Reported Speech

Overview

Reported speech (also called indirect speech) is used to tell someone what another person said — without quoting their exact words.

• Direct: She said, "I am tired."
• Reported: She said (that) she was tired.

The main challenge is tense backshift — when the reporting verb (said, told) is in the past, the tenses in the reported clause usually shift back one step.

Tense Backshift Rules

When the reporting verb is in the past (said, told, asked), tenses typically shift:

Tenses That Don't Change

Some tenses stay the same because they can't shift further back:

When Backshift Is Optional

Backshift is not required when:

1. The information is still true

• Direct: "The Earth is round."
• Reported: He said the Earth is round. (still true — no shift needed)
• Also OK: He said the Earth was round. (both are acceptable)

2. The reporting verb is in the present

• She says she is happy. (no shift)
• He tells me he works there. (no shift)

3. Reporting something just said

• "I'm leaving now." → He just said he**'s** leaving.

Pronoun and Reference Changes

When you report speech, pronouns, possessives, and demonstratives often change to match the reporter's perspective:

Example:

• Direct: "I love my new job."
• Reported: She said (that) she loved her new job.

Time and Place Expression Changes

Example:

• Direct: "I'll see you tomorrow at the office here."
• Reported: He said he would see me the next day at the office there.

Note: If you're reporting on the same day and in the same place, you don't need to change these words.

Reporting Verbs: Said vs. Told

Said

• Said is followed by a clause (no object needed):
• She said (that) she was tired.
• He said he would come.

Told

• Told requires an object (who was told):
• She told me (that) she was tired.
• He told his boss he would be late.

Wrong: She told that she was tired. (missing object) Wrong: She said me that she was tired. (said doesn't take an object)

Other Common Reporting Verbs

Reporting Questions

Yes/No Questions

Use if or whether — and change to statement word order (no inversion):

• Direct: "Do you like coffee?"

• Reported: She asked me if/whether I liked coffee.

• Direct: "Can you swim?"

• Reported: He asked if I could swim.

• Direct: "Have you been to Japan?"

• Reported: She asked me whether I had been to Japan.

No question mark in reported questions — they are statements. No do/does/did — use normal word order.

Wh- Questions

Keep the question word, but use statement word order:

• Direct: "Where do you live?"

• Reported: She asked me where I lived. (NOT where did I live)

• Direct: "What are you doing?"

• Reported: He asked what I was doing.

• Direct: "When will you arrive?"

• Reported: She asked when I would arrive.

• Direct: "Why did you leave?"

• Reported: He asked me why I had left.

Reporting Commands and Requests

Use tell/ask/order/advise + object + (not) to + verb:

Commands

• Direct: "Sit down!"

• Reported: The teacher told us to sit down.

• Direct: "Don't touch that!"

• Reported: She told me not to touch it.

Requests

• Direct: "Could you help me, please?"

• Reported: He asked me to help him.

• Direct: "Please don't tell anyone."

• Reported: She asked me not to tell anyone.

Other patterns

• "You should see a doctor." → She advised me to see a doctor.
• "Don't go near the water!" → He warned us not to go near the water.
• "I'll definitely come." → She promised to come.

Reporting with "That"

The word "that" is optional in most reported speech — you can include it or leave it out:

• She said (that) she was happy.
• He told me (that) he would be late.
• I think (that) you're right.

Including "that" can make longer sentences clearer.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Using question word order in reported questions

• Wrong: She asked where did I live.
• Correct: She asked where I lived.

Mistake 2: Confusing "said" and "told"

• Wrong: He said me that...
• Correct: He told me that... OR He said that...

Mistake 3: Forgetting tense backshift

• Wrong: She said she is tired. (when reporting past speech and the situation may have changed)
• Correct: She said she was tired.

Mistake 4: Using "if" with commands

• Wrong: She told me if I close the door.
• Correct: She told me to close the door. (command)
• Correct: She asked me if I had closed the door. (question)

Mistake 5: Adding question marks to reported questions

• Wrong: He asked where I lived?
• Correct: He asked where I lived**.**

Mistake 6: Not changing time/place references

• Less natural: She said, "I'll do it tomorrow." → She said she would do it tomorrow. (only OK if reporting on the same day)
• Better (if reporting later): She said she would do it the next day.

Quick Reference

Practice Tips

1. Report conversations you've had: After talking to someone, write down what they said using reported speech.
2. Rewrite dialogues: Take a dialogue from a textbook or film and convert it entirely to reported speech.
3. Practise questions: Write five direct questions, then convert them to reported questions. Focus on word order.
4. Use different reporting verbs: Don't just use "said" — practise with explained, suggested, warned, admitted, and others.
5. Read news articles: Journalists use reported speech constantly — notice the patterns they use.