these | those |
The words say and tell are not interchangeable.
Head over to the vocabulary section to learn more about the difference between say and tell .
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Reported speech or indirect speech is the form of speech used to convey what was said by someone at some point of time. This article will help you with all that you need to know about reported speech, its meaning, definition, how and when to use them along with examples. Furthermore, try out the practice questions given to check how far you have understood the topic.
Definition of reported speech, rules to be followed when using reported speech, table 1 – change of pronouns, table 2 – change of adverbs of place and adverbs of time, table 3 – change of tense, table 4 – change of modal verbs, tips to practise reported speech, examples of reported speech, check your understanding of reported speech, frequently asked questions on reported speech in english, what is reported speech.
Reported speech is the form in which one can convey a message said by oneself or someone else, mostly in the past. It can also be said to be the third person view of what someone has said. In this form of speech, you need not use quotation marks as you are not quoting the exact words spoken by the speaker, but just conveying the message.
Now, take a look at the following dictionary definitions for a clearer idea of what it is.
Reported speech, according to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, is defined as “a report of what somebody has said that does not use their exact words.” The Collins Dictionary defines reported speech as “speech which tells you what someone said, but does not use the person’s actual words.” According to the Cambridge Dictionary, reported speech is defined as “the act of reporting something that was said, but not using exactly the same words.” The Macmillan Dictionary defines reported speech as “the words that you use to report what someone else has said.”
Reported speech is a little different from direct speech . As it has been discussed already, reported speech is used to tell what someone said and does not use the exact words of the speaker. Take a look at the following rules so that you can make use of reported speech effectively.
Subject said that (report whatever the speaker said) |
As discussed earlier, when transforming a sentence from direct speech into reported speech, you will have to change the pronouns, tense and adverbs of time and place used by the speaker. Let us look at the following tables to see how they work.
I | He, she |
Me | Him, her |
We | They |
Us | Them |
You | He, she, they |
You | Him, her, them |
My | His, her |
Mine | His, hers |
Our | Their |
Ours | Theirs |
Your | His, her, their |
Yours | His, hers, theirs |
This | That |
These | Those |
Here | There |
Now | Then |
Today | That day |
Tomorrow | The next day / The following day |
Yesterday | The previous day |
Tonight | That night |
Last week | The week before |
Next week | The week after |
Last month | The previous month |
Next month | The following month |
Last year | The previous year |
Next year | The following year |
Ago | Before |
Thus | So |
Simple Present Example: Preethi said, “I cook pasta.” | Simple Past Example: Preethi said that she cooked pasta. |
Present Continuous Example: Preethi said, “I am cooking pasta.” | Past Continuous Example: Preethi said that she was cooking pasta. |
Present Perfect Example: Preethi said, “I have cooked pasta.” | Past Perfect Example: Preethi said that she had cooked pasta. |
Present Perfect Example: Preethi said, “I have been cooking pasta.” | Past Perfect Continuous Example: Preethi said that she had been cooking pasta. |
Simple Past Example: Preethi said, “I cooked pasta.” | Past Perfect Example: Preethi said that she had cooked pasta. |
Past Continuous Example: Preethi said, “I was cooking pasta.” | Past Perfect Continuous Example: Preethi said that she had been cooking pasta. |
Past Perfect Example: Preethi said, “I had cooked pasta.” | Past Perfect (No change) Example: Preethi said that she had cooked pasta. |
Past Perfect Continuous Example: Preethi said, “I had been cooking pasta.” | Past Perfect Continuous (No change) Example: Preethi said that she had been cooking pasta. |
Will | Would |
May | Might |
Can | Could |
Shall | Should |
Has/Have | Had |
Here are some tips you can follow to become a pro in using reported speech.
Given below are a few examples to show you how reported speech can be written. Check them out.
Transform the following sentences into reported speech by making the necessary changes.
1. Rachel said, “I have an interview tomorrow.”
2. Mahesh said, “What is he doing?”
3. Sherly said, “My daughter is playing the lead role in the skit.”
4. Dinesh said, “It is a wonderful movie!”
5. Suresh said, “My son is getting married next month.”
6. Preetha said, “Can you please help me with the invitations?”
7. Anna said, “I look forward to meeting you.”
8. The teacher said, “Make sure you complete the homework before tomorrow.”
9. Sylvester said, “I am not going to cry anymore.”
10. Jade said, “My sister is moving to Los Angeles.”
Now, find out if you have answered all of them correctly.
1. Rachel said that she had an interview the next day.
2. Mahesh asked what he was doing.
3. Sherly said that her daughter was playing the lead role in the skit.
4. Dinesh exclaimed that it was a wonderful movie.
5. Suresh said that his son was getting married the following month.
6. Preetha asked if I could help her with the invitations.
7. Anna said that she looked forward to meeting me.
8. The teacher told us to make sure we completed the homework before the next day.
9. Sylvester said that he was not going to cry anymore.
10. Jade said that his sister was moving to Los Angeles.
What is the definition of reported speech.
Reported speech, according to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, is defined as “a report of what somebody has said that does not use their exact words.” The Collins Dictionary defines reported speech as “speech which tells you what someone said, but does not use the person’s actual words.” According to the Cambridge Dictionary, reported speech is defined as “the act of reporting something that was said, but not using exactly the same words.” The Macmillan Dictionary defines reported speech as “the words that you use to report what someone else has said.”
You can use the following formula to construct a sentence in the reported speech. Subject said that (report whatever the speaker said)
Given below are a few examples to show you how reported speech can be written.
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Reported speech is how we represent the speech of other people or what we ourselves say. There are two main types of reported speech: direct speech and indirect speech.
Direct speech repeats the exact words the person used, or how we remember their words:
Barbara said, “I didn’t realise it was midnight.”
In indirect speech, the original speaker’s words are changed.
Barbara said she hadn’t realised it was midnight .
In this example, I becomes she and the verb tense reflects the fact that time has passed since the words were spoken: didn’t realise becomes hadn’t realised .
Indirect speech focuses more on the content of what someone said rather than their exact words:
“I’m sorry,” said Mark. (direct)
Mark apologised . (indirect: report of a speech act)
In a similar way, we can report what people wrote or thought:
‘I will love you forever,’ he wrote, and then posted the note through Alice’s door. (direct report of what someone wrote)
He wrote that he would love her forever , and then posted the note through Alice’s door. (indirect report of what someone wrote)
I need a new direction in life , she thought. (direct report of someone’s thoughts)
She thought that she needed a new direction in life . (indirect report of someone’s thoughts)
Reported speech: direct speech
Reported speech: indirect speech
Speech reports consist of two parts: the reporting clause and the reported clause. The reporting clause includes a verb such as say, tell, ask, reply, shout , usually in the past simple, and the reported clause includes what the original speaker said.
reporting clause | reported clause |
, | |
, | |
me |
Direct speech.
In direct speech we usually put a comma between the reporting clause and the reported clause. The words of the original speaker are enclosed in inverted commas, either single (‘…’) or double (“…”). If the reported clause comes first, we put the comma inside the inverted commas:
“ I couldn’t sleep last night, ” he said.
Rita said, ‘ I don’t need you any more. ’
If the direct speech is a question or exclamation, we use a question mark or exclamation mark, not a comma:
‘Is there a reason for this ? ’ she asked.
“I hate you ! ” he shouted.
We sometimes use a colon (:) between the reporting clause and the reported clause when the reporting clause is first:
The officer replied: ‘It is not possible to see the General. He’s busy.’
Punctuation
In indirect speech it is more common for the reporting clause to come first. When the reporting clause is first, we don’t put a comma between the reporting clause and the reported clause. When the reporting clause comes after the reported clause, we use a comma to separate the two parts:
She told me they had left her without any money.
Not: She told me, they had left her without any money .
Nobody had gone in or out during the previous hour, he informed us.
We don’t use question marks or exclamation marks in indirect reports of questions and exclamations:
He asked me why I was so upset.
Not: He asked me why I was so upset?
Say and tell.
We can use say and tell to report statements in direct speech, but say is more common. We don’t always mention the person being spoken to with say , but if we do mention them, we use a prepositional phrase with to ( to me, to Lorna ):
‘I’ll give you a ring tomorrow,’ she said .
‘Try to stay calm,’ she said to us in a low voice.
Not: ‘Try to stay calm,’ she said us in a low voice .
With tell , we always mention the person being spoken to; we use an indirect object (underlined):
‘Enjoy yourselves,’ he told them .
Not: ‘Enjoy yourselves,’ he told .
In indirect speech, say and tell are both common as reporting verbs. We don’t use an indirect object with say , but we always use an indirect object (underlined) with tell :
He said he was moving to New Zealand.
Not: He said me he was moving to New Zealand .
He told me he was moving to New Zealand.
Not: He told he was moving to New Zealand .
We use say , but not tell , to report questions:
‘Are you going now?’ she said .
Not: ‘Are you going now?’ she told me .
We use say , not tell , to report greetings, congratulations and other wishes:
‘Happy birthday!’ she said .
Not: Happy birthday!’ she told me .
Everyone said good luck to me as I went into the interview.
Not: Everyone told me good luck …
Say or tell ?
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The reporting verbs in this list are more common in indirect reports, in both speaking and writing:
Simon admitted that he had forgotten to email Andrea.
Louis always maintains that there is royal blood in his family.
The builder pointed out that the roof was in very poor condition.
Most of the verbs in the list are used in direct speech reports in written texts such as novels and newspaper reports. In ordinary conversation, we don’t use them in direct speech. The reporting clause usually comes second, but can sometimes come first:
‘Who is that person?’ she asked .
‘It was my fault,’ he confessed .
‘There is no cause for alarm,’ the Minister insisted .
Verb patterns: verb + that -clause
Word of the Day
get away from it all
to go somewhere, usually on holiday, where you can completely relax and forget your responsibilities or problems
Trial, judge, and jury: talking about what happens when a criminal is caught
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COMMENTS
Watch my reported speech video: Here's how it works: We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'. ( Click here for more about using 'say' and 'tell' .) If this verb is in the present tense, it's easy. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence: Direct speech: I like ice cream. Reported speech: She says (that) she likes ice cream.
Online exercises Reported speech - indirect speech, questions and negative sentences. Free tutorial Reported speech - indirect speech with exercises. English grammar easy to learn. English online reported speech exercises with answers. All direct and indirect speech exercises free and with help function, teaching materials and grammar rules.
For example: Direct speech: I dislike fried chicken. Reported speech: She said she disliked fried chicken. Note how the main verb in the reported statement is also in the past tense verb form. Use the simple present tense in your indirect speech if the initial words remain relevant at the time of reporting.
Reported speech - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary
When we use reported speech, we often change the verb tense backwards in time. This can be called "backshift.". Here are some examples in different verb tenses: "I want to go home.". She said she wanted to go home. "I 'm reading a good book.". She said she was reading a good book. "I ate pasta for dinner last night.".
Reported speech: She says she likes dogs. When the reporting verb is in the past tense, you need to change the tense of both the reporting verb and the main verb. Example: Direct speech: I like dogs. Reported speech: She said she liked dogs. The tenses generally move backward as follows: Direct Speech. Reported Speech.
How do negatives change with the reported speech? We have to add "not" in there somewhere and it depends on the sentence.Reported speech with negatives"Not" ...
Exercises on Reported Speech. If we report what another person has said, we usually do not use the speaker's exact words (direct speech), but reported (indirect) speech. Therefore, you need to learn how to transform direct speech into reported speech. ... Exercise 2 - requests (negative) Exercise 3 - requests (mixed) Mixed Exercises on ...
Reported requests and demands. If we want to transform somebody's demand or request into reported speech, we say: tell somebody to do something — for reported commands; ask somebody to do something — for reported requests; If the imperative was negative (don't go, don't do), we put "not" before "to": tell somebody not to do something.
In English, we have two ways of repeating what another person said. When you report people's words, you can give exact words; this is called "direct speech.". You can also report someone's ideas or words as part of your sentence; this is "reported speech". When you report it is necessary to pay attention to some aspects.
1. We use direct speech to quote a speaker's exact words. We put their words within quotation marks. We add a reporting verb such as "he said" or "she asked" before or after the quote. Example: He said, "I am happy.". 2. Reported speech is a way of reporting what someone said without using quotation marks.
1. Reported Commands. There is no backshift of tenses with commands/requests in Reported Speech.. You only have to change the person and shift expressions of time/place descibed on our page Reported Speech - Summary. Form. affirmative commands → to + infinitive; negative commands → not + to + infinitive; 1.1.
Yes, and you report it with a reporting verb. He said he wanted to know about reported speech. I said, I want and you changed it to he wanted. Exactly. Verbs in the present simple change to the past simple; the present continuous changes to the past continuous; the present perfect changes to the past perfect; can changes to could; will changes ...
Introduction. In English grammar, we use reported speech to say what another person has said. We can use their exact words with quotation marks, this is known as direct speech, or we can use indirect speech. In indirect speech, we change the tense and pronouns to show that some time has passed. Indirect speech is often introduced by a reporting ...
Reported speech is the form in which one can convey a message said by oneself or someone else, mostly in the past. It can also be said to be the third person view of what someone has said. In this form of speech, you need not use quotation marks as you are not quoting the exact words spoken by the speaker, but just conveying the message. Q2.
Here's a list of all the reported speech exercises on this site: (Click here to read the explanations about reported speech) Reported Statements: Present Simple Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here) Present Continuous Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here) Past Simple Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in ...
Download this explanation in PDF here. Try an exercise about reporting verbs here. In the page about reported speech, we talked about how to change direct speech ("I love coffee") into reported speech (Seonaid said that she loved coffee), using the verbs 'say', 'tell' and 'ask'.However, we can also use many other verbs to report what someone said, like 'promise', 'warn', 'advise' and 'recommend'.
Reported speech: indirect speech - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary
Reported speech - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary
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