Reported Speech

Reported speech is the form in which one can convey a message said by
oneself or someone else, mostly in the past. It can also be said to be the
third person view of what someone has said. In this form of speech, you
need not use quotation marks as you are not quoting the exact words
spoken by the speaker, but just conveying the message.

Now, take a look at the following dictionary definitions for a clearer idea of
what it is.

Definition of Reported Speech

Reported speech, according to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, is defined
as “a report of what somebody has said that does not use their exact
words.” The Collins Dictionary defines reported speech as “speech which
tells you what someone said, but does not use the person’s actual words.”
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, reported speech is defined as “the
act of reporting something that was said, but not using exactly the same
words.” The Macmillan Dictionary defines reported speech as “the words
that you use to report what someone else has said.”

Rules to be Followed When Using Reported

Speech
Reported speech is a little different from direct speech. As it has been
discussed already, reported speech is used to tell what someone said and
does not use the exact words of the speaker. Take a look at the following
rules so that you can make use of reported speech effectively.

• The first thing you have to keep in mind is that you need not use any quotation
marks as you are not using the exact words of the speaker.
• You can use the following formula to construct a sentence in the reported
speech.

Subject said that (report whatever the speaker said)

• You can use verbs like said, asked, requested, ordered, complained, exclaimed,
screamed, told, etc. If you are just reporting a declarative sentence, you can
 use verbs like told, said, etc. followed by ‘that’ and end the sentence with a full
stop. When you are reporting interrogative sentences, you can use the verbs –
enquired, inquired, asked, etc. and remove the question mark. In case you are
reporting imperative sentences, you can use verbs like requested,
commanded, pleaded, ordered, etc. If you are reporting exclamatory
sentences, you can use the verb exclaimed and remove the exclamation mark.
Remember that the structure of the sentences also changes accordingly.
• Furthermore, keep in mind that the sentence structure, tense, pronouns, modal
verbs, some specific adverbs of place and adverbs of time change when a
sentence is transformed into indirect/reported speech.

Transforming Direct Speech into Reported

Speech
As discussed earlier, when transforming a sentence from direct speech
into reported speech, you will have to change the pronouns, tense and
adverbs of time and place used by the speaker. Let us look at the following
tables to see how they work.

Table 1 – Change of Pronouns

Direct Speech Reported Speech

I He, she

Me Him, her

We They

Us Them

You He, she, they

You Him, her, them

My His, her

Mine His, hers

Our Their

Ours Theirs

Your His, her, their

Yours His, hers, theirs

Table 2 – Change of Adverbs of Place and Adverbs of Time

Direct Speech Reported Speech

This That

These Those

Adverbs of Place

Here There

Adverbs of Time

Now Then

Today That day

Tomorrow The next day / The following day

Yesterday The previous day

Tonight That night

Last week The week before

Next week The week after

Last month The previous month

Next month The following month

Last year The previous year

Next year The following year

Ago Before

Thus So

Table 3 – Change of Tense

Direct Speech Reported Speech

Simple Present Simple Past

Example: Preethi said that she cooked
Example: Preethi said, “I cook pasta.” pasta.
Present Continuous Past Continuous
Example: Preethi said, “I am cooking Example: Preethi said that she was cooking
pasta.” pasta.
Present Perfect Past Perfect
Example: Preethi said, “I have cooked Example: Preethi said that she had cooked
pasta.” pasta.
Present Perfect Past Perfect Continuous
Example: Preethi said, “I have been Example: Preethi said that she had been
cooking pasta.” cooking pasta.
Simple Past Past Perfect
Example: Preethi said, “I cooked pasta.” Example: Preethi said that she had cooked
pasta.
Past Continuous Past Perfect Continuous
Example: Preethi said, “I was cooking Example: Preethi said that she had been
pasta.” cooking pasta.
Past Perfect Past Perfect (No change)
Example: Preethi said, “I had cooked Example: Preethi said that she had cooked
pasta.” pasta.
Past Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous (No change)
Example: Preethi said, “I had been Example: Preethi said that she had been
cooking pasta.” cooking pasta.

Table 4 – Change of Modal Verbs

Direct Speech Reported Speech

Will Would

May Might

Can Could

Shall Should

Has/Have Had

Tips to Practise Reported Speech

Here are some tips you can follow to become a pro in using reported
speech.

• Select a play, a drama or a short story with dialogues and try transforming the
sentences in direct speech into reported speech.
• Write about an incident or speak about a day in your life using reported
speech.
• Develop a story by following prompts or on your own using reported speech.

Examples of Reported Speech

Given below are a few examples to show you how reported speech can be
written. Check them out.

• Santana said that she would be auditioning for the lead role in Funny Girl.
• Blaine requested us to help him with the algebraic equations.
• Karishma asked me if I knew where her car keys were.
• The judges announced that the Warblers were the winners of the annual
acapella competition.
• Binsha assured that she would reach Bangalore by 8 p.m.
• Kumar said that he had gone to the doctor the previous day.
 • Lakshmi asked Teena if she would accompany her to the railway station.
• Jibin told me that he would help me out after lunch.
• The police ordered everyone to leave from the bus stop immediately.
• Rahul said that he was drawing a caricature.

Check Your Understanding of Reported Speech

Transform the following sentences into reported speech by making the
necessary changes.

1. Rachel said, “I have an interview tomorrow.”

2. Mahesh said, “What is he doing?”

3. Sherly said, “My daughter is playing the lead role in the skit.”

4. Dinesh said, “It is a wonderful movie!”

5. Suresh said, “My son is getting married next month.”

6. Preetha said, “Can you please help me with the invitations?”

7. Anna said, “I look forward to meeting you.”

8. The teacher said, “Make sure you complete the homework before
tomorrow.”

9. Sylvester said, “I am not going to cry anymore.”

10. Jade said, “My sister is moving to Los Angeles.”

Now, find out if you have answered all of them correctly.

1. Rachel said that she had an interview the next day.

2. Mahesh asked what he was doing.

3. Sherly said that her daughter was playing the lead role in the skit.

4. Dinesh exclaimed that it was a wonderful movie.

5. Suresh said that his son was getting married the following month.

6. Preetha asked if I could help her with the invitations.

7. Anna said that she looked forward to meeting me.

8. The teacher told us to make sure we completed the homework before

the next day.

9. Sylvester said that he was not going to cry anymore.

10. Jade said that his sister was moving to Los Angeles.