Reported Speech
Learn how to report what others have said
What is Reported Speech?
Reported speech (also called indirect speech) is when we tell someone what another person said without using their exact words. We often need to change verb tenses, pronouns, and time expressions when we convert direct speech to reported speech.
Direct Speech:
“I will call you back tomorrow.”
Reported Speech: He said he would call back the next day.
Reported Speech: He said he would call back the next day.
Key Rules for Reported Speech
1. Tense Changes (Backshifting)
When the reporting verb is in the past tense (said, told, asked), we typically move the tenses “back” one step:
- Present Simple → Past Simple
“I work here” → She said she worked there - Present Continuous → Past Continuous
“I’m waiting” → He said he was waiting - Present Perfect → Past Perfect
“I’ve finished” → She said she had finished - Past Simple → Past Perfect
“I saw it” → He said he had seen it - Will → Would
“I’ll help” → She said she would help - Can → Could
“I can swim” → He said he could swim
2. Pronoun Changes
Pronouns change to match the perspective of the reporter:
Direct: “I love my job.”
Reported: She said she loved her job.
Reported: She said she loved her job.
3. Time and Place Expressions
Time and place words often change to reflect the new time and place of reporting:
- today → that day
- tomorrow → the next day / the following day
- yesterday → the day before / the previous day
- now → then / at that time
- here → there
- this → that
- next week → the following week
- last week → the previous week
4. Reporting Verbs
Common reporting verbs include: say, tell, ask, explain, promise, suggest, advise, warn, etc.
Note: “Tell” requires an object (tell someone), while “say” doesn’t (say that…).
✓ She told me she was tired.
✓ She said she was tired.
✗ She said me she was tired.
✓ She told me she was tired.
✓ She said she was tired.
✗ She said me she was tired.
Common Examples
Direct: “I can’t come to the party tomorrow.”
Reported: She said she couldn’t come to the party the next day.
Reported: She said she couldn’t come to the party the next day.
Direct: “We have been waiting here for an hour.”
Reported: They said they had been waiting there for an hour.
Reported: They said they had been waiting there for an hour.
Direct: “I’ll send you the report this afternoon.”
Reported: He said he would send me the report that afternoon.
Reported: He said he would send me the report that afternoon.
