Reported Speech (B2)

1. Direct vs Reported Speech

Reported speech (also called indirect speech) is used to report what someone else has said, without quoting their exact words. It allows you to summarize, paraphrase, and integrate others’ statements smoothly into your speech or writing.

Using reported speech correctly involves changes in pronouns, verb tenses, time expressions, and word order (mainly in reported questions), depending on when the original statement was made.

Direct speech quotes someone’s exact words, usually inside quotation marks:
- Mary said, “I am tired.”
Reported speech conveys the meaning indirectly, without quotation marks:
- Mary said (that) she was tired.

Notice the changes:

Pronouns adjust to match the speaker in the reporting sentence.
Verb tense often shifts back (past tense) if the reporting verb is in the past.

2. Reporting Verbs

Different reporting verbs use different patterns:

Pattern	Use	Example
say + (that) + clause	report information	He said (that) he was feeling unwell.
tell + object + (that) + clause	report information to someone	She told me (that) she would arrive late.
ask + object + if / whether / wh-clause	report a question	They asked me if I could help them.
tell / ask / advise + object + to + verb	report a command, request, or piece of advice	My teacher advised me to revise before the exam.
admit / explain / insist / claim + (that) + clause	report a statement or position	She admitted (that) she had lied.
warn / remind / persuade / order + object + to + verb	report an instruction or influence	He warned me not to touch the wire.
deny / suggest / recommend + -ing	report a denial, suggestion, or recommendation	He denied taking the money.
apologise for / insist on / accuse someone of + -ing	report an action after a preposition	They accused him of cheating.

tell vs say (common confusion):

tell + object: She told me (that) she was leaving.
say: She said (that) she was leaving.

Do not use told + that-clause without an object.

Incorrect: She told that she was leaving.
Correct: She told me (that) she was leaving. / She said (that) she was leaving.

3. Changes in Verb Tense

When the reporting verb is in the past, the original tense often moves one step back. With a present reporting verb such as says or tells, backshift is not normally needed.

Before changing the tense, consider whether the information is still true or closely connected to the present. Then adjust pronouns and time expressions to match the new point of view:

Direct: “I’m meeting you tomorrow.”
- Reported: He said (that) he was meeting me the next day.

Typical Backshift Patterns

Direct form	Typical reported form	Example
Present Simple	Past Simple	“I like pizza.” → He said (that) he liked pizza.
Present Continuous	Past Continuous	“I am studying.” → She said (that) she was studying.
Present Perfect	Past Perfect	“I have finished.” → He said (that) he had finished.
Present Perfect Continuous	Past Perfect Continuous	“I have been waiting.” → She said (that) she had been waiting.
Past Simple	Past Perfect	“I missed the bus.” → She said (that) she had missed the bus.
Past Continuous	Often stays Past Continuous; can become Past Perfect Continuous	“I was working.” → He said (that) he was working.
will	would	“I will call you.” → He said (that) he would call me.
can	could	“I can help.” → She said (that) she could help.
may	might	“It may rain.” → He said (that) it might rain.
must (obligation)	had to	“I must leave.” → He said (that) he had to leave.
must (logical deduction)	usually stays must	“This must be the right address.” → She said (that) it must be the right address.
could, should, might, would, ought to	often unchanged	“You should rest.” → He said (that) I should rest.

The meaning of must determines the backshift. Obligation usually becomes had to, but must for a logical conclusion normally remains must.

Past continuous often remains unchanged when it describes an action in progress: “I was working.” → He said he was working. Use past perfect continuous when an earlier duration matters: He said he had been working all morning.

In “I must leave now,” now changes to then when the report is made later: He said (that) he had to leave then.

When Backshift Is Optional

If the information is still true: “He said the Earth is round.” A backshifted version, “He said the Earth was round,” is also grammatically possible.
If you report the words very soon after they were spoken, you may keep the original tense.
Past Simple can remain Past Simple when the past time is clear or the speaker treats the event as still relevant: “She said (that) she missed the bus, so she was late.”

4. Changing Pronouns and Time Expressions

Pronouns and adverbs of time often need to be adjusted in reported speech:

Change pronouns/time/place words only if the point of view, time, or location is different from the original speaker’s.

Pronouns:

I → he/she
we → they
you → I/he/she/they (depending on context)

Time expressions:

now → then
today → that day
tonight → that night
yesterday → the day before
tomorrow → the next/following day
next week → the following week
last week → the previous week
here → there
this → that
these → those

Direct: “I will see you tomorrow.”
- Reported: He said that he would see me the next day.
Direct: “We are leaving now.”
- Reported: They said that they were leaving then.

If you report it on the same day/in the same place, you may keep the original word:

Direct: “I’m busy today.” → Reported (same day): She said she was busy today. / (different day): …busy that day.

Quick check

Try one question now

My colleague told me that she to the office early the next day.

Check your answer when you are ready.

5. Reporting Questions

Yes/No Questions

Use if/whether after the reporting verb:
- Direct: “Do you like coffee?”
  - Reported: She asked me if I liked coffee.

Wh-Questions

Keep the question word, but use normal statement order. Do not use do, does, or did in the reported question. Backshift the tense when appropriate.

Direct: “Where do you live?”
- Reported: He asked me where I lived.
Direct: “What did you buy?”
- Reported: She asked him what he had bought.
Direct: “Why are you late?”
- Reported: The manager asked her why she was late.
Direct: “When will they arrive?”
- Reported: She asked us when they would arrive.

Keep statement order after the question word.

Incorrect: He asked where do you live.
Correct: He asked me where I lived.

6. Reporting Commands, Requests, and Suggestions

Commands

Use tell + object + to + verb
- Direct: “Close the window.”
  - Reported: He told me to close the window.

Requests

Use ask + object + to + verb
- Direct: “Please help me.”
  - Reported: She asked me to help her.

Suggestions/Advice

Advice: advise + object + to + verb
- Direct: “You should see a doctor.”
  - Reported: He advised me to see a doctor.
Suggestions: suggest + -ing / suggest (that) + clause
- Direct: “Let’s see a doctor.”
  - Reported: He suggested seeing a doctor.
  - Alternative: He suggested (that) I should see a doctor.
Recommendations: recommend + -ing / recommend (that) + clause
- Direct: “Let’s see a doctor.”
  - Reported: She recommended seeing a doctor.
  - Alternative: She recommended (that) I (should) see a doctor.

7. Key Takeaways

Reported speech allows you to relay what someone said without quoting them directly.
Verb tenses often shift back when the reporting verb is in the past.
Pronouns and time expressions must be adjusted to match the context.
Questions, commands, and suggestions have specific reporting structures.
Careful attention to tense, word order, and pronoun changes avoids common errors.

Mastery tip: When reporting speech, always ask:

Who said it? → adjust pronouns
When was it said? → adjust tense and time expressions
Was it a statement, question, or command? → use correct structure