A Guide to Reported Speech in English

Have you ever needed to tell someone what another person said? Maybe your friend asked you to pass along a message, or you wanted to share something interesting from a conversation. That’s exactly when reported speech comes in handy. This essential English grammar skill helps you communicate what others have said without quoting them word-for-word.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about reported speech, from basic concepts to advanced techniques. Whether you’re just starting your English learning journey or looking to refine your skills, you’ll find practical tips and clear examples to help you master this important grammar structure.

This topic is part of our English Grammar for English learners.

What Is Reported Speech?

Reported speech, also called indirect speech, is when you tell someone what another person said without using their exact words. Instead of repeating their statement word-for-word in quotation marks (direct speech), you report the main idea of what they said.

Direct speech example: Sarah said, “I love chocolate ice cream.”

Reported speech example: Sarah said that she loved chocolate ice cream.

Notice how the reported version changes slightly? The words shift to fit naturally into your sentence while keeping the original meaning intact. This is the heart of reported speech, and once you understand the pattern, it becomes much easier.

Why Is Reported Speech Important?

Understanding reported speech is crucial for several reasons. First, it makes your English sound more natural and fluent in everyday conversations. Native speakers use reported speech constantly when telling stories, sharing news, or passing along information.

Second, reported speech is essential for academic and professional settings. Whether you’re writing an essay, summarizing a meeting, or reporting on what someone said in an interview, you’ll need this skill. Third, it appears frequently on English proficiency tests like TOEFL, IELTS, and Cambridge exams.

The Basic Rules of Reported Speech

When converting direct speech to reported speech, you need to make several changes. Let’s break down the main rules step by step.

Step 1: Remove the Quotation Marks

The first step is simple. In reported speech, you don’t use quotation marks because you’re not giving the exact words. You’re paraphrasing what was said.

Step 2: Change the Verb Tenses (Backshifting)

This is where many learners get confused, but don’t worry. The rule is straightforward: when the reporting verb (like “said” or “told”) is in the past tense, you usually move the verb in the reported clause one step back in time. This is called backshifting.

Here are the main tense changes:

• Present Simple → Past Simple
  • Direct: “I work in a bank.”
  • Reported: He said he worked in a bank.
• Present Continuous → Past Continuous
  • Direct: “I am studying English.”
  • Reported: She said she was studying English.
• Present Perfect → Past Perfect
  • Direct: “I have finished my homework.”
  • Reported: He said he had finished his homework.
• Past Simple → Past Perfect
  • Direct: “I saw that movie yesterday.”
  • Reported: She said she had seen that movie the day before.
• Will → Would
  • Direct: “I will call you tomorrow.”
  • Reported: He said he would call me the next day.
• Can → Could
  • Direct: “I can speak three languages.”
  • Reported: She said she could speak three languages.

Step 3: Change Pronouns and Possessive Adjectives

Pronouns need to change to match the perspective of the person reporting the speech. This means “I” becomes “he” or “she,” “my” becomes “his” or “her,” and “we” might become “they.”

Example: Tom said, “I lost my keys.” Reported: Tom said he had lost his keys.

Step 4: Change Time and Place References

When you report what someone said at a different time or place, you need to adjust words that reference time and location.

Common changes include:

• today → that day
• yesterday → the day before / the previous day
• tomorrow → the next day / the following day
• now → then
• this week → that week
• here → there
• ago → before

Example: Maria said, “I’ll meet you here tomorrow.” Reported: Maria said she would meet me there the next day.

Reporting Verbs: Beyond “Said”

While “said” is the most common reporting verb, English offers many alternatives that add precision and variety to your speech. Choosing the right verb helps convey the tone and intention of the original speaker.

Here are useful reporting verbs and how to use them:

• Tell (requires an object): He told me that he was tired.
• Ask (for questions): She asked if I wanted coffee.
• Explain: The teacher explained that the test would be on Friday.
• Mention: He mentioned that he might be late.
• Admit: She admitted that she had made a mistake.
• Promise: They promised that they would arrive on time.
• Suggest: He suggested that we should take a break.
• Complain: She complained that the room was too cold.

Using varied reporting verbs makes your English more sophisticated and accurate.

Reporting Questions

Questions in reported speech follow slightly different rules. There are two main types: yes/no questions and wh-questions.

Yes/No Questions

For questions that can be answered with yes or no, use “if” or “whether” and change the word order to statement form.

Direct: “Do you like pizza?” Reported: He asked if I liked pizza.

Wh-Questions

For questions starting with words like what, where, when, why, or how, keep the question word but change to statement word order.

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

Remember: no question marks in reported questions, and the word order becomes subject-verb, not verb-subject.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even advanced learners sometimes struggle with reported speech. Here are the most common mistakes and how to avoid them:

Mistake 1: Forgetting to backshift the tense Incorrect: He said he is tired. Correct: He said he was tired.

Mistake 2: Not changing time expressions Incorrect: She said she would call me tomorrow. Correct: She said she would call me the next day.

Mistake 3: Keeping question word order in reported questions Incorrect: He asked where was I going. Correct: He asked where I was going.

Mistake 4: Using quotation marks in reported speech Incorrect: She said that “she was happy.” Correct: She said that she was happy.

When Not to Backshift

Here’s good news: you don’t always need to change the tense. If what was said is still true, or if you’re reporting something that just happened, you can keep the original tense.

Examples:

• The teacher said that Paris is the capital of France. (Still true)
• John just said he’s hungry. (Just happened, still relevant)

Practical Tips for Mastering Reported Speech

Learning reported speech takes practice, but these strategies will help you improve faster:

1. Listen actively: Pay attention to how native speakers use reported speech in movies, podcasts, and conversations.
2. Practice daily: Try converting direct speech you hear or read into reported speech as an exercise.
3. Start simple: Begin with basic sentences before moving to complex structures.
4. Use that wisely: The word “that” is optional in many reported speech sentences, though it can add clarity.
5. Keep a notebook: Write down examples you encounter and review them regularly.
6. Think about context: Consider when the conversation happened and adjust time expressions accordingly.

Conclusion

Reported speech might seem challenging at first, but with consistent practice and attention to the rules we’ve covered, you’ll soon use it naturally. Remember the key steps: remove quotation marks, backshift tenses, change pronouns and time expressions, and adjust word order for questions.

Don’t be discouraged if you make mistakes. Even native speakers sometimes pause to think about how to report something correctly. The important thing is to keep practicing and learning from your errors.

As you continue your English learning journey, you’ll find that reported speech becomes second nature. Start incorporating it into your daily conversations, writing, and practice exercises. Before you know it, you’ll be confidently reporting what others have said with accuracy and ease.

Happy learning, and remember: every expert was once a beginner who kept practicing!