If we report what another person has said, we usually do not use the speaker’s exact words (direct speech), but reported (indirect) speech. Therefore, you need to learn how to transform direct speech into reported speech. The structure is a little different depending on whether you want to transform a statement, question or request.

53..1 – Reporting statements

When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:

• pronouns
• present tense verbs (3rd person singular)
• place, time and other references
• tenses (backshift)

Type	Example
direct speech	“I speak English.”
reported speech (no backshift)	He says that he speaks English.
reported speech (backshift)	He said that he spoke English.

Pronouns

In reported speech, you often have to change the pronoun depending on who says what.

Example:

She says, “My mum doesn’t have time today.” – She says that her mum doesn’t have time today.

Tenses

No tense backshift required

Do not change the tense if the introductory clause is in Simple Present (e. g. He says). Note, however, that you might have to change the form of the present tense verb (3rd person singular).

Example:

He says, “I speak English.” – He says that he speaks English.

Tense backshift required

You must change the tense if the introductory clause is in Simple Past (e. g. He said). This is called backshift.

Example:

He said, “I am happy.” – He said that he was happy.

 

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
Simple Present	Simple Past
Present Continuous	Past Continuous
Simple Past	Past Perfect Simple
Present Perfect Simple
Past Perfect Simple
Past Continuous	Past Perfect Continuous
Present Perfect Continuous
Past Perfect Continuous
Future I (going to)	was/were going to
Future I (will)	Conditional I (would)
Conditional I (would)

 

The verbs could, should, would, might, must, needn’t, ought to, used to do not normally change.

Example:

He said, “She might be right.” – He said that she might be right.

Place, time and other references

Be careful! Always make sure that the expressions you use are logical and make sense when you report speech. You may have to change time, place and other situation references appropriately. Here are some common examples:

 

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
Today	that day
Now	then
Yesterday	the day before
… days ago	… days before
last week	the week before
next year	the following year
Tomorrow	the next day / the following day
Here	there
This	that
These	those

Further information and online exercises:

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/statements

53..2 –  Reporting questions

When transforming questions, check (as with statements) whether you have to change:

• pronouns
• present tense verbs (3rd person singular)
• place, time and other references
• tenses (backshift)

Also, note that you have to:

• transform the direct question into an indirect question
• use the interrogative or if/whether

Type	Example
with interrogative	direct speech	“Why don’t you speak English?”
reported speech	He asked me why I didn’t speak English.
without interrogative	direct speech	“Do you speak English?”
reported speech	He asked me whether/if I spoke English.

 

After the interrogative or ‘whether‘ / ‘if‘, you continue the sentence as if it were a statement and not a question.

This means that the subject-verb word order is followed and the auxiliary verb ‘do’ is not used.

Example:

He asked: “Where does she live” – He asked where she lived.

Further information and online exercises:

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/questions

53..3 –  

53..4 – Reporting requests

When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:

• pronouns
• place, time and other references

Type	Example
direct speech	“Carol, speak English.”
reported speech	He told Carol to speak English.

Further information and online exercises:

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/requests

 

  Additional information and exceptions

Apart from the above-mentioned basic rules, there are further aspects that you should keep in mind, for example:

• main clauses connected with and/but
• tense of the introductory clause
• reported speech for difficult tenses
• exceptions for backshift
• requests with must, should, ought to and let’s

Further information and online exercises:

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/advanced

 

1. Change the following sentences into reported speech. First, write down the correct solutions and compare your answers with a neighbour. Then practice producing the reported speech (one partner reads out the direct speech, and the other produces the indirect speech (try to do this without looking at your answers).

 

1. “I broke my leg when I was skiing.”

 

She informed us (that) ____________________________________________________________________________

 

 

1. “Why don’t you work for Siemens any more?”

 

They asked me ____________________________________________________________________________

 

1. “Are you going to college next year?”

 

Matt wanted to know ____________________________________________________________________________

 

1. “I can’t meet you on Sunday as I promised.”

 

Simon told me ____________________________________________________________________________

 

 

1. “What was your favourite food as a child, Laura?”

 

The nutritionist asked Laura ________________________________________________________________________

 

 

1. “How much do you earn in your current job?”

 

The interviewer wanted to know ____________________________________________________________________

 

 

1. “Please take all your belongings with you when you leave the room.”

 

The seminar leader told ……….

 

 

1. “We might go to Italy again this summer.”

 

Her cousin mentioned that ________________________________________________________________________