Introduction to Reported Speech - Basics
Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is the grammatical structure used to communicate what someone else has said, thought, or believed without using their exact words. Rather than quoting directly, reported speech transforms the original statement into a subordinate clause, changing pronouns, time references, and often verb tenses to reflect the new perspective and timing of the report.
What makes reported speech essential is its role in everyday communication and formal writing. We constantly need to relay information, share conversations, and communicate what others have told us. Reported speech allows us to do this naturally and accurately whilst maintaining grammatical consistency with our own speaking or writing context, making it fundamental for storytelling, journalism, academic writing, and daily conversation.
The transformation from direct to reported speech involves systematic changes that follow logical patterns. These changes reflect the shift in perspective from the original speaker to the person reporting the speech, ensuring that pronouns, time references, and verb tenses remain consistent with the new context whilst preserving the essential meaning of the original statement.
Mastering the basics of reported speech will enhance your ability to communicate complex information clearly, write more sophisticated narratives, and understand the subtle ways that context and perspective influence how we express ideas. This foundation will enable you to report conversations accurately whilst maintaining natural, grammatically correct English in both spoken and written communication.
Direct vs Indirect Speech
Basic Comparison
Direct Speech:
Uses the speaker's exact words in quotation marks
""I am tired," she said."
""We will come tomorrow," they told us."
""Do you like coffee?" he asked."
Indirect Speech (Reported Speech):
Reports what was said without quotation marks
She said (that) she was tired.
They told us (that) they would come the next day.
He asked if/whether I liked coffee.
Key Changes in Reported Speech:
- Remove quotation marks
- Change pronouns to match the new perspective
- Often change verb tenses (backshift)
- Adjust time and place references
- Use reporting verbs (say, tell, ask)
Essential Reporting Verbs: Say, Tell, Ask
SAY
Reports statements without mentioning the listener
Structure: say + (that) + clause
Example: She said (that) she was happy.
With 'to': She said to me that she was happy.
TELL
Reports statements and always includes the listener
Structure: tell + person + (that) + clause
Example: She told me (that) she was happy.
Note: Must include the person spoken to
ASK
Reports questions
Structure: ask + (person) + if/whether/wh-word
Example: He asked if I was ready.
Note: No question marks in reported questions
Quick Reference: Common Changes
Pronoun Changes:
I → he/she
you → I/he/she/they (depending on context)
we → they
my → his/her
your → my/his/her/their
our → their
Time Reference Changes:
today → that day
tomorrow → the next day/the following day
yesterday → the day before/the previous day
now → then/at that time
this week → that week
next week → the following week
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ She said me she was tired.
✅ She told me she was tired. / She said she was tired.
'Say' doesn't take a direct object; use 'tell' when mentioning who was spoken to
❌ He told that he was happy.
✅ He said that he was happy. / He told me that he was happy.
'Tell' must include the person who was told
❌ She asked that I was ready?
✅ She asked if/whether I was ready.
Use 'if' or 'whether' for yes/no questions, not 'that'
❌ "I am tired," she said that she was tired.
✅ "I am tired," she said. / She said that she was tired.
Don't mix direct and reported speech in the same sentence
Step-by-Step Transformation Guide
"I am reading a good book," she said.
- Remove quotation marks: I am reading a good book, she said.
- Choose reporting verb structure: She said...
- Change pronouns: I → she
- Apply backshift: am reading → was reading
- Adjust references if needed: a good book (no change needed)
- Final result: She said she was reading a good book.