Reported Speech (Introduction)

What is Reported Speech?

Reported speech (also known as indirect speech) is when we tell someone what another person said, but without using their exact words. Instead of quoting directly, we paraphrase or summarize the original message. It's a fundamental skill for everyday communication, allowing us to relay conversations, share information, and tell stories.

1. Direct vs. Reported Speech

Understanding the difference between direct and reported speech is the first step.

a. Direct Speech

Direct speech uses the exact words of the speaker, enclosed in quotation marks.

She said, "I am happy."
He asked, "Are you coming?"
They exclaimed, "What a beautiful day!"

b. Reported Speech

Reported speech conveys the meaning of what was said, but the exact words are not used. It often involves changes in tense, pronouns, and time/place references.

She said that she was happy.
He asked if I was coming.
They exclaimed that it was a beautiful day.

2. Key Changes in Reported Speech

When converting direct speech to reported speech, several changes typically occur.

a. Tense Changes (Backshifting)

If the reporting verb (e.g., said, told, asked) is in the past tense, the tense in the reported clause usually "shifts back" one step into the past.

Direct Speech Tense	Reported Speech Tense	Example (Direct)	Example (Reported)
Present Simple	Past Simple	He said, "I am busy."	He said that he was busy.
Present Continuous	Past Continuous	She said, "I am working."	She said that she was working.
Present Perfect	Past Perfect	They said, "We have finished."	They said that they had finished.
Past Simple	Past Perfect	He said, "I went home."	He said that he had gone home.
Future Simple (will)	Conditional (would)	She said, "I will call you."	She said that she would call me.
Can	Could	He said, "I can swim."	He said that he could swim.
May	Might	She said, "It may rain."	She said that it might rain.
Must	Had to	He said, "I must leave."	He said that he had to leave.

💡 Note: Could, would, should, might, ought to generally do not change in reported speech.

b. Pronoun Changes

Pronouns usually change to reflect the perspective of the reporter.

Direct: She said, "I like my new job."
Reported: She said that she liked her new job.

c. Time and Place References

Words referring to time and place often change to reflect the new context of reporting.

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
now	then, at that moment
today	that day
yesterday	the day before, the previous day
tomorrow	the next day, the following day
last week	the week before, the previous week
next month	the month after, the following month
here	there
this	that
these	those

Direct: He said, "I'll meet you here tomorrow."
Reported: He said that he would meet me there the next day.

3. Reporting Verbs

The most common reporting verbs are say and tell.

Say: Used when there is no indirect object (no person being told).
- He said that he was tired.
- She said, "I'm leaving."
Tell: Used when there is an indirect object (a person being told).
- He told me that he was tired.
- She told him to wait.

Other reporting verbs include ask, explain, promise, suggest, advise, warn, etc.

4. Reporting Questions

When reporting questions, we do not use question marks or inverted word order (subject-verb inversion).

Yes/No Questions: Use if or whether.
- Direct: He asked, "Are you ready?"
- Reported: He asked if I was ready.
Wh- Questions: Use the wh- word (who, what, where, etc.).
- Direct: She asked, "What is your name?"
- Reported: She asked what my name was.

5. Reporting Commands/Requests

When reporting commands or requests, we typically use a reporting verb (e.g., tell, ask, order) followed by an object and a to-infinitive.

Direct: He said, "Close the door!"
Reported: He told me to close the door.
Direct: She said, "Please wait."
Reported: She asked him to wait.

6. When Tense Doesn't Change

Sometimes, the tense in reported speech does not change:

General Truths/Facts: If the statement is a general truth or a fact that is still true.
- Direct: He said, "The Earth is round."
- Reported: He said that the Earth is round.
Still True Situations: If the reported situation is still true at the time of reporting.
- Direct: She said, "I live in London."
- Reported: She said that she lives in London. (If she still lives there.)
Immediate Reporting: If the reporting happens immediately after the direct speech.
- He just said, "I'm hungry." -> He just said he's hungry.

Common Errors and How to Fix Them

✗ Incorrect	✓ Correct	Why
He said me that he was tired.	He told me that he was tired. OR He said that he was tired.	'Say' is not followed by an object without 'to'. 'Tell' is followed by an object.
She asked what was my name?	She asked what my name was.	No inversion in reported questions.
He told to close the door.	He told me to close the door.	'Tell' (for commands) needs an object before the infinitive.
They said they will come tomorrow.	They said they would come the next day.	Backshift 'will' to 'would' and change 'tomorrow' to 'the next day'.

Summary

Aspect	Rule	Example
Definition	Reporting what someone said indirectly	He said he was busy.
Tense Change	Backshift (e.g., Present -> Past)	He said, "I am here." -> He said he was there.
Pronoun Change	Adjust to reporter's perspective	She said, "I like my job." -> She said she liked her job.
Time/Place Change	Adjust references	He said, "I'll see you tomorrow." -> He said he'd see me the next day.
Reporting Verbs	Say (no object), Tell (with object)	He said he was tired. He told me he was tired.
Questions	Use if/whether or wh- word, no inversion	She asked if I was ready.
Commands	Verb + object + to-infinitive	He told me to wait.

💡 Key takeaway: Reported speech is a flexible way to convey messages. Mastering the changes in tense, pronouns, and time/place references, along with the correct use of reporting verbs, is crucial for accurate and natural communication.