REPORTED SPEECH
We use reported speech when we report a conversation instead of repeating the speaker’s
exact words.
In direct speech (the exact words) we use quotation marks: She said, “I love my brothers”
In reported speech we don’t use quotation marks.
1. STATEMENTS:
When do we use reported speech? Sometimes someone says a sentence, for example "I'm going to the
cinema tonight". Later, maybe we want to tell someone else what the first person said. Here's how it
works: We use a reporting verb like 'say' or 'tell'. If the reporting verb is in the past tense (said,
told…), then we usually change the tenses in the reported speech (BACKSHIFT):
Tense Direct Speech Reported Speech
present simple I like ice cream She said (that) she liked ice cream.
present
I am living in London She said (that) she was living in London.
continuous
past simple I bought a car She said (that) she had bought a car
past I was walking along the
She said (that) she had been walking along the street.
continuous street
present
I haven't seen Julie She said (that) she hadn't seen Julie.
perfect
I had taken English
past perfect* She said (that) she had taken English lessons before.
lessons before
will I'll see you later She said (that) she would see me later.
I can speak perfect
can She said (that) she could speak perfect English.
English
I must study at the She said (that) she must study at the weekend OR She
must
weekend said she had to study at the weekend
*The verb tense doesn´t change.
For statements we use: said (to someone), told, answered, explained…(that)…
There are other changes in time and place expressions and the personal pronouns and possessive also
change.
Direct Speech Reported Speech
now then / at that time
today yesterday / that day /
yesterday the day before yesterday / the day before /
last night the night before / the previous night
last week the week before / the previous week
tomorrow today / the next day / the following day
Here there
This / these That / those
2. QUESTIONS:
It's not so different from reported statements. The tense changes are the same, and we keep the
question word or we use “if” for yes/no questions. The very important thing though is that, once we tell the
question to someone else, it isn't a question any more. So we need to change the structure to a normal
positive sentence.
Direct Speech Reported Speech
He asked me, “Is your sister at home?” He asked me if my sister was at home.
She asked me, “Where do you live?” She asked me where I lived.
For questions we use: asked (someone) if /where/ when/ how /why…
3. COMMANDS / ORDERS:
In this case the structure is easier, we simply use: told, ordered (someone) + to + infinitive:
Direct Speech Reported Speech
“Go to bed!” He told the child to go to bed.
“Don't worry!” He told her not to worry.
“Be on time!” He told me to be on time.
“Don't smoke!” He told us not to smoke.
4. REQUESTS:
In this case the structure is similar to commands but we use: asked (someone) + to + infinitive:
Direct Speech Reported Speech
“Please help me.” She asked me to help her.
“Please don't smoke”. She asked me not to smoke.
She asked me to bring her book
“Could you bring my book tonight?”
that night.
EXERCISES:
https://agendaweb.org/verbs/reported-indirect-speech.html
https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/exercises?10
