Reported Speech (Direct and Indirect Speech)
Reported speech (also called indirect speech) is used to tell someone what another person said.
It is different from direct speech, where we use the speaker’s exact words inside quotation marks (“ ”).
In reported speech, we do not quote the speaker directly; instead, we change the words slightly — especially
pronouns, verb tenses, and time expressions — to fit the point of view of the person reporting the speech.
Direct Speech:
She said, “I’m bored and I’m going to my friend’s house.”
Indirect (Reported) Speech:
She said that she was bored and that she was going to her friend’s house.
Explanation:
In the direct form, the words inside the quotation marks are exactly what the speaker said.
In the reported form, we tell someone else what she said, so we make several changes:
The pronoun “I” becomes “she.”
The verb “am” changes to “was.”
The word “that” is used to introduce the reported clause (optional).
This tense change (am → was) is called backshifting, which means moving the verb one tense back in time.
Reporting Statements (Affirmative Sentences)
When we report a statement, we usually use a reporting verb like say or tell, followed by a clause introduced by
that (optional).
1. Direct Speech:
He said, “I work in a bank.”
Reported Speech:
He said (that) he worked in a bank.
Explanation:
The verb work becomes worked, and I changes to he because the speaker is being talked about.
2. Direct Speech:
Mary said, “We are studying for the exam.”
Reported Speech:
Mary said that they were studying for the exam.
Explanation:
The pronoun “we” becomes “they,” and “are studying” changes to “were studying.”
3. Direct Speech:
They said, “Our teacher is very kind.”
Reported Speech:
They said that their teacher was very kind.
Explanation:
“Our” becomes “their,” and “is” changes to “was.”
Reporting Questions
When reporting questions, we make structural changes:
Remove the question marks.
Do not use auxiliaries (do/does/did).
Change word order to subject + verb.
Use reporting verbs like ask, wonder, inquire.
1. Direct Question:
He asked, “Where is my book?”
Reported Question:
He asked where his book was.
Explanation:
The auxiliary “is” moves after the subject “book,” and “my” becomes “his.”
The question mark is removed.
2. Direct Question:
She asked, “Do you like pizza?”
Reported Question:
She asked if I liked pizza.
Explanation:
We use if or whether for yes/no questions.
The auxiliary “do” is removed, and “like” becomes “liked.”
3. Direct Question:
The teacher asked, “Why are you late?”
Reported Question:
The teacher asked why I was late.
Explanation:
Word order becomes normal (subject + verb), and “are” changes to “was.”
Reporting Commands and Requests
We use verbs such as tell, ask, order, advise, remind, warn, followed by to + verb (or not to + verb for
negatives).
1. Direct Command:
The teacher said, “Open your books.”
Reported Command:
The teacher told us to open our books.
Explanation:
We remove quotation marks and use to + verb.
“Your” becomes “our.”
2. Direct Request:
She said to me, “Please help me.”
Reported Request:
She asked me to help her.
Explanation:
The word “please” is usually omitted but politeness remains with “asked.”
“Me” (inside the quote) becomes “her.”
3. Direct Command:
He said, “Don’t touch that wire.”
Reported Command:
He warned me not to touch that wire.
Explanation:
Negative commands use not to + verb.
Changes in Tenses (Backshift of Tenses)
When the reporting verb is in the past, the tense in the reported speech usually moves one step back in time.
Direct Speech Reported Speech
am / is / are was / were
do / does did
have / has had
will would
can could
may might
shall should
Direct Speech: She said, “I can swim very well.”
Reported Speech: She said that she could swim very well.
Changes in Time and Place Words
Some time and place expressions also change when we report speech:
Direct Speech Reported Speech
today that day
tomorrow the next day / the following day
yesterday the day before / the previous day
now then
here there
this that
these those
Direct Speech:
He said, “I will call you tomorrow.”
Reported Speech:
He said that he would call me the next day.
Combined Examples
1. Direct Speech:
“I am watching TV now,” she said.
Reported Speech:
She said that she was watching TV then.
2. Direct Speech:
“I finished my homework yesterday,” he said.
Reported Speech:
He said that he had finished his homework the day before.
3. Direct Speech:
“We will visit you tomorrow,” they said.
Reported Speech:
They said that they would visit me the following day.
4. Direct Speech:
“Don’t forget your keys,” my mother said.
Reported Speech:
My mother reminded me not to forget my keys.
Direct Speech → uses exact words inside quotation marks.
Reported Speech → changes pronouns, tenses, and time expressions.
Backshift of tenses happens when the reporting verb is in the past.
The word “that” is optional in reported statements.
Question marks are removed, and the word order becomes normal.
Commands and requests are reported using to + verb or not to + verb.