ENGLISH GRAMMAR

REPORTED (Indirect) SPEECH:
reporting what another person says.

In reported (indirect) speech, we report an idea expressed by someone, without quoting the exact words used.
A certain number of changes have to be made in reported speech.

Example:

Direct Speech:
"I like football." said Tom.
Reported Speech:
Tom said (that) he liked football.

How to change from direct to reported speech:

We use verbs such as : say, tell, announce, promise, explain.

The verb tenses become more past : Boy: "I like ice-cream." → He said he liked ice-cream.

We can omit 'that': The technician said (that) he would arrive soon.

We change the pronouns: Jane: "Can you hear me?" → Jane asked if I could hear her.

Direct Speech:
You talk to Mr. Smith and he tells you the following things :

I clean my car every Friday.
I am doing a computer course this year.
I visited a museum yesterday.
I will be 30 tomorrow.

→ Indirect or Reported Speech:
You report your conversation with Mr. Smith to your husband/wife/friend :

Mr. Smith said (that) he cleaned his car every Friday.
He said (that) he was doing a computer course this year.
He said (that) he had visited a museum yesterday.
He said (that) he would be 30 tomorrow.

→ Questions :
In indirect or reported questions, the word order changes.

Direct

When is your husband starting his new job?

Indirect

He asked me when my husband was starting his new job.

→ Orders, requests, advice and suggestions:
Orders, requests, advice and suggestions are often reported by using the infinitive.

Direct

Be careful!
Don't drive too fast.

Indirect

I told him to be careful.
I told him not to drive too fast.

Direct Speech	→	Reported Speech
Present Simple • Sophie said: "I want to go home."	→	Past Simple Sophie said (that) she wanted to go home.
Present Continuous Pedro said: “I am doing my homework.”	→	Past Continuous Pedro said (that) he was doing his homework.
Present Perfect • Eva said: “I have seen the film.”	→	Past Perfect Eva said (that) she had seen the film.
Present Perfect Continuous • The boss said: "I have been waiting for you."	→	Past Perfect Continuous My boss said (that) he had been waiting for me.
Past Simple Dad said: “I mowed the garden.”	→	Past Perfect Dad said (that) he had mowed the garden.
Past Continuous Tom said: "I was talking to Bob."	→	Past Perfect Continuous Tom said (that) he had been talking to Bob.
Past Perfect Julie said: "I had read the book."	→	Past Perfect (no change) • Julie said (that) he had read the book.
Past Perfect Continuous Paul said: I had been gardening."	→	Past Perfect Continuous (no change) • Paul said (that) he had been gardening.
Will She said: “I will never leave you.	→	Would His wife said (that) she would never leave him
Can • Billy said: “I can swim 500 metres.”	→	Could Billy said (that) he could swim 500 metres.
May Eva said: “It may be too expensive.”	→	Might Eva said (that) it might be too expensive.
Must The teacher said: “Everyone must arrive on time.”	→	Had to The teacher said (that) everyone had to arrive early.
Have to Carla said: “I have to lock the door.”	→	Had to Carla said (that) she had to lock the door.
Orders, advice, suggestions His mother said: “Be careful!” She said: ”Don’t drive too fast!”	→	The infinitive is used in reporting His mother told him to be careful. She told him not to drive too fast.
The following modal verbs do not change in reported speech: might, could, would, should, ought to.

See also: Reported speech - time and place

Try an exercise

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REPORTED (Indirect) SPEECH: reporting what another person says.

REPORTED (Indirect) SPEECH:
reporting what another person says.