REPORTED SPEECH
Grammar Notes
1. Tense Changes
When the reporting verb (said, told, admitted, warned...) is in the past, the verbs in the direct
speech also move one tense further into the past.
Present simple → Past simple
Direct: 'I work in the accounting department of an online store.'
Reported: She said she worked in the accounting department of an online store.
Present continuous → Past continuous
Direct: 'I'm filling in a complaints form.'
Reported: He told us he was filling in a complaints form.
Present perfect simple → Past perfect simple
Direct: 'We've often exceeded the speed limit.'
Reported: They admitted that they had often exceeded the speed limit.
Past simple → Past perfect simple
Direct: 'I just managed to catch the last train.'
Reported: She said that she had just managed to catch the last train.
Will → Would
Direct: 'I'll get in touch with you again.'
Reported: She promised she would get in touch with me again.
2. Modal Verbs That Change
Can → Could
Direct: 'I can understand nearly everything my English teacher says.'
Reported: She said that she could understand nearly everything her English teacher
said.
May → Might
Direct: 'I may let you both swim in the big pool later.'
Reported: The boys' mum said that she might let them swim in the big pool later.
Must → Had to
Direct: 'You must turn off your phones before the exam.'
Reported: The teacher said that they had to turn off their phones before the exam.
3. Modal Verbs That Do NOT Change
could, would, should, might, ought to, used to
Direct: 'I would rather not go out into the cold.'
Reported: She said she would rather not go out into the cold.
must (when negative)
Direct: 'You mustn't eat meat if it's not cooked properly.'
Reported: Her mother told her she mustn't eat meat if it's not cooked properly.
must (deduction)
Direct: 'The bus must have been delayed.'
Reported: She said that the bus must have been delayed.
4. Important Exception
If the reporting verb is in a present tense, no tense changes are necessary.
Present reporting verb
Direct: 'I'll help you when you move into your new flat.'
Reported: She says she'll help me when I move into my new flat.
5. Questions in Reported Speech
● Word order changes to that of a normal (affirmative) sentence.
● Same tense changes apply as in reported speech.
● Same question words are used (when, how, etc.).
● A full stop is used, not a question mark.
● Auxiliary verbs do, does, did are NOT used — the question has the form of a normal
sentence.
● if / whether is used with Yes/No questions.
● Common introducing verbs: ask, enquire, want to know, wonder.
With a question word
Direct: 'How long have you been waiting for your results?'
Reported: She asked me how long I had been waiting for my results.
Without do / does / did
Direct: 'What time do you take your power nap?'
Reported: The psychologist asked what time I took my power nap.
Yes/No question (if / whether)
Direct: 'Can I wear casual clothes at the presentation tomorrow?'
Reported: He wanted to know if/whether he could wear casual clothes at the
presentation the following day.