Introduction to Reported Speech
Reported speech, also called indirect speech, is used to tell someone what another person said without quoting their exact words. Instead of repeating the exact sentence, we usually change pronouns, verb tenses, and sometimes time expressions to fit the context.
For example, direct speech: He said, "I am tired." becomes reported speech: He said that he was tired.
She said, "I like chocolate."
She said, "I like chocolate."
She said that she liked chocolate.
They said, "We will arrive tomorrow."
They said, "We will arrive tomorrow."
They said that they would arrive the next day.
Changes in Tenses
When converting direct speech into reported speech, the verb tenses often change. This shift is called backshifting. The general rule is that the tense moves one step back in time if the reporting verb is in the past tense.
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| Present Simple: "I eat." | Past Simple: He said he ate. |
| Present Continuous: "I am eating." | Past Continuous: He said he was eating. |
| Past Simple: "I ate." | Past Perfect: He said he had eaten. |
| Present Perfect: "I have eaten." | Past Perfect: He said he had eaten. |
| Will: "I will go." | Would: He said he would go. |
John said, "I am watching TV."
John said, "I am watching TV."
John said that he was watching TV.
Reporting Questions
When reporting questions, the sentence structure changes. Yes/no questions use "if" or "whether," while WH-questions keep the question word. The sentence becomes a statement and the question mark is removed.
Yes/No questions:
She asked, "Do you like coffee?"
She asked, "Do you like coffee?"
She asked if I liked coffee.
WH-questions:
He asked, "Where is the station?"
He asked, "Where is the station?"
He asked where the station was.
Reporting Commands and Requests
When reporting commands or requests, we use verbs like tell, ask, or order followed by an infinitive verb form. The structure changes from imperative to an infinitive phrase.
She said, "Close the door."
She said, "Close the door."
She told me to close the door.
He said, "Please help me."
He said, "Please help me."
He asked me to help him.
Changes in Time and Place References
When reporting speech, words that refer to time and place often change to reflect the new context. Here are common changes:
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| now | then |
| today | that day |
| tomorrow | the next day / the following day |
| yesterday | the day before |
| here | there |
He said, "I will come tomorrow."
He said, "I will come tomorrow."
He said he would come the next day.
Exceptions to the Rules
Sometimes, the tense does not change in reported speech. This usually happens when the reporting verb is in the present or future tense, or when the information is still true.
She says, "I live in London."
She says, "I live in London."
She says that she lives in London.
He said, "The earth is round."
He said, "The earth is round."
He said that the earth is round.
Also, if the original speech is a universal fact or something still true, the tense remains the same.
Practice Examples
Try converting these direct sentences into reported speech:
- "I can swim," she said.
- "Where do you live?" he asked.
- "Please open the window," they said.
- "We have finished our homework," the students said.
- "I will call you later," he said.
Answers:
- She said she could swim.
- He asked where I lived.
- They asked me to open the window.
- The students said they had finished their homework.
- He said he would call me later.
Tips for Remembering Rules
- Remember to backshift the tense when the reporting verb is in the past.
- Use "if" or "whether" for yes/no questions in reported speech.
- Change commands into infinitive forms using reporting verbs like "ask" or "tell."
- Adjust time and place words to match the new context.
- Keep the tense the same if the reported information is still true or the reporting verb is in the present.
- Practice with real examples to get familiar with the changes.
Following these tips will help you use reported speech confidently and correctly.