Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)

Reported speech is when you tell somebody else what you or a person said
before.
Distinction must be made between direct speech and reported speech.
Direct speech vs Reported speech:
Direct speech Reported speech
She says: "I like tuna fish." She says that she likes tuna fish.
She said: "I'm visiting Paris next She said that she was visiting Paris the
weekend" following weekend.
Different types of sentences
When you use reported speech, you either report:
 statements
 questions
 requests / commands
 other types

A. Reporting Statements
When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:
 pronouns
 tense
 place and time expression
1- Pronouns
In reported speech, you often have to change the pronoun depending on who
says what.
Example:
She says, “My dad likes roast chicken.” – She says that her dad likes roast
chicken.
2- Tenses
 If the sentence starts in the present, there is no backshift of
tenses in reported speech.
 If the sentence starts in the past, there is often backshift of
tenses in reported speech.
Direct speech Reported speech
(no backshift) “I write poems.” He says that he writes poems.
(backshift) “I write poems.” He said that he wrote poems.
No backshift
Do not change the tense if the introductory clause is in a present tense
(e. g. He says). Note, however, that you might have to change the form of the
present tense verb (3rd person singular).
Example:
He says, “I write poems.” – He says that he writes English.
Backshift
You must change the tense if the introductory clause is in a past tense (e. g. He
said).
Example:
He said, “I am happy.” – He said that he was happy.
Examples of the main changes in tense:
Direct Speech Reported Speech
Simple Present Simple Past
He said: "I am happy" He said that he was happy
Present Progressive Past Progressive
He said: "I'm looking for my keys" He said that he was looking for his
keys
Simple Past Past Perfect Simple
He said: "I visited New York last He said that he had visited New York
year" the previous year.
Present Perfect Past Perfect
He said: " I've lived here for a long He said that he had lived there for a
time " long time
Past Perfect Past Perfect
He said: "They had finished the He said that they had finished the
work when I arrived" work when he had arrived"
Past Progressive Past Perfect Progressive
He said: "I was playing football when He said that he had been
the accident occurred" playing football when the
accident had occurred
Present Perfect Progressive Past Perfect Progressive
He said:"I have been He said that he had been
playing football for two hours." playing football for two hours
Past Perfect Progressive Past Perfect Progressive
He said: "I had been reading a He said that he had been reading a
newspaper when the light went off" newspaper when the light had gone
off
Future Simple (will+verb) Conditional (would+verb)
He said: "I will open the door." He said that he would open the door.
Conditional (would+verb) Conditional (would+verb)
He said: "I would buy Mercedes if He said that he would buy Mercedes
I were rich" if he had been rich"
The modal verbs could, should, would, might, needn't, ought to, used to do not
normally change.
Example:
He said, "She might be right." – He said that she might be right.
Other modal verbs may change:
Modal Direct speech Reported speech
can "I can do it." He said he could do it.
may "May I go out?" He wanted to know if he might go out.
must "She must apply for the He said that she must/had to apply for
job." the job.
will "They will call you." He told her that they would call her.
3- Place, demonstratives and time expressions
Place, demonstratives and time expressions change if the context of the
reported statement (i.e. the location and/or the period of time) is different from
that of the direct speech.
In the following table, you will find the different changes of place;
demonstratives and time expressions.
Direct Speech Reported Speech
Time Expressions
today that day
now then
yesterday the day before
… days ago … days before
last week the week before
next year the following year
tomorrow the next day / the following day
Place
here there
Demonstratives
this that
these those

B. Reporting Questions
When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:
 pronouns
 place and time expressions
 tenses (backshift)
Also note that you have to:
 transform the question into an indirect question
 use the question word (where, when, what, how)
or if / whether
Types of questions Direct speech Reported speech
With question word (what, "Why" don’t you He asked me why I didn’t
why, where, how...) speak English?” speak English.
Without question word “Do you speak He asked me whether / if I
(yes or no questions) English?” spoke English.

C. Reporting requests / commands

Example:
She said, “Sit down." - She asked me to sit down.
She said, "don't be lazy" - She asked me not to be lazy
For affirmative use to + infinitive (without to)
For negative requests, use not to + infinitive (without to).

D. Other transformations
 Expressions of advice with must, should and ought are usually
reported using advise / urge.
Example:
"You must read this book."
He advised / urged me to read that book.
 The expression let’s is usually reported using suggest. In this case,
there are two possibilities for reported speech: gerund or statement
with should.
Example:
"Let’s go to the cinema."
1. He suggested going to the cinema.
2. He suggested that we should go to the cinema.
Main clauses connected with and/but
If two complete main clauses are connected with ‚and or ‚but, put ‚that after
the conjunction.
Example:
He said,“I saw her but she didn't see me.“ – He said that he had seen
her but that she hadn't seen him.“
If the subject is dropped in the second main clause (the conjunction is followed
by a verb), do not use ‚that‘.
Example:
She said,“I am a nurse and work in a hospital.“ – He said that she was a
nurse and worked in a hospital.“