- Direct Speech is the exact words someone said.

We use quotation marks in

Direct Speech.
Ex: “I’m meeting John at the station,” she said.
- Reported Speech is the exact meaning of what someone said but not the exact
words. We do not use quotation marks in Reported Speech.
Ex: She said she was meeting John at the station.

SAY – TELL – ASK

- We can use the verbs say and tell in direct and reported speech.
Say is used with or without a personal object. When used with a personal
object, it is always followed by the preposition to.
Ex: (Direct Speech) He said to me, “You’re doing a great job.”
(Reported Speech) He said (that) I was doing a great job.

- Tell is always followed by a personal object.

Ex: (Direct Speech) “You need to call your mom,” she told me.
(Reported Speech) She told me I needed to call my mom.

- Ask is used in reported questions and commands. It is also used in direct

questions when it is followed by the person the words were spoken to.
Ex: (Direct Speech) He said to me, “Don’t open the door!”
(Reported Speech) He asked me not to open the door.
(Direct Speech) She asked, “Did you finish your report?”
(Reported Speech) She asked me if I had finished my report.

Expressions with say say goodbye, say yes, say nothing, say a prayer, say thank you,
say a few words
Expressions with tell tell the truth, tell a lie, tell someone a joke, tell a secret, tell
someone the news, tell someone about something
Expressions with ask ask a question, ask a favor, ask the way, ask for advice, ask for
permission, ask the time
Direct Speech Reported Speech
“I study every day.” He said He said (that) he studied every day.
“I am studying right now,” he said. He said (that) he was studying right then.
“I have finished my project,” he said. He said (that) he had finished his project.
“I finished my project yesterday,” he said. He said (that) he had finished his project the day before.
“I will call you later,” he said. He said (that) he would call me later.
“I have been waiting for you,” he said. He said (that) he had been waiting for me.
“I am going to visit Japan,” he said. He said (that) he was going to visit Japan.
“I can solve this problem,” he said. He said (that) he could solve that problem.
“I may come tomorrow,” he said. He said (that) he might come the next day.
“I must submit this report,” he said. He said (that) he had to submit that report.
“I should rest more,” he said. He said (that) he should rest more.
“I ought to save money,” he said. He said (that) he ought to save money.
“Do you like this movie?” she said to him. She asked him if he liked that movie.
“Work faster,” she said to him. She told him to work faster.

CHANGING FROM DIRECT INTO REPOERTED SPEECH (Statements)

- Inverted commas are omitted in Reported Speech. That is optional.

Ex: “I’m leaving soon,” he said. → He said (that) he was leaving soon.
- When the reporting verb (said, told, etc.) is in the past, the following verbs
usually change to a past form too.
Ex: “I enjoy reading,” she said. → She said she enjoyed reading.

Tenses do not change in Reported Speech when:

a) The reporting verb (say, tell, etc.) is I the Present, Future or Present Perfect tense.
Ex: “The shop opens at nine.” He says -> He says the shop opens at nine.
b) The speaker expresses general truths or laws of nature.
Ex: “The Earth moves around the Sun.” she said -> She said the Earth moves
around the Sun.
- If the speaker expresses something which is believed to be true, the tenses
may change or remain unchanged. If something untrue is expressed, then the
tenses definitely change.
Ex: He plays the guitar very well,” she said. (true) → She said he plays/played the
guitar very well.
Ex: “The world is flat,” he said. (false) → He said the world was flat.
- The Past Simple changes into the Past Perfect or can remain the same. When
the reported sentence contains a time clause, the tenses do not change.
 Ex: “I arrived early to the party,” she said. → She said she arrived / had arrived
early to the party.
“While I was living in Paris, I met him twice,” she said. → She said she had
met him twice while she was living in Paris.
- The Past Perfect and the Past Continuous usually remain the same in
Reported Speech.
Ex: “I was reading when the phone rang,” he said. → He said he was reading
when the phone rang.
- If the reported sentence deals with the unreal past, type 2 or 3 conditionals or
wishes, the tenses remain the same.
Ex: “It’s time we had dinner,” he said. → He said it was time they had dinner.
“If I were rich, I would travel the world,” he said. → He said that if he were
rich, he would travel the world.
- Personal pronouns and possessive adjectives change according to the context.
Ex: “I will lend you my laptop,” she said. → She said she would lend me her
laptop.
“We’ll show you our design,” they said. → They said they would show us
their design.
- Certain words change as follows depending on the context.

Direct Speech Reported Speech

This, these, here, come That, those, there, go

- Time words and tenses can change or remain the same depending on the time
reference. If the reported sentence is out of date, the tenses change. If the
reported sentence is up to date, the tenses can remain the same.
Ex: “I’m flying to Tokyo next week,” she said. → She said she is flying / was
flying to Tokyo next week. (up-to-date reporting — immediately reported after
said)

“I’m flying to Tokyo in May,” she said. → She said she was flying to Tokyo
in May. (Now it’s June → out-of-date reporting)
Direct Speech Reported Speech
tonight, today, this week / month / that night, that day, that week / month / year
year then, at that time, at once, immediately
now since
now that the day before, the previous night / week / month / year
yesterday, last night / week / month / the following day / the next day / the following week / month / year
year two days / months / years before
tomorrow, next week / month / year
two days / months / years ago

Ex: “We’ll meet tomorrow,” he said. → He said they would meet the next day.
“I finished it yesterday,” she said. → She said she had finished it the day before.
“I’ll call you this evening,” he said. → He said he would call me that evening.

REPORTED QUESTIONS/ INDIRECT QUESTIONS

- In reported questions, the verbs are usually in the affirmative and the question
mark becomes a full stop.

To report a question we use:

a) ask + wh-word (who, where, etc.) when the direct question begins with a wh-word.

b) ask + if/whether when the direct question begins with an auxiliary verb (do, have, can,
etc.).

Pronouns, possessive adjectives, tenses, and time expressions change as in statements.

Ex: He said, “What are you reading?” → He asked what I was reading.

He said, “Did you see the film?” → He asked if/whether I had seen the film.

- We use indirect questions to ask for information or advice, and reported

questions to report someone else’s questions, suggestions, offers, or requests.
Indirect questions are introduced with expressions like:
Could you tell me…? / Do you know…? / I wonder… / I want to know… / I
doubt…, etc.
Their verb is in the affirmative form.
If the indirect question starts with I wonder…, I want to know…, or I doubt…, then
the question mark is omitted.
Question words (what, who, where, etc.) or whether can be followed by an infinitive
in the reported sentence.
 He asked me, “Can I borrow your pen?”
Direct questions
He asked me, “When are they coming?”
He asked me, “Who opened the door?”
He asked me whether he could borrow my pen.
Reported questions He asked me when they were coming.
He asked me who had opened the door.
I wonder whether to borrow his pen / whether I should borrow his pen.
Indirect questions Do you know when they are coming?
Do you know who opened the door? or Do you know where I should wait?

REPORTING COMMANDS/ REQUESTS/ SUGGESTIONS

- To report commands, requests, suggestions or instructions, we use an
introductory verb (advise, ask, beg, instruct, urge, offer, order, suggest, tell, etc.)
followed by a to-infinitive, an -ing form, or a that-clause according to the
introductory verb.
Ex: “Stand up straight,” he said to them.
→ He told them to stand up straight. (command)

“Don’t open the window,” she said to him.

→ She told him not to open the window. (command)

“Can you help me with this box?” he said.

→ He asked me to help him with the box. (request)

“Please, give me a hand!” she said.

→ She begged me to give her a hand. (beg)

“Let’s watch a movie,” he said.

→ He suggested watching a movie. (suggestion)

“Mix all the dry ingredients first,” she told him.

→ She told him to mix all the dry ingredients first. (instruction)

MODALS IN REPORTED SPEECH

- The forms of some modal verbs change in Reported Speech when the reported
sentence is out of date.
Will/Shall → would, can → could / would be able to, may → might / could,
 shall → should (asking for advice) or would (asking for information / expressing
offers),
must → must / had to (obligation)
(must remains the same when it expresses possibility or deduction),
needn’t → didn’t need to / didn’t have to / wouldn’t have to.
- Would, could, used to, mustn’t, should, might, ought to, and had better remain
the same.

Direct Speech Reported Speech

He said, “I’ll call you tonight.” He said (that) he would call me that night.
He said, “I can finish this task alone.” He said (that) he could finish the task alone.
He said, “I can meet her tomorrow.” He said (that) he would be able to meet her the next day.
He said, “I may visit Paris next month.” He said (that) he might visit Paris the following month.
He said, “How shall I fix the computer?” He asked how he should fix the computer. (advice)
He said, “When shall we start?” He asked when they would start. (information)
He said, “Shall I open the window?” He offered to open the window. (expressing offers)
He said, “You must be home by 10.” He said (that) I had to be home by 10. (obligation)
He said, “She must be tired.” He said (that) she must be tired. (deduction)
He said, “You should study harder.” He said (that) I should study harder.
He said, “You had better call him.” He said (that) I had better call him.
He said, “You needn’t pay now.” He said (that) I didn’t need to / didn’t have to pay then.
He said, “You needn’t come tomorrow.” He said (that) I wouldn’t have to come the next day.

REPORTING A DIALOGUE OR A CONVERSATION

- In conversations or dialogues we use a mixture of statements, commands and
questions.
When we report dialogues or conversations, we use:
and, as, adding that, and he/she added that, explaining that, because, but, since, so,
and then he/she went on to say, while, then, etc.
or the introductory verb in the present participle form.
Exclamations such as: Oh!, Oh dear!, Well!, etc. are omitted in reported speech.

Direct Speech Reported Speech

“Wow, that’s a beautiful painting!” he said. He exclaimed that it was a beautiful painting and asked
“Where did you get it?” where I had got it. (“Wow” is omitted)
“It’s too heavy for you,” he said. “Shall I carry He said it was too heavy for me, offering to carry it.
it?” She invited me to join them for lunch the next day,
“Why don’t you join us for lunch tomorrow?” suggesting that we could talk more about the plan.
she said. “We can talk more about the plan.”
 - When we report a speaker’s words, we don’t just apply rules mechanically; we
interpret what we hear or read.
So we use appropriate reporting verbs (introductory verbs) like the following:

Introductory Verb Direct Speech Reported Speech

Agree “Yes, I’ll help you tomorrow.” He agreed to help me the next day.
Demand “Give me the report now!” He demanded to be given the report
Offer “Shall I drop you off at the station?” immediately.
Promise + to-inf “I’ll return your book next week.” He offered to drive me to the station.
Refuse “No, I won’t do your homework.” He promised to return my book the following
Threaten “I’ll call your parents if you’re late week.
Claim again.” He refused to do my homework.
“I invented this design.” He threatened to call my parents if I was late
again.
He claimed to have invented that design.
Advise “You should speak to your teacher.” He advised me to speak to my teacher.
Allow “You can borrow my car.” He allowed me to borrow his car.
Ask “Could you please shut the He asked me to shut the window.
Beg window?” He begged me not to go yet.
Command “Please don’t go yet!” He commanded them to march forward.
Encourag “March forward!” He encouraged me to do it.
e “Go on, you can do it!” He forbade me to enter that room.
Forbid + sb “You mustn’t enter this room.” He instructed me to combine the butter and
Instruct + to-inf “Combine the butter and sugar.” sugar.
Invite “Come to our picnic on Saturday.” He invited me to come to their picnic on
Order “Stay exactly where you are!” Saturday.
Permit “You may leave early.” He ordered me to stay where I was.
Remind “Don’t forget to lock the door.” He permitted me to leave early.
Urge “Please be patient with her.” He reminded me to lock the door.
Warn “Don’t walk alone at night.” He urged me to be patient with her.
Want “I’d like you to stay here.” He warned me not to walk alone at night.
He wanted me to stay there.
V-ing form: “You cheated on the test!” He accused me of cheating on the test.
accuse sb of “I’m sorry I shouted.” He apologised for shouting.
apologise for “Yes, I broke the vase.” He admitted (to) breaking the vase.
admit (to) “I scored the highest in class!” He boasted about scoring the highest in class.
boast about “You always ignore my calls!” He complained to me about my ignoring his
complain to sb about “No, I didn’t touch it.” calls.
deny “You must wear a uniform.” He denied touching / having touched it.
insist on “Let’s have dinner outside.” He insisted on my wearing a uniform.
suggest He suggested having dinner outside.
That-clause: “Yes, it’s really amazing.” He agreed that it was really amazing.
Agree “I saw her leaving early.” He claimed that he had seen her leaving early.
Claim “You never help me!” He complained that I never helped him.
Complain “I don’t know this person.” He denied that he knew that person.
Deny “What a surprise!” He exclaimed that it was a surprise.
Exclaim “It works by using solar energy.” He explained that it worked by using solar
Explain energy.
That-clause: “The meeting has been postponed.” He informed me that the meeting had been
Inform sb “I’ll call you when I arrive.” postponed.
Promise “You should try the new restaurant.” He promised that he would call me when he
suggest “That’s how I fixed the problem.” arrived.
He suggested that I (should) try the new
restaurant.
He explained to me how he had fixed the
problem.
Wonder He asked himself, “How tall is he?” He wondered how tall he was.
where / what / why / He asked himself, “Where are my He wondered where his notes were.
how + clause (when notes?” He wondered why she was angry.
the subject of the He asked himself, “Why is she He wondered what the correct solution was.
introductory verb is angry?”
not the same as the He asked himself, “What is the
subject in the indirect correct solution?”
question)
wonder whether + to- He asked himself, “Should I invite He wondered whether to invite her. / He
inf / clause wonder her?” wondered whether he should invite her.
where / what / how + He asked himself, “Where should I He wondered where to sit.
to-inf (when the sit?” He wondered what to buy.
subject of the infinitive He asked himself, “What should I He wondered how to explain it.
is the same as the buy?”
subject of the verb) He asked himself, “How should I
explain it?”

PUNCTUATION IN DIRECT SPEECH

- We capitalise the first word of the quoted sentence.
The full stop, question mark, exclamation mark, and comma come inside the
inverted commas.
The comma comes outside the inverted commas only when “he said/asked”
precedes the quoted sentence.
Ex: “I’m leaving now,” she said.
He said, “I’m leaving now.”
“He’s ready,” she said, “to start the presentation.”
 We do not use a comma after the question mark.
Ex: “Are you coming with us?” he asked.
BUT He asked, “Are you coming with us?”
- The subject pronoun comes before the reporting verb (said, asked, etc.),
whereas the noun subject often comes after said, asked, etc. when it appears at
the end or in the middle of the quoted sentence.
Ex: “They finished early,” he said.
“They finished early,” said John.
“We’re late,” said Anna, “and it’s raining.”
BUT He/John said, “They finished early.”
(NOT: Said John, “They finished early.”)
- Each time the speaker changes, we normally start a new paragraph.

SUBJUNCTIVE
The bare infinitive form of the subjunctive is used after certain verbs and
expressions to give emphasis.
These are: advise, ask, demand, insist, propose, recommend, request, suggest,
it is essential, it is imperative, it is important, it is necessary, it is vital
followed by (that) + subject.
We use should + simple form instead of the bare infinitive form of the
subjunctive.
Ex: He suggested (that) she go to the doctor.
(less usual) He suggested (that) she should go to the doctor.

They demanded (that) the report be finished by noon.

(less usual) They demanded (that) the report should be finished by noon.

It is essential (that) everyone attend the meeting.

(less usual) It is essential (that) everyone should attend the meeting.