Reported Speech 

In this lesson you will learn about complex reported speech, including changes in tense and perspective. Master the topic with advanced examples and exercises.

What Is Reported Speech in English?

What Is Reported Speech?

Reported speech involves three participants. One says something and the other one delivers their speech to a third person.

Reported Speech: Uses

Reported speech is used to repeat what someone has said. Take a look at the examples:

Example

She asked if I was invited to the party or not.

Her friend said, "my car is fancy and expensive".

Reported Speech: Types

There are two types of reported speech in English:

Direct Speech

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Direct speech repeats somebody else's exact words. In written style, the quote is placed between quotation marks (" "). A direct reported speech does not change any of the declared words. For example:

Example

She said, "I love you Jimmy."

"They will always be in my life." Hanna shouted

Direct Speech: Structure

Direct reported speech has two parts. The first part contains a reporting verb that is usually in the past simple tense, but can be in other tenses too. The second part is the exact words of the speech that is being reported.

Example

"I am not alone." Sam cried.

Panni said, "My mother is a doctor."

Indirect Speech

Indirect reported speech involves using one's own words to repeat someone else's speech, instead of repeating the exact same words. For example

Example

She said that she had been in Tokyo.

My dad said he was going to sell the car.

Indirect Speech: Structure

To report speech indirectly, a reporting verb is used which takes a that-clause as its object and the that-clause contains the reported speech. The verb in the that-clause undergoes a process called backshift and the subject might also need to change. Pay attention to the examples:

Example

They promised that they would be there for me.

In this example the direct speech is "We will be there for you."

My sister said she could have finished the project if I had asked.

Backshift

To form reported speech, the verb in the reported clause usually shifts back one tense. This is called backshift. Check out the table below to see common forms of backshift:

Take a look at the form of verbs in the following sentences as the change from direct to indirect speech takes place:

Example

"I am tired," she said. → She said she was tired.

"She left early," he said. → He said she had left early.

Here are the common forms of backshift in modals:

direct

indirect

will

would

shall

would or should

can

could

may

might or could

must

had to or no change

Here are some examples:

Example

"They will come." → She said they would come.

"We must go." → They said they had to go.

Pronoun Shift

The reported speech also needs a shift in pronoun to reflect the change in perspective from the speaker to the person reporting the speech. This change typically depends on the context, but in general first-person singular and plural pronouns change to third-person singular and plural and second-person singular and plural change either to first-person or third-person pronouns depending on the context. Third-person pronouns typically remain unchanged. Look at the examples:

Example

Mark said, "I love this book." → Mark said he loved that book.

first person singular → third person singular

John said, "You are my best friend." → John said I was his best friend.

second-person singular → first-person singular

John told Mary, "You are my best friend." → John told Mary she was his best friend.

second-person singular → third-person singular

They said, "She will call later." → They said she would call later.

third-person pronoun typically do not change

What Are Reporting Verbs?

Here is a list of some one of the most common reporting verbs in English:

say

tell

add

declare

admit

answer

ask

cry

Review

As the name suggests, reported speech is used to report someone's words. There are two kinds of reporting in English.

indirect speech

direct speech

Quiz:


1.

Sort the word to form a direct reported speech.

,"
he
.
your
said
finish
must
"
you
homework
2.

In reported speech, which of the following changes is correct when moving from direct to indirect speech?

A

"I am playing," she said. → She said she is playing.

B

"I am playing," she said. → She said she was playing.

C

"I am playing," she said. → I said she is playing.

D

"I am playing," she said. → She said I am playing.

3.

What is the correct indirect speech for the following direct reported speech: "I may come to the meeting," she said.

A

She said she may have come to the meeting.

B

She said I might come to the meeting.

C

She said she may came to the meeting.

D

She said she might come to the meeting.

4.

Fill in the table with the correct form of the verb before or after backshift.

Original verbAfter backshift

was reading

have seen

can

have been working

had to

5.

Fill the blanks with the correct form of the verbs in parentheses, pay attention to whether the reported speech is direct or indirect.

"I

her at the party last night," Mark said. → Mark said that he

her at the party the night before. (see)

"He

swim," she said. → She said that he

swim. (can)

"I

better now," he said. → He said that he

better. (feel)

He said, "I

to the store tomorrow." → He said that he

to the store tomorrow. (go)

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