Changing Direct to Indirect Speech: English Speaking Guide

Changing direct speech to indirect speech (also known as reported speech) is one of the most essential skills for English learners. It allows you to describe what someone said without quoting them directly. This skill is important in daily conversation, storytelling, news reporting, and professional communication.

This guide will help you understand how to convert direct speech into indirect speech accurately, with examples, grammar rules, and tips for both writing and speaking.

What Is Direct and Indirect Speech?

Direct Speech

Direct speech is when you quote the exact words of the speaker, enclosed in quotation marks (“ ”).
Example:

• Sarah said, “I am tired.”

You are repeating exactly what Sarah said.

Indirect Speech

Indirect speech, on the other hand, reports what someone said without quoting them word for word.
Example:

• Sarah said that she was tired.

In this case, you’re reporting the idea, not the exact words.

Basic Rules for Changing Direct to Indirect Speech

1. Remove Quotation Marks

When you change to indirect speech, you no longer need quotation marks.
Direct: He said, “I’m hungry.”
Indirect: He said that he was hungry.

The word “that” is often used, but it can also be omitted in informal speech.

• He said he was hungry. ✅

2. Change of Pronouns

The pronouns usually change depending on who is speaking and to whom they are speaking.
Direct: She said, “I like your dress.”
Indirect: She said that she liked my dress.

Always adjust the pronoun to match the point of view in your sentence.

3. Change of Verb Tense (Backshifting)

In reported speech, when the reporting verb (said, told, asked) is in the past tense, the tense of the quoted statement usually shifts one step back in time.

Note:
If the reporting verb is in the present tense (e.g., He says), the tense usually does not change.

• He says, “I like coffee.” → He says he likes coffee. ✅

4. Change of Time and Place Words

Time and place expressions often need to be adjusted because the point of reference changes.

Example:

• “I will call you tomorrow,” she said. → She said she would call me the next day.

5. Reporting Verbs

Common verbs for reporting speech include:

• said

• told

• asked

• explained

• informed

• promised

• advised

• warned

Examples:

• He told me that he was tired.

• She explained that the train had been delayed.

• They warned us not to go out at night.

Reporting Different Sentence Types

1. Statements

Use said or told (with an object).
Direct: She said, “I’m late.”
Indirect: She said that she was late.

Direct: She told me, “You should rest.”
Indirect: She told me that I should rest.

2. Questions

When reporting questions, the word order changes to statement form, and quotation marks are removed.

Yes/No Questions

Use asked if or asked whether.
Direct: He said, “Are you busy?”
Indirect: He asked if I was busy.

Direct: “Did she arrive on time?”
Indirect: He asked whether she had arrived on time.

Wh-Questions

Use the same question word, but no question mark.
Direct: “Where do you live?” he said.
Indirect: He asked where I lived.

Direct: “What are you doing?” she said.
Indirect: She asked what I was doing.

3. Commands and Requests

Use verbs like told, asked, ordered, requested, advised, warned + to-infinitive.

Direct: He said, “Please sit down.”
Indirect: He asked me to sit down.

Direct: She said, “Don’t touch that.”
Indirect: She told me not to touch that.

Direct: “Be quiet,” the teacher said.
Indirect: The teacher told us to be quiet.

4. Suggestions

Use verbs like suggested, recommended, or the phrase that + clause.
Direct: She said, “Let’s go out for lunch.”
Indirect: She suggested that we go out for lunch.

Direct: “You should rest,” he said.
Indirect: He recommended that I rest.

Exceptions: When Tense Does Not Change

There are situations where the tense stays the same, even in reported speech:

1. Universal truths or facts

   • “The sun rises in the east.” → He said that the sun rises in the east. ✅

2. If the reporting verb is in the present or future

   • She says, “I am happy.” → She says she is happy. ✅

3. When the original statement is still true or relevant

   • “I live in Tokyo,” she said. → She said she lives in Tokyo (if she still does).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Forgetting to change pronouns
   ❌ He said, “I like your house.” → He said that I like your house.
   ✅ He said that he liked my house.

2. Keeping question word order
   ❌ He asked, “Where do you live?” → He asked where do I live.
   ✅ He asked where I lived.

3. Using “said to” for commands
   ❌ He said me to wait.
   ✅ He told me to wait.

4. Changing tenses unnecessarily
   ❌ He said the earth was round.
   ✅ He said the earth is round. (still true)

Practical Tips for Learners

• Practice listening: Notice how native speakers report what others said.

• Summarize conversations: After watching a video or talking to someone, try reporting it.

• Use “that” naturally: In conversation, people often skip “that” (e.g., He said he was tired).

• Start small: Begin with simple sentences before handling complex ones.

• Think in context: Always check if the statement is still true before changing the tense.

Examples in Real Conversations

Example 1
Direct: “I can’t come to the party,” John said.
Indirect: John said that he couldn’t come to the party.

Example 2
Direct: “Do you like sushi?” she asked.
Indirect: She asked if I liked sushi.

Example 3
Direct: “Let’s study together,” he said.
Indirect: He suggested that we study together.

Example 4
Direct: “Close the door,” my mom said.
Indirect: My mom told me to close the door.

Conclusion

Mastering how to change direct speech into indirect speech is a key step in improving your English fluency. It helps you report conversations naturally, summarize discussions, and sound more advanced when speaking or writing.

By understanding tense shifts, pronoun changes, and reporting verbs, you can confidently express what others said — accurately and smoothly.

Practice these rules in real-life situations, and soon, converting direct to indirect speech will become second nature.

FAQs

What is the difference between direct and indirect (reported) speech?

Direct speech quotes a speaker’s exact words inside quotation marks, e.g., Maria said, “I’m tired.” Indirect (reported) speech conveys the same idea without quoting word-for-word and without quotation marks, e.g., Maria said that she was tired. The perspective, pronouns, and often the verb tense shift to fit the reporter’s viewpoint and time frame. This transformation makes your narration smoother, especially in summaries, journalism, and everyday retellings of conversations.

When do I need to change the verb tense (backshift) in reported speech?

You usually backshift tenses when the reporting verb is in the past (e.g., said, told, asked). Present simple becomes past simple (“I like tea.” → She said she liked tea.), present continuous becomes past continuous, present perfect becomes past perfect, and past simple becomes past perfect. If the reporting verb is present (she says) or if the statement remains universally true, backshifting is typically unnecessary. Consider meaning and current relevance before changing tense.

Do I always need the word “that” in reported statements?

No. “That” is optional in most reported statements. Both She said that she was busy and She said she was busy are correct. In formal writing, “that” can increase clarity in long or complex sentences. In everyday speech, many speakers omit it, especially after common reporting verbs (said, told, explained). Use your judgment: if removing “that” makes the sentence unclear or momentarily confusing, keep it.

How do pronouns change when converting to indirect speech?

Pronouns shift to match the reporter’s point of view and the new context. For example, “I love your car,” Anna said to me → Anna told me that she loved my car. “I” becomes “she,” “your” becomes “my.” Similarly, “We will help you,” they said to us → They told us that they would help us. Always determine who is speaking, who is listening, and whose perspective the report uses, then adjust pronouns accordingly.

How are time and place expressions changed in reported speech?

Deictic words (time and place references) often shift: today → that day, tomorrow → the next/following day, yesterday → the day before, now → then, here → there, this → that, and these → those. For example, “I’ll call you tomorrow,” she said → She said she would call me the next day. The goal is to keep the meaning accurate from the new reporting context and time frame.

How do I report yes/no questions and wh- questions?

For yes/no questions, use ask + if/whether and change question word order to statement order: “Are you ready?” → He asked if I was ready. For wh- questions, keep the wh- word and use statement order: “Where do you live?” → She asked where I lived. Remove the question mark and do not use auxiliary inversion in the reported clause. Tenses, pronouns, and time expressions may also need adjustment.

How do I report commands, requests, and advice?

Use a reporting verb plus an infinitive (or negative infinitive). Examples: “Please sit down.” → He asked me to sit down. “Don’t touch that.” → She told me not to touch that. Other helpful verbs include order, warn, advise, urge, remind, invite. Choose the verb that best reflects the speaker’s intention: “Be careful.” → She warned us to be careful. “You should rest.” → He advised me to rest.

What about suggestions like “Let’s …” in reported speech?

Suggestions can be reported with suggest or recommend. Two common patterns are: suggest/recommend + -ing (She suggested going out.) or suggest/recommend that + clause (She suggested that we go out.). For inclusive “Let’s,” keep the sense of shared action: “Let’s start early,” he said → He suggested that we start early / He suggested starting early. Avoid suggest someone to; that construction is not standard.

Are there times when I should not backshift the tense?

Yes. Do not backshift when the statement expresses a universal truth or a fact still true at the time of reporting: “The sun rises in the east.” → He said that the sun rises in the east. Also, if your reporting verb is in the present (she says), you generally keep the original tense. Finally, when the current relevance of a present-tense statement is important, many writers maintain present tense to preserve accuracy.

What reporting verbs should I use besides “say” and “tell”?

Choose reporting verbs that capture the speaker’s purpose and tone: explain, claim, admit, deny, promise, warn, advise, remind, insist, suggest, recommend, invite, ask, inquire. For example, “I’ll pay you back,” he said → He promised to pay me back. “Don’t be late,” she said → She warned me not to be late. Using precise verbs makes your reported speech more vivid and accurate.

How do modal verbs change in reported speech?

Some modals backshift: will → would, can → could, may → might. Others often remain unchanged because they already express past/conditional meaning or lack distinct past forms, e.g., could, would, should, might, ought to. Examples: “I will help.” → She said she would help. “I can swim.” → He said he could swim. “You should rest.” → She said I should rest. Context and truth value guide whether you change a modal.

What common mistakes should I avoid when reporting speech?

Three frequent errors: (1) Keeping question inversion: He asked where did I go ❌; use where I went ✅. (2) Mismanaging pronouns: ensure person, number, and possession match the reporter’s perspective. (3) Over-backshifting: if the fact is still true or is a universal truth, keep present tense. Also avoid said me to (use told me to) and remember to adjust time/place expressions like today → that day.

How do I report mixed tenses or complex sentences?

Break the statement into logical parts and convert each segment carefully. For instance, “I’m leaving now because I finished my work.” → She said (that) she was leaving then because she had finished her work. Notice the present continuous becomes past continuous and the present perfect or past simple may become past perfect, depending on the time relation. Prioritize clarity: sequence your clauses so that the timeline remains easy to follow for the reader or listener.

How is reported speech used differently in speaking versus writing?

In conversation, reported speech tends to be simpler and more flexible: speakers often drop “that,” avoid heavy backshifting when facts are current, and prioritize speed and clarity. In formal writing, you’re more likely to see consistent backshifting, carefully chosen reporting verbs, and explicit “that” in complex sentences. Regardless of mode, your goal is accuracy and coherence: choose forms that preserve meaning and help your audience follow the story.

Can I keep quotation marks and still use reporting verbs?

Yes—but that becomes a hybrid of direct and reported speech, often used for emphasis or partial quotes, e.g., She said she was “absolutely sure” about the result. Use this technique sparingly; overusing hybrid quotes can feel clumsy. When you intend to fully convert to reported speech, remove quotation marks entirely. If you want to highlight a key phrase exactly as said, partial quoting is appropriate and stylistically effective.

What are quick steps I can follow to convert direct to indirect speech?

(1) Identify the reporting verb and its tense. (2) Decide whether to backshift based on time and truth value. (3) Adjust pronouns for viewpoint. (4) Change time/place words to fit the new context. (5) For questions, change to statement order and add if/whether or keep the wh- word. (6) For commands/requests, use an appropriate verb plus to-infinitive (or not to). (7) Read the result aloud to check clarity and natural flow.

Could you show a few direct-to-indirect transformations end-to-end?

Statement: “I have finished the report,” she said. → She said (that) she had finished the report.

Yes/No Question: “Did you see the email?” he asked. → He asked whether I had seen the email.

Wh- Question: “Where are you going?” they said. → They asked where I was going.

Command: “Turn off your phones,” the invigilator said. → The invigilator told us to turn off our phones.

Negative Command: “Don’t be late,” she said. → She warned me not to be late.

Suggestion: “Let’s review the plan,” he said. → He suggested that we review the plan.

English Grammar Guide: Complete Rules, Examples, and Tips for All Levels