Introduction to Reported Speech
Reported speech, also called indirect speech, is used to explain what another person said without repeating their exact words.
Direct speech gives the speaker’s original words:
Mia said, “I am tired.”
Reported speech communicates the same message indirectly:
Mia said that she was tired.
When we change direct speech into reported speech, we may need to change the verb tense, pronouns and time expressions. We also remove quotation marks and usually change the sentence structure.
Reported speech is common in everyday conversations, news reports, workplace communication and academic writing.
Daniel said that the meeting had been cancelled.
The teacher asked us whether we understood the question.
She told me to wait outside.
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What is reported speech?
Reported speech tells another person what somebody said, asked or requested.
It normally uses a reporting verb such as:
- say
- tell
- ask
- explain
- mention
- advise
- promise
- warn
The reporting verb is often in the past:
She said that she was busy.
He told me that he needed help.
They asked whether the shop was open.
The word that can introduce a reported statement:
He said that he was hungry.
In everyday English, we often omit that:
He said he was hungry.
Both forms are correct.
Direct speech versus reported speech
Direct speech uses the exact words spoken and places them inside quotation marks.
Leo said, “I work from home.”
Reported speech gives the meaning without necessarily repeating every word.
Leo said that he worked from home.
Reported speech often involves backshift. This means moving the original verb one step further into the past because the reporting verb is in the past.
“I am working.”
She said that she was working.
However, backshift is not always necessary. The meaning and context are more important than changing every verb automatically.
Tense changes in reported speech
When the reporting verb is in the past, the original tense often moves one step backwards. Reported speech often requires a clear understanding of past-tense forms. Review the present perfect tense and past simple tense if you are unsure why verbs such as have finished change to had finished.
Present simple to past simple
“I like this restaurant.”
She said that she liked the restaurant.
Present continuous to past continuous
“We are watching a film.”
They said that they were watching a film.
Present perfect to past perfect
“I have sent the document.”
He said that he had sent the document.
Past simple to past perfect
“We arrived at six.”
They said that they had arrived at six.
In informal spoken English, speakers sometimes keep the past simple when the order of events is already clear:
They said that they arrived at six.
However, the past perfect is the safer choice in formal exercises when backshift is expected.
Modal verb changes
“I will help you.”
She said that she would help me.
“You can use my laptop.”
He said that I could use his laptop.
Some modal verbs usually remain unchanged, including could, should, would and might.
“You should rest.”
The doctor said that I should rest.
Modal verbs also follow their own rules outside reported speech. See our complete guide to modal verbs in English for ability, possibility, obligation, advice and deduction.
Pronoun and time-word changes
Pronouns must change according to who is speaking and who is being discussed.
Anna said, “I love my new job.”
Anna said that she loved her new job.
Ben told me, “You can borrow my book.”
Ben told me that I could borrow his book.
Time and place expressions may also change because the reported conversation happens from a different viewpoint.
“I will finish this tomorrow.”
She said that she would finish it the next day.
“We met here last week.”
They said that they had met there the week before.
These changes are not mechanical. Keep the original expression when the time or place is still the same.
For example, when reporting something later on the same day:
Leo said, “I will call you today.”
Leo said that he would call me today.
Reported statements
Use said that or told someone that to report statements.
“I need help.”
She said that she needed help.
She told me that she needed help.
The main difference is that tell normally requires an object.
Correct:
He told me that he was tired.
Incorrect:
He told that he was tired.
The verb say does not normally require an object. When we include the listener, use say to:
He said to me that he was tired.
However, told me is usually more natural.
Negative statements follow the same structure:
“I do not know the answer.”
She said that she did not know the answer.
Reported questions and commands
Reported yes-or-no questions
Use asked + if/whether + subject + verb.
Direct question:
“Are you busy?”
Reported question:
She asked if I was busy.
She asked whether I was busy.
Do not use question word order after if or whether.
Incorrect:
She asked if was I busy.
Correct:
She asked if I was busy.
Reported information questions
Keep the original question word, but use statement word order.
“Where do you live?”
He asked where I lived.
“Why did she leave?”
They asked why she had left.
Do not use do, does or did in the reported question.
Incorrect:
He asked where did I live.
Correct:
He asked where I lived.
Reported commands and requests
Use:
tell/ask + object + to-infinitive
Command:
“Close the door.”
She told me to close the door.
Polite request:
“Please help me.”
He asked me to help him.
For negative commands, use not to:
“Do not touch that.”
The teacher told us not to touch it.
Other useful reporting verbs include:
The doctor advised me to rest.
She warned us not to enter the building.
He reminded me to send the email.
Structures such as told me to wait and asked us to leave use an object followed by an infinitive. This pattern is explained further in our guide to gerunds and infinitives.
When backshift is unnecessary
Backshift is common, but it is not always required.
The reporting verb is in the present
When the reporting verb is in the present, the original tense normally stays the same.
She says, “I work from home.”
She says that she works from home.
The information is still true
You may keep the original tense when the fact or situation remains true.
“The Earth moves around the Sun.”
The teacher said that the Earth moves around the Sun.
Changing it to moved could incorrectly suggest that the fact is no longer true.
The situation has not changed
“I live in London.”
Sarah said that she lives in London.
Use lived if you are unsure whether the situation is still true or when you are simply reporting a past conversation.
The original verb is already past perfect
The past perfect normally stays unchanged.
“I had already eaten.”
He said that he had already eaten.
Common mistakes
Confusing say and tell
Incorrect:
She said me that she was busy.
Correct:
She told me that she was busy.
Correct:
She said that she was busy.
Keeping question word order
Incorrect:
He asked where was the station.
Correct:
He asked where the station was.
Forgetting to change pronouns
Incorrect:
Maria said that I had lost my keys.
Correct when Maria lost them:
Maria said that she had lost her keys.
Using quotation marks in indirect speech
Incorrect:
He said that “he was tired”.
Correct:
He said that he was tired.
Using that after ask
Incorrect:
She asked that I was ready.
Correct:
She asked if I was ready.
Backshifting a permanent fact unnecessarily
Less appropriate:
The scientist explained that water boiled at 100°C.
Better for a general fact:
The scientist explained that water boils at 100°C.
Exercises and answers
Change each sentence into reported speech.
- Amy said, “I am feeling tired.”
- Daniel said, “I finished the project yesterday.”
- Mia said to me, “I will call you tomorrow.”
- Ben said, “I have never visited Wales.”
- The teacher asked, “Do you understand the instructions?”
- Leo asked me, “Where are you going?”
- Mum said, “Close the window.”
- The manager said, “Do not share this information.”
- Oliver said, “I can finish the work today.”
- Sarah said, “I was waiting outside.”
- The doctor said to me, “You should drink more water.”
- Tom asked, “Why did the meeting end early?”
- The guide said, “This building was completed in 1920.”
- Emma said, “I may move house next month.”
- The teacher said, “The Moon moves around the Earth.”
Answers and explanations
- Amy said that she was feeling tired.
The present continuous changes to the past continuous. - Daniel said that he had finished the project the day before.
The past simple changes to the past perfect, and yesterday becomes the day before. - Mia told me that she would call me the next day.
Will changes to would, and the pronouns change according to the speakers. - Ben said that he had never visited Wales.
The present perfect changes to the past perfect. - The teacher asked if we understood the instructions.
Use if or whether and statement word order. - Leo asked me where I was going.
Keep the question word but remove question word order. - Mum told me to close the window.
Reported commands use tell + object + to-infinitive. - The manager told us not to share the information.
Negative commands use not to. - Oliver said that he could finish the work that day.
Can changes to could, and today becomes that day. - Sarah said that she had been waiting outside.
The past continuous changes to the past perfect continuous. - The doctor advised me to drink more water.
Advise + object + to-infinitive is natural for recommendations. - Tom asked why the meeting had ended early.
Use statement word order and backshift the past simple. - The guide said that the building had been completed in 1920.
The past simple passive changes to the past perfect passive. - Emma said that she might move house the following month.
May changes to might, and next month becomes the following month. - The teacher said that the Moon moves around the Earth.
Backshift is unnecessary because this remains a scientific fact.
Reported speech allows us to communicate another person’s statements, questions and commands without repeating their exact words. Pay attention to tense backshift, pronouns, time expressions and sentence order, but remember that changes should always reflect the intended meaning.
Related grammar lessons
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