Reported Speech - Essential English Grammar

Words that people say is direct speech, whereas reported speech is saying what others have said/done.

I feel sick.

Monie said she felt sick.

Your car is nice.

She said your car is nice.

“Tell” can replace the main verb in a sentence and then is followed by a subject to show who is talking.

I will tell him I want to learn to fly.

He told me he wants to learn how to fly.

I told her that I had been to Spain before.

She told me that she had never been there.

“Said” cannot be followed a subject, unlike “tell”.

He said that he had a house.

He said me that he had a house.

He told me that he had a house.

He told (me) that he had a house.

The tenses ‘go back’ in time and change the rest of the sentence.

Present Continuous

I’m working in London.

He said he was working in London.

Present Perfect

I’ve been to Spain a few times.

He said that he has been to Spain a few times.

Future with “will”

I will call you via Skype.

He said he will call via Skype.

Modal with “Can”

I can speak Spanish.

He said that he can speak Spanish.

If it is an ongoing setting and tense, then the verb does not have to change.

I like drinking tea.

Monie said that she likes drinking tea.

I am writing a novel.

He said that he is writing a novel.

If it is reported sometime after it was said, then time and place may need to change.

I went to the gym yesterday.

She said that she’d been to the gym before.

I’ll see you tomorrow.

He said he’d see me the following day.

I saw her last week.

She said she had seen him recently.

Pronouns may also need to change. The words used to talk about things and people.

I don’t believe these stories.

She said that she doesn’t believe those stories.

This cake is amazing.

She said that cake is amazing.

• My... His

That was my idea.

That was his idea.

• Our... Their

The cars are ours.

Those cars are theirs.

• Us... Them

They went with us.

They went with them.

• These... They

Aren’t these your cats?

Aren’t they your cats?

“Said” can be replaced with all sorts of verbs that give more information.

“That” gives more information that “say” and “tell”.

I’m good at that game.

He said that he is good at it.

Some verbs are followed by objects and an infinitive: used to give orders, advice or instructions.

Remember to buy some tea later on.

Monie reminded me to buy some tea later.

You’ve been naughty: no tea for you.

I’ve just told Monie that she can’t have any tea.

If reporting a verb is followed by a negative then we add “not”.

It is followed by either an auxiliary verb, or a main verb if there isn’t an auxiliary verb.

I don’t work on this project.

He said he didn’t work on this project.

You should not talk to them.

I was told I mustn't talk to them.

Don’t drink anymore tea.

I told him he shouldn’t drink anymore.

You could not go there.

She was told she couldn’t go there.

Reported questions are used to describe questions that someone else asked.

Where are my Wellington boots?

He asked where his Wellington boots are.

Why can’t you come here?

She asked me why I can’t go there.

“Do” is not used in reported questions.

Let’s make a cup of tea. What do I need?

She asked me what I need.

Why do you want to work for them?

Why asked me why I want to work for them.

What do you think of the film?

He asked me what I thought about it.

Do not swap the verb (is, are, am) and subject in reported speech.

The verb is 1st in the direct speech, 2nd in reported speech.

He asked me how she is. (Verb is 2nd)

He asked me how is she. (Verb is 1st)

Monie wanted to know where she is.

Monie wanted to know where is she.

The students asked the teacher how it is done.

The students asked the teacher how is it done.

With closed questions where the answer is “yes” or “no”, then “if” or “whether” is used in the answer.

Are you meeting her today?

He asked me whether I am meeting her today.

Will you be with me tonight?

She asked me if I would be with her tonight.

“If” and “whether” can also be used with questions that use “or” in direct speech.

Does Monie want tea or coffee?

Monie; Jessica asked me if you wanted tea or coffee.

Do you want to go by coach or plane?

I was asked if I wanted to go by coach or plane.

Did you walk or drive?

She asked me whether I walked or drove.