Direct vs. Reported Speech
Direct speech quotes the exact words:
She said, "I am tired."
Reported speech (indirect) reports what was said without quoting:
She said (that) she was tired.
Tense Backshift
When reporting in the past, verb tenses usually shift one tense back:
| Direct speech | Reported speech |
|---|---|
| present simple (am) | past simple (was) |
| present continuous (is eating) | past continuous (was eating) |
| past simple (went) | past perfect (had gone) |
| will | would |
| can | could |
"I play football." → He said he played football. "She is coming." → He said she was coming. "I will help you." → He said he would help me.
Pronoun Changes
Pronouns change to keep the original meaning:
She said, "I love my dog." → She said she loved her dog. He said, "You are great." → He said I was great.
Reporting Questions
Yes/No questions → use if or whether
"Do you like pizza?" → She asked if I liked pizza.
Wh- questions → keep the question word, use normal word order
"Where does he live?" → She asked where he lived.
In reported speech, we do not use the question word order: ✗ She asked where did he live. ✓ She asked where he lived.
Reporting Orders and Requests
Use told + object + to infinitive:
"Sit down!" → The teacher told us to sit down. "Please help me." → She asked me to help her.
Real world: news report and gossip
The minister said (that) the new law would come into force in January. She told reporters (that) the government was working on a solution. My friend said she had seen Tom at the cinema the night before. (She said, "I saw Tom at the cinema last night.")
Real world: school conversation
The teacher told us to open our books and to read page 45. She asked if we had done our homework. He asked where we had put our worksheets. The head teacher announced (that) school would finish early on Friday.
Practice Problems
Convert to reported speech: He said, 'I am going to the library.'
Show answer
Convert: She asked, 'Have you finished your homework?'
Show answer
Convert: The teacher said, 'Open your books!'