What Is Reported Speech?: English Grammar Guide

Reported speech is how we tell or write what someone else said without repeating their exact words. It’s essential for everyday conversation, journalism, academic writing, and storytelling. This guide explains what reported speech is, how it differs from direct speech, the rules for changing tenses, pronouns, time/place expressions, and how to report questions, requests, and commands.

What Is Reported Speech?

Reported speech (also called indirect speech) expresses the content of someone’s words rather than the exact quotation.

Direct: She said, “I am tired.”
Reported: She said (that) she was tired.

In reported speech, we remove quotation marks, use a reporting verb such as say, tell, ask, explain, and often shift tenses and pronouns to fit the new context. The word “that” is optional after most reporting verbs.

Direct vs. Reported Speech

Direct speech gives the precise wording between quotation marks; reported speech summarizes the message. Compare:

Direct: He said, “I’m going to the store.”
Reported: He said (that) he was going to the store.

Reported speech usually adopts statement word order (subject + verb) and does not use a question mark even when reporting a question.

Backshifting: Why Tense Often Changes

When the reporting verb is in the past (said, told, asked), English typically shifts the tense in the reported clause one step back in time. This is called backshifting.

Present simple → Past simple
“I like tea.” → She said she liked tea.

Present continuous → Past continuous
“I am studying.” → He said he was studying.

Present perfect → Past perfect
“I have finished.” → She said she had finished.

Past simple → Past perfect
“I saw her.” → He said he had seen her.

Past continuous → Past perfect continuous
“I was working.” → She said she had been working.

Will → Would
“I will go.” → He said he would go.

Can → Could
“I can help.” → She said she could help.

May → Might
“I may leave.” → He said he might leave.

Must → Had to
“I must hurry.” → She said she had to hurry.

When Backshifting Is Not Needed

Backshifting is not obligatory in every case. Keep the original tense when:

1. The reporting verb is in the present:
   She says she loves pizza.

2. The statement is still true or is a general/eternal truth:
   He said the Earth is round.
   The teacher said water boils at 100°C.

3. You want to emphasize the current relevance of the original words (especially in newsy or academic summaries):
   The report states that the policy remains unchanged.

Pronoun Changes

Pronouns must reflect the new perspective of the reporter.

“I love my job,” she said. → She said she loved her job.
“You are my friend,” he said to me. → He told me I was his friend.
“We will help you,” they said. → They said they would help me.

Adjust possessives too: “my” → “her/his,” “our” → “their,” and “you/your” depending on who “you” refers to in the new context.

Time and Place Expression Changes

Because the context shifts in time and place, certain expressions change:

now → then
today → that day
yesterday → the day before / the previous day
tomorrow → the next day / the following day
this → that
these → those
here → there
last week → the week before / the previous week
next year → the following year

Example:
“I’ll meet you here tomorrow.” → He said he would meet me there the next day.

Reporting Statements

This is the most straightforward pattern: reporting verb + (that) + clause.

Direct: “I’m learning English.”
Reported: She said (that) she was learning English.

Common verbs: say (that), tell someone (that), explain (that), mention (that), admit (that), claim (that), promise (that).

Important: after tell you need an object (a person).
She told me she was tired. (correct)
She told she was tired. (incorrect)

Reporting Yes/No Questions

Use if or whether and change the word order to a statement. Do not use a question mark.

Direct: “Are you coming?”
Reported: He asked if I was coming.

Direct: “Did she finish?”
Reported: They asked whether she had finished.

Common verbs: ask, inquire, want to know, wonder (in more indirect style).

Reporting Wh- Questions

Keep the question word (who, what, where, when, why, how), shift the tense as needed, and use statement word order.

Direct: “Where do you live?”
Reported: She asked where I lived.

Direct: “Why are they late?”
Reported: He wanted to know why they were late.

Do not use do-support or invert the subject and verb in the reported clause.

Reporting Commands, Requests, and Advice

Use a reporting verb + object + to-infinitive for positive commands, and not to + verb for negative commands.

Direct: “Close the door.” → She told me to close the door.
Direct: “Don’t be late.” → He told me not to be late.

Common verbs and patterns:
tell/ask/order someone to do something
advise/encourage/persuade/remind someone to do something
warn someone not to do something

Polite requests can also be reported with ask + object + to + verb:
“Please sit down.” → The teacher asked us to sit down.

Reporting Suggestions and Offers

Suggestions often use suggest + -ing or suggest that + clause (no object + to-infinitive after suggest).

Direct: “Let’s take a break.”
Reported: She suggested taking a break. / She suggested that we take a break.

Offers with will or can become would/could:
“I’ll help you.” → He offered to help. / He said he would help me.
“I can drive you.” → She said she could drive me.

Reporting Thoughts and Beliefs

Verbs like think, believe, suppose, imagine, expect, know, and feel can introduce reported content without implying speech.

“I think she’s right.” → He thought she was right.
“We believe the plan will work.” → They believed the plan would work.

Mixed, Realistic Examples

1. “I’ve booked the tickets,” she said.
   → She said she had booked the tickets.

2. “Can you join us tomorrow?” they asked.
   → They asked if I could join them the next day.

3. “Don’t use your phone in class,” the teacher said.
   → The teacher told us not to use our phones in class.

4. “Where did you park?” he asked.
   → He asked where I had parked.

5. “Let’s meet here at noon,” she said.
   → She suggested meeting there at noon.

6. “We are moving next month,” they said yesterday.
   → They said yesterday that they were moving the following month.

Modal Verbs in Reported Speech

Some modals change with backshifting, others stay the same.

Change:
will → would
shall → should (or would in offers)
can → could
may → might
must → had to (for obligation)

No change (usually):
could, would, should, might, ought to

Examples:
“I can finish today.” → She said she could finish that day.
“You must wear a helmet.” → He said I had to wear a helmet.
“I might be late.” → She said she might be late.

Style Tips and Common Mistakes

1. Adjust the viewpoint carefully (pronouns, time/place words).

2. Use a clear reporting verb and keep consistent tense logic.

3. Don’t keep question word order in reported questions.
   Incorrect: He asked where do you live.
   Correct: He asked where I lived.

4. Remember the object after tell.
   Incorrect: She told that…
   Correct: She told me that…

5. Don’t overuse that; it’s optional, especially in speech.
   She said she was ready. / She said that she was ready.

6. Maintain meaning when backshifting. If the fact is still true, you can keep a present tense for clarity:
   The scientist said light travels faster than sound.

Practice: Convert These to Reported Speech

1. “I am working from home today,” she said.

2. “Did you see my email?” he asked.

3. “Finish the report by Friday,” the manager said.

4. “We may postpone the launch,” they said.

5. “Why are you upset?” she asked me.

Possible answers:

1. She said (that) she was working from home that day.

2. He asked if I had seen his email.

3. The manager told us to finish the report by Friday.

4. They said (that) they might postpone the launch.

5. She asked me why I was upset.

Conclusion

Reported speech lets you convey what others said with flexibility and clarity. Master the essentials: choose the right reporting verb, backshift tenses when appropriate, adjust pronouns and time/place expressions, and use statement word order for reported questions and commands. With consistent practice, your reported speech will sound natural in conversation, accurate in summaries, and polished in formal writing.

FAQs

What is reported speech, in simple terms?

Reported speech (also called indirect speech) is how we communicate what someone said without repeating the exact words in quotes. Instead of “She says, ‘I am busy.’” we might say, “She says (that) she is busy.” We remove quotation marks, choose an appropriate reporting verb (say, tell, ask, explain), and often adjust pronouns, tenses, and time or place expressions so the sentence makes sense from our point of view and at the new time of speaking.

How is reported speech different from direct speech?

Direct speech gives the speaker’s exact words with quotation marks and often a comma: He said, “I’m tired.” Reported speech paraphrases the content and drops the quotes: He said (that) he was tired. The grammar shifts to a normal statement word order, and we typically perform tense “backshifting” if the reporting verb is in the past. We also change pronouns and deictic words like now, today, and here to match the reporter’s time and place.

What is backshifting, and when do I need it?

Backshifting is moving a tense one step back when reporting past speech: present → past, past → past perfect, will → would, can → could, may → might, must → had to (for obligation). Use it when the reporting verb is in the past (e.g., said, told). Example: “I am hungry.” → She said she was hungry. However, if the situation is still true or you use a present reporting verb (She says…), backshifting is optional or unnecessary to keep the meaning accurate.

Do I always have to change the tense?

No. Keep the original tense when the statement remains true, expresses a general fact, or when the reporting verb is in the present. For instance: “Water boils at 100°C.” → The teacher said water boils at 100°C. Keeping the present shows an ongoing truth. In news-style summaries or academic contexts, writers often maintain present tenses to emphasize current relevance: The report states that the policy remains unchanged.

How do pronouns change in reported speech?

Pronouns shift to reflect the reporter’s perspective. Example: “I love my job,” she said → She said she loved her job. “You are my friend,” he told me → He told me I was his friend. Likewise, adjust possessives: my → her/his, our → their, your → my/our depending on who “you” is in the new context. Always check who is speaking, who is listening, and who is being referenced to select the correct forms.

How do time and place words change?

Deictic expressions shift because the context changes: now → then, today → that day, yesterday → the day before, tomorrow → the next/following day, here → there, this → that, these → those, next week → the following week, last year → the previous year. Example: “I’ll meet you here tomorrow.” → He said he would meet me there the next day. These changes keep the message accurate from the reporter’s position in time and space.

Which reporting verbs should I use, and does “that” matter?

Common reporting verbs include say (that), tell someone (that), explain (that), admit (that), claim (that), promise (that), add (that), and mention (that). After tell, include an object: She told me that… The conjunction that is optional in everyday English: She said she was ready and She said that she was ready are both correct. In formal writing, that can improve clarity, especially in complex sentences.

How do I report yes/no questions?

For yes/no questions, use if or whether, change the word order to a statement, drop the question mark, and backshift if needed. Example: “Are you coming?” → He asked if I was coming. “Did she finish?” → They asked whether she had finished. Avoid inversion in the reported clause (no was I, did she). Typical reporting verbs are ask, inquire, or want to know when the tone is softer or more indirect.

How do I report wh- questions?

Keep the wh-word (who, what, where, when, why, how), use statement word order, and shift tenses as needed. Example: “Where do you live?” → She asked where I lived. “Why are they late?” → He wanted to know why they were late. Do not use do-support or inversion in the reported clause. The reporting verb is commonly ask, want to know, or inquire; tone can vary based on formality and intent.

How are commands, requests, and advice reported?

Use an object + to-infinitive for positive commands and not to + verb for negatives. Examples: “Close the door.” → She told me to close the door. “Don’t be late.” → He told me not to be late. Polite requests can be reported as ask + object + to + verb: “Please sit down.” → The teacher asked us to sit down. For advice and warnings, use verbs like advise, encourage, remind, warn, and include the object where appropriate.

What happens to modal verbs in reported speech?

Most modals backshift: will → would, can → could, may → might, must → had to (for obligation), shall → should/would depending on meaning. Some modals usually remain the same: would, could, should, might, ought to. Examples: “I can help.” → She said she could help. “You must wear a helmet.” → He said I had to wear a helmet. “I might be late.” → She said she might be late.

What are the most common mistakes to avoid?

• Keeping question word order: Incorrect—He asked where do you live. Correct—He asked where I lived.
• Forgetting the object after tell: Incorrect—She told that… Correct—She told me that…
• Mismanaging pronouns or time words: Always realign perspective (today → that day, here → there).
• Over-backshifting universal truths: Keep present for facts (She said water boils at 100°C).
• Overusing “that” or omitting it when clarity suffers; choose based on readability.

Can I keep the original words for style or emphasis?

Yes. Writers sometimes mix direct and reported speech for effect—especially in narratives or journalism—to highlight a striking phrase while keeping the rest summarized. For instance, you might report the overall message indirectly but include a short exact quote for punch. Just maintain consistency and make sure the reader can follow who is speaking, what was said, and what remains your paraphrase versus the speaker’s original wording.

How can I practice and check accuracy?

Convert short direct quotes into reported speech and verify each adjustment: 1) pick the right reporting verb and object, 2) backshift tense only if appropriate, 3) change pronouns to match perspective, 4) adjust time/place words, 5) ensure statement word order, especially in questions and commands. Read your sentence aloud to test clarity. If the meaning, timing, and roles (who said what to whom) are obvious and consistent, your reported version is likely accurate and natural.