Reported speech (also known as indirect speech) is used to tell someone what another person said without quoting them directly. This structure is essential for conversations, narratives, and writing when you want to report on someone else’s words, opinions, or instructions. Understanding reported speech is key to expressing yourself clearly, especially when relaying information to others.
1. What is Reported Speech?
Reported speech involves rephrasing someone’s words rather than quoting them verbatim. Instead of repeating the exact words someone used, you convey the same idea with slight adjustments in pronouns, verb tenses, and time expressions. For example:
- Direct Speech:
- She said, “I am going to the store.”
- Reported Speech:
- She said (that) she was going to the store.
2. Changes in Reported Speech
When transforming direct speech into reported speech, some changes occur. The main alterations involve verb tenses, pronouns, time, and place expressions.
2.1. Verb Tense Changes
The verb tense in the reported clause usually shifts one step back in time when the reporting verb (e.g., said, told) is in the past tense.
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present Simple → Past Simple | “I live here,” she said. | She said (that) she lived there. |
| Present Continuous → Past Continuous | “I am eating,” he said. | He said (that) he was eating. |
| Past Simple → Past Perfect | “I bought a car,” he said. | He said (that) he had bought a car. |
| Present Perfect → Past Perfect | “I have finished,” she said. | She said (that) she had finished. |
| Will → Would | “I will call you,” he said. | He said (that) he would call me. |
| Can → Could | “I can swim,” she said. | She said (that) she could swim. |
| May → Might | “I may go out,” he said. | He said (that) he might go out. |
Note: If the reporting verb is in the present tense (says, tells), the verb tenses in the reported clause do not change:
- “I am busy,” he says.
- He says he is busy.
2.2. Pronoun Changes
Pronouns often change to reflect the new perspective in the sentence.
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I → He/She | “I like coffee,” she said. | She said (that) she liked coffee. |
| My → His/Her | “This is my book,” John said. | John said (that) it was his book. |
| We → They | “We are going home,” they said. | They said (that) they were going home. |
| Our → Their | “Our car is broken,” they said. | They said (that) their car was broken. |
2.3. Time and Place Changes
When reporting speech, time expressions and place references usually change to show the shift in time or perspective.
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| Today → That day | “I’ll call you today.” → He said he would call me that day. |
| Tomorrow → The next day | “I’m leaving tomorrow.” → She said she was leaving the next day. |
| Yesterday → The day before | “I met him yesterday.” → She said she had met him the day before. |
| Here → There | “I live here.” → He said he lived there. |
| Now → Then | “I am busy now.” → She said she was busy then. |
3. Reporting Questions
When reporting questions, the structure changes slightly. The question word order changes back to the statement order (subject before verb), and question marks are omitted.
3.1. Reporting Yes/No Questions
For yes/no questions, use if or whether.
- Direct Speech:
- “Are you coming?” she asked.
- Reported Speech:
- She asked if I was coming.
- She asked whether I was coming.
3.2. Reporting WH-Questions
For WH-questions (who, what, where, why, how), use the same question word in reported speech.
- Direct Speech:
- “Where are you going?” he asked.
- Reported Speech:
- He asked where I was going.
- Direct Speech:
- “What are you doing?” she asked.
- Reported Speech:
- She asked what I was doing.
Note: The word order changes to subject + verb (like a statement), not the inverted question form.
4. Reporting Commands and Requests
When reporting commands or requests, use the structure:
- Reporting verb + object + to + base verb
4.1. Examples
- Direct Speech:
- “Please close the door,” he said.
- Reported Speech:
- He asked me to close the door.
- Direct Speech:
- “Don’t be late,” she said.
- Reported Speech:
- She told me not to be late.
Common reporting verbs for commands and requests:
- told, asked, ordered, begged, advised, warned
5. Reporting Suggestions
When reporting suggestions, use verbs like suggested, recommended, or proposed. For general suggestions, use:
- Reporting verb + that + subject + verb
- He suggested that we go to the park.
For suggestions directed at someone, use:
- Reporting verb + gerund (-ing)
- She suggested going to the museum.
6. Exceptions: No Change in Tense
Sometimes, the tense in reported speech doesn’t change if:
- The reporting verb is in the present tense:
- He says, “I am happy.”
- He says he is happy.
- The reported statement is a fact or universal truth:
- “The sun rises in the east,” the teacher said.
- The teacher said that the sun rises in the east.
- The statement remains true at the time of reporting:
- “I live in New York,” he said.
- He said that he lives in New York. (He still lives in New York.)
7. Common Mistakes in Reported Speech
- Forgetting to Change Pronouns:
- Incorrect: She said, “I am ready.” → She said I am ready.
- Correct: She said she was ready.
- Using Direct Question Word Order:
- Incorrect: He asked, “Where are you going?” → He asked where was I going.
- Correct: He asked where I was going.
- Misusing “to” with Reported Commands:
- Incorrect: She said to me to sit down.
- Correct: She told me to sit down.