Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)
What is reported speech?
Reported speech is when you tell somebody else what you or a person said before.
Distinction must be made between direct speech and 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 She said that she was visiting Paris the following
weekend" weekend.
Different types of sentences
When you use reported speech, you either report:
statements
questions
requests / commands
other types
A. Reporting Statements
When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:
pronouns
tense
place and time expression
1- Pronouns
In reported speech, you often have to change the pronoun depending on who says what.
Example:
She says, “My dad likes roast chicken.” – She says that her dad likes roast chicken.
2- Tenses
If the sentence starts in the present, there is no backshift of tenses
in reported speech.
If the sentence starts in the past, there is often backshift of tenses
in reported speech.
1
Direct speech Reported speech
(no backshift) “I write poems.” He says that he writes poems.
(backshift) “I write poems.” He said that he wrote poems.
No backshift
Do not change the tense if the introductory clause is in a present tense (e. g. He says).
Note, however, that you might have to change the form of the present tense verb (3rd
person singular).
Example:
He says, “I write poems.” – He says that he writes English.
Backshift
You must change the tense if the introductory clause is in a past tense (e. g. He said).
Example:
He said, “I am happy.” – He said that he was happy.
Examples of the main changes in tense:
Direct Speech Reported Speech
Simple Present Simple Past
He said: "I am happy" He said that he was happy
Present Progressive Past Progressive
He said: "I'm looking for my keys" He said that he was looking for his keys
Simple Past Past Perfect Simple
He said: "I visited New York last year" He said that he had visited New York the
previous year.
Present Perfect Past Perfect
He said: " I've lived here for a long time " He said that he had lived there for a long time
Past Perfect Past Perfect
He said: "They had finished the work when He said that they had finished the work when
I arrived" he had arrived"
Past Progressive Past Perfect Progressive
He said: "I was playing football when the He said that he had been playing football
accident occurred" when the accident had occurred
Present Perfect Progressive Past Perfect Progressive
He said:"I have been playing football for He said that he had been playing football for
two hours." two hours
Past Perfect Progressive Past Perfect Progressive
He said: "I had been reading a newspaper He said that he had been reading a newspaper
when the light went off" when the light had gone off
Future Simple (will+verb) Conditional (would+verb)
He said: "I will open the door." He said that he would open the door.
Conditional (would+verb) Conditional (would+verb)
2
He said: "I would buy Mercedes if He said that he would buy Mercedes if he had
I were rich" beenrich"
The modal verbs could, should, would, might, needn't, ought to, used to do not normally
change.
Example:
He said, "She might be right." – He said that she might be right.
Other modal verbs may change:
Modal Direct speech Reported speech
can "I can do it." He said he could do it.
may "May I go out?" He wanted to know if he might go out.
must "She must apply for the job." He said that she must/had to apply for the job.
will "They will call you." He told her that they would call her.
3- Place, demonstratives and time expressions
Place, demonstratives and time expressions change if the context of the reported
statement (i.e. the location and/or the period of time) is different from that of the direct
speech.
In the following table, you will find the different changes of place; demonstratives and
time expressions.
Direct Speech Reported Speech
Time Expressions
today that day
now then
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
Place
here there
Demonstratives
this that
these those
B. Reporting Questions
When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:
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pronouns
place and time expressions
tenses (backshift)
Also note that you have to:
transform the question into an indirect question
use the question word (where, when, what, how) or if / whether
Types of questions Direct speech Reported speech
With question word (what, "Why" don’t you He asked me why I didn’t
why, where, how...) speak English?” speak English.
Without question word (yes “Do you speak He asked me whether / if I
or no questions) English?” spoke English.
C. Reporting requests / commands
When transforming requests and commands, check whether you have to change:
pronouns
place and time expressions
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 to / not to + verb (infinitive without
"to")
Example:
She said, “Sit down." - She asked me to sit down.
She said, "don't be lazy" - She asked me not to be lazy
For affirmative use to + infinitive (without to)
For negative requests, use not to + infinitive (without to).
D. Other transformations
Expressions of advice with must, should and ought are usually reported
using advise / urge.
Example:
"You must read this book."
He advised / urged me to read that book.
The expression let’s is usually reported using suggest. In this case, there are
two possibilities for reported speech: gerund or statement with should.
Example:
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"Let’s go to the cinema."
1. He suggested going to the cinema.
2. He suggested that we should go to the cinema.
Main clauses connected with and/but
If two complete main clauses are connected with ‚and or ‚but, put ‚that after the
conjunction.
Example:
He said,“I saw her but she didn't see me.“ – He said that he had seen her but that she
hadn't seen him.“
If the subject is dropped in the second main clause (the conjunction is followed by a verb),
do not use ‚that‘.
Example:
She said,“I am a nurse and work in a hospital.“ – He said that she was a nurse and worked
in a hospital.“
