Reported speech lets you communicate what another person said without repeating every word exactly. Direct speech gives the original words: "I am tired." Reported speech gives the message from a new point of view: "She said that she was tired."
This structure appears in conversation, storytelling, meetings, news reports, and classroom discussion. Reported speech becomes easier when you separate the task into 4 choices: the reporting verb, tense, point of view, and sentence type. This guide explains each choice and provides exercises for practical use.
Direct Speech and Reported Speech
Direct speech repeats a speaker's exact words and uses quotation marks:
- Maria said, "I need help."
- The teacher said, "The test is tomorrow."
- Ken asked, "Where is the classroom?"
Reported speech communicates the meaning without quotation marks:
- "Maria said that she needed help."
- "The teacher said that the test was the next day."
- "Ken asked where the classroom was."
The reported version may change tense, pronouns, possessives, and time expressions. These changes reflect the new speaker, time, and place. They are not random grammar changes.
The Basic Reported Speech Pattern
The common pattern for statements is:
subject + reporting verb + optional "that" + reported clause
- "He said that he was busy."
- "She told me that she liked the class."
- "They explained that the answer was incorrect."
"That" is often optional in everyday speech:
- "He said he was busy."
- "She told me she liked the class."
Both versions are correct. Keeping "that" can make a long sentence easier to follow.
"Say" and "tell" use different patterns. Use "say" without a required personal object:
- "She said that the lesson was useful."
- "She said to me that the lesson was useful." This is possible but less natural.
Use "tell" with a personal object:
- "She told me that the lesson was useful."
- Incorrect: "She told that the lesson was useful."
Tense Changes in Reported Speech
When the reporting verb is in the past, the reported verb often moves one step back in time. This process is sometimes called backshift.
| Direct speech | Common reported form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| present simple | past simple | "I work." → "He said that he worked." |
| present continuous | past continuous | "I am working." → "He said that he was working." |
| present perfect | past perfect | "I have finished." → "She said that she had finished." |
| past simple | past perfect | "I visited MOCA." → "She said that she had visited MOCA." |
| "will" | "would" | "I will call." → "He said that he would call." |
| "can" | "could" | "I can help." → "She said that she could help." |
| "may" | "might" | "I may go." → "He said that he might go." |
The past perfect usually stays past perfect:
- Direct: "I had already eaten."
- Reported: "She said that she had already eaten."
The guide to English speaking practice offers ways to turn grammar patterns into faster spoken responses.
When the Tense Does Not Need to Change
Backshift is common, but it is not automatic in every situation.
If the reporting verb is present, the tense usually stays the same:
- Direct: "I enjoy the class."
- Reported: "She says that she enjoys the class."
If a fact is still true, speakers often keep the original tense:
- Direct: "Los Angeles is in California."
- Reported: "He said that Los Angeles is in California."
If a situation has not changed, either form may be possible:
- "Mina said that she lives in Los Angeles."
- "Mina said that she lived in Los Angeles."
The present form emphasizes that Mina still lives there. The past form simply reports the earlier statement and may leave the current situation unclear.
Formal grammar exercises often expect consistent backshift. Real conversation gives speakers more flexibility when the information remains true. Use the form that communicates the time clearly.
Pronoun and Possessive Changes
Reported speech changes the point of view. Pronouns and possessives must match the person who is reporting.
Direct:
- Maria said, "I like my class."
Reported by another person:
- "Maria said that she liked her class."
Direct:
- Alex told Mina, "I will help you with your homework."
Reported by Mina:
- "Alex told me that he would help me with my homework."
Do not change pronouns mechanically. First identify the original speaker, the original listener, and the new reporter. The guide to English conversation practice provides more ways to practice changing points of view.
Changes to Time and Place Expressions
Time and place expressions may change when the report happens at a different time or location.
| Direct expression | Possible reported expression |
|---|---|
| "today" | "that day" |
| "tomorrow" | "the next day" or "the following day" |
| "yesterday" | "the day before" or "the previous day" |
| "now" | "then" |
| "this week" | "that week" |
| "last month" | "the previous month" |
| "next year" | "the following year" |
| "here" | "there" |
| "this" | "that" |
| "these" | "those" |
Example:
- Direct: "I will meet you here tomorrow."
- Reported later from another place: "He said that he would meet me there the next day."
Changes are unnecessary if the time or place is still the same. If you report a morning statement later that same morning, "today" may still be accurate. Meaning should guide the change.
How to Report Questions
Reported questions use statement word order. They do not use the auxiliary inversion of direct questions.
For a question word such as "where," "when," "why," or "how," keep the question word:
- Direct: "Where do you live?"
- Reported: "She asked where I lived."
-
Incorrect: "She asked where did I live."
-
Direct: "Why are you studying English?"
- Reported: "He asked why I was studying English."
For a yes-or-no question, use "if" or "whether":
- Direct: "Do you understand?"
- Reported: "The teacher asked if I understood."
- Reported: "The teacher asked whether I understood."
Do not use a question mark after a reported question when the entire sentence is a statement:
- "She asked where the station was."
Use a question mark only when the whole sentence is a question:
- "Did she ask where the station was?"
How to Report Commands and Requests
For commands and requests, a common pattern is:
"told" or "asked" + object + "to" + base verb
- Direct: "Open your book."
-
Reported: "The teacher told us to open our books."
-
Direct: "Please repeat the sentence."
- Reported: "She asked me to repeat the sentence."
For a negative command, use "not to":
- Direct: "Do not be late."
- Reported: "He told me not to be late."
Choose "asked" for a request and "told" for an instruction or command. The reporting verb communicates the speaker's purpose and tone.
Useful Reporting Verbs and Patterns
"Say," "tell," and "ask" are common, but more precise verbs can communicate the original speaker's intention.
- "explain + that-clause": "She explained that the schedule had changed."
- "promise + to-infinitive": "He promised to call."
- "warn + object + not to": "She warned us not to wait outside."
- "admit + gerund": "He admitted making the mistake."
- "suggest + gerund": "She suggested reviewing the lesson."
- "suggest + that-clause": "She suggested that we review the lesson."
- "agree + to-infinitive": "They agreed to meet after class."
Avoid using every verb with the same pattern:
- Incorrect: "She suggested me to study."
- Correct: "She suggested studying."
- Correct: "She suggested that I study."
Learning the reporting verb together with its pattern is more efficient than memorizing the verb alone.
Using Reported Speech at CWC
Reported speech is a communication skill, not only a written grammar topic. Learners use reported speech to summarize a partner's opinion, retell a story, explain instructions, and report a group decision.
At Columbia West College (CWC), the English Speaking Success (ESS) program includes a daily 80-minute Speaking class. Learners receive 6 times more speaking practice than in a typical listening and speaking class. ESS also connects Grammar, Speaking, and Reading & Writing, so a structure learned in Grammar can be used in discussion and reinforced in writing. Weekly presentations give learners another reason to organize and report information clearly.
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Common Reported Speech Mistakes
Keeping question word order.
- Incorrect: "He asked where was I going."
- Correct: "He asked where I was going."
Using "tell" without an object.
- Incorrect: "She told that she was ready."
- Correct: "She said that she was ready."
- Correct: "She told me that she was ready."
Changing every tense even when the reporting verb is present.
- Direct: "I need help."
- Correct: "He says that he needs help."
Forgetting to change the point of view.
- Direct from Lina: "I finished my work."
- Reported by Sam: "Lina said that she had finished her work."
Using "to" after "suggest."
- Incorrect: "He suggested to take a break."
- Correct: "He suggested taking a break."
Reviewing examples through writing skills practice can help you spot these patterns before you use them in longer paragraphs.
Practice Exercises
Change each sentence into reported speech. Possible answers appear below.
- Ana said, "I am reading a new book."
- Leo said, "I visited The Last Bookstore yesterday."
- The teacher asked, "Do you understand the rule?"
- Mina asked, "Why are you learning English?"
- The teacher said, "Please finish the exercise."
- Carlos said, "I will give my presentation tomorrow."
Possible answers:
- "Ana said that she was reading a new book."
- "Leo said that he had visited The Last Bookstore the day before."
- "The teacher asked if I understood the rule."
- "Mina asked why I was learning English."
- "The teacher asked us to finish the exercise."
- "Carlos said that he would give his presentation the next day."
More than one answer may be correct because the pronouns depend on who is reporting and when the report happens. Explain every change: tense, person, time, question order, or command pattern.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is reported speech?
Reported speech communicates what another person said without repeating the exact original words. It usually removes quotation marks and may change tense, pronouns, and time expressions.
Does the tense always change in reported speech?
No. Tense often changes after a past reporting verb. It may stay the same after a present reporting verb or when the information is still true.
What is the difference between "said" and "told"?
"Said" does not require a personal object. "Told" requires one. Say "She said that she was ready" or "She told me that she was ready."
How do reported questions work?
Reported questions use statement word order. Keep the question word for information questions. Use "if" or "whether" for yes-or-no questions.
How can I practice reported speech?
Listen to a short conversation, then summarize each person's message. Report a question, a statement, and a request. Compare your version with the original and check tense, pronouns, and time expressions.
Turn grammar into confident communication. CWC gives learners structured opportunities to report ideas, summarize conversations, and present information in English. Review the English grammar rules guide, then contact CWC to ask about studying English in Los Angeles.
