Every day we repeat what other people have told us: a teacher’s instructions, a friend’s good news, a manager’s decision. When we pass on those words without quoting them exactly, we use reported speech. Learning how reported speech works makes your spoken English more natural and your writing more accurate, and it appears in exams such as IELTS, Cambridge and TOEFL.
In this guide you will learn how these sentences are built, how verb tenses, pronouns and time expressions change, which reporting verbs to choose, and which mistakes to avoid. Every section includes examples, and you can test yourself with the exercises near the end.
Reported speech: reporting and reported clauses
Every sentence of this kind has two parts. The first is the reporting clause, which tells us who spoke and how. The second is the reported clause, which contains the message itself.
- Reporting clause: She said
- Reported clause: (that) she was tired
Together they form: She said (that) she was tired.
The reporting clause usually contains a subject and a reporting verb such as say, tell or ask. The reported clause is a subordinate clause, so it follows the normal word order of a statement, even when the original sentence was a question. The word that often links the two clauses, but in everyday English we can leave it out. Understanding this two-part structure is the foundation of reported speech, because every other rule in this guide affects one of these two clauses.
Reported speech: punctuation
Direct speech
In direct speech we repeat the speaker’s exact words and place them between quotation marks. The words inside keep their original form, including capital letters, question marks and exclamation marks.
- “I love this song,” said Maria.
- Tom asked, “Where are you going?”
- She shouted, “Stop!”
When the reporting clause comes first, we put a comma before the opening quotation mark. When it comes after the quotation, the comma, question mark or exclamation mark stays inside the closing quotation mark.
Indirect speech
In indirect speech there are no quotation marks. We build our own sentence, so it follows the normal punctuation rules for statements, with no comma between the reporting verb and the reported clause.
- Maria said that she loved that song.
- Tom asked where I was going.
- She shouted at us to stop.
Notice that a reported question ends with a full stop, not a question mark, because the whole sentence is a statement about a question. This small detail is one of the clearest signs that you are using reported speech correctly.
Reported speech: reporting verbs
The reporting verb tells the listener how the message was delivered, and the three most common choices are say, tell and ask. Each one follows a different pattern:
- say is used without a person object: He said that he was busy. If we mention the listener, we need to: He said to me that he was busy.
- tell always needs a person object: He told me that he was busy.
- ask introduces questions and requests: She asked if I wanted tea.
Choosing the right verb is an essential skill in reported speech, because the verb determines which grammar pattern must follow it.
Other reporting verbs
English has dozens of reporting verbs that are more precise than say. Some of the most useful are explain, reply, add, admit, announce, complain, promise, warn, suggest, advise, remind, offer, refuse, deny and insist. For example, She admitted that she had forgotten the key tells us much more than She said that she had forgotten the key. It shows her attitude, not only her words. We look at the patterns of these verbs in a later section.
What is reported speech?
Reported speech, also called indirect speech, is a way of telling someone what another person said, thought or wrote without repeating the exact words. Instead of quoting, we summarise or rephrase the message from our own point of view and usually move the verb tense one step back in time.
- Direct: “I am working late tonight,” said Ben.
- Indirect: Ben said that he was working late that night.
Notice that three things changed: the quotation marks disappeared, am working became was working, and tonight became that night.
Difference between direct and indirect speech
| Feature | Direct speech | Indirect speech |
| Words | Exact words of the speaker | The meaning of the words, rephrased |
| Punctuation | Quotation marks | No quotation marks |
| Tense | Original tense | Often shifted back one step |
| Pronouns | The speaker’s pronouns | Changed to fit the reporter’s point of view |
| Time and place | Original expressions | Often changed (now → then) |
| Typical use | Stories, dialogue, quotations | Conversation, news, reports |
When do we use reported speech?
We use reported speech whenever we want to share information that came from somebody else. Typical situations include:
- telling a friend what a colleague said at a meeting;
- describing a conversation in a story or an essay;
- writing news articles and business reports;
- summarising interviews, lectures and emails;
- answering listening and writing tasks in English exams.
Direct quotations are best when the exact wording matters, for example in a famous speech or a legal statement. In most other situations, indirect speech is shorter, smoother and more natural.
Fundamental rules of reported speech
When you turn direct speech into indirect speech, four elements may need to change: verb tenses, pronouns, time and place expressions, and the reporting verb itself. Knowing these four rules lets you handle almost any example of reported speech.
Changes in verb tenses (backshifting)
If the reporting verb is in the past (said, told, asked), the verb in the reported clause usually moves one step back in time. This is called backshifting.
| Direct speech | Indirect speech |
| Present Simple | Past Simple |
| Present Continuous | Past Continuous |
| Present Perfect | Past Perfect |
| Past Simple | Past Perfect |
| will | would |
| can | could |
Example: “I live in Rome,” she said. → She said that she lived in Rome.
Changes in pronouns
Pronouns and possessives change to match the point of view of the person who is reporting.
- Anna said, “I love my job.” → Anna said that she loved her job.
- He said to me, “I will help you.” → He told me that he would help me.
- They said, “We bought our tickets.” → They said that they had bought their tickets.
A simple tip is to ask yourself two questions: who is speaking now, and who is listening? The answers tell you which pronoun to use.
Learn more……….What Are Comparative Adjectives? Definition and Examples
Changes in time and place expressions
Words that point to a specific moment or location often change, because the situation of the reporter is different from the situation of the original speaker.
| Direct speech | Indirect speech |
| now | then / at that moment |
| today | that day |
| tonight | that night |
| yesterday | the day before / the previous day |
| tomorrow | the next day / the following day |
| last week | the week before / the previous week |
| next month | the following month |
| ago | before |
| here | there |
| this / these | that / those |
If you report the message on the same day or in the same place, you can keep the original expressions. For example, if Sara says “I’m leaving tomorrow” and you report it that same day, Sara said she’s leaving tomorrow is perfectly natural. In such cases reported speech does not need every change.
Reporting verbs: say, tell, ask and others
Different types of sentence need different patterns:
- Statements: say / tell (someone) + (that) + clause. She told me (that) she was ready.
- Yes/no questions: ask + if / whether + clause. He asked if I had finished.
- Wh- questions: ask + question word + clause in statement order. They asked where the station was.
- Commands and requests: tell / ask + person + (not) to-infinitive. The teacher told us to open our books. She asked him not to be late.
These four patterns cover most of the reported speech you will meet in daily life.
Detailed verb tense transformations
Backshifting follows a predictable pattern. Study each change with its example, then compare it with sentences of your own.
From present to past
Present Simple → Past Simple
“I work in a bank,” he said. → He said that he worked in a bank.
Present Continuous → Past Continuous
“We are studying for the test,” they said. → They said that they were studying for the test.
Present Perfect → Past Perfect
“I have finished my homework,” she said. → She said that she had finished her homework.
Present Perfect Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous
“I have been waiting for an hour,” he said. → He said that he had been waiting for an hour.
Past Simple → Past Perfect
“She left early,” Tom said. → Tom said that she had left early.
In informal English the Past Simple often stays unchanged when the order of events is already clear.
Past Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous
“We were playing football,” they said. → They said that they had been playing football.
The Past Continuous can also stay the same, especially when it describes a longer action interrupted by a shorter one.
Modal verbs in reported speech
Modal verbs behave in two different ways. Some move back in time, and others stay exactly as they are.
Modals that CHANGE:
- will → would: “I will call you.” → He said he would call me.
- can → could: “I can swim.” → She said she could swim.
- may → might: “It may rain.” → He said it might rain.
- must → had to (obligation): “You must leave.” → She said I had to leave.
- shall → should or would: “Shall I open the window?” → He asked if he should open the window.
Modals that DO NOT CHANGE:
The modals would, could, should, might and ought to are already “past” in form, so they stay the same.
- “You should rest,” she said. → She said that I should rest.
- “We might be late,” they said. → They said that they might be late.
- “He must be tired,” she said. → She said that he must be tired. (must for deduction does not change)
Past perfect: when the tense doesn’t change
The Past Perfect is already the furthest point back in the past, so it does not shift again.
- “I had seen the film before,” she said. → She said that she had seen the film before.
- “If I had more time, I would help,” he said. → He said that if he had more time, he would help.
The same is true for the Past Perfect Continuous and for most second and third conditional sentences.
Special cases and exceptions
Every rule has exceptions. Native speakers often skip backshifting when the message is still true or still relevant at the moment of speaking.
Universal truths and permanent facts
When the information is always true, the tense usually stays in the present.
- The teacher said, “Water boils at 100°C.” → The teacher said that water boils at 100°C.
- Galileo showed that the Earth moves around the Sun.
Using the past tense (boiled) is not wrong, but it can suggest that the fact is no longer true. This is one of the most common exceptions to reported speech rules.
When the present tense remains
If the situation is still true when you report it, or you are reporting something said a moment ago, you can keep the present tense.
- “Lisa lives in Rome,” Max said. → Max said that Lisa lives in Rome. (she still does)
- “I’m hungry,” Mark said. → Mark said he’s hungry. (he is still hungry)
Backshifting is always a safe choice, but the present tense keeps the message connected to the present.
Reported speech with the reporting verb in the present tense
When the reporting verb is in the present (says, is saying, has said) or the future (will say), there is no backshifting at all.
- “I’m tired.” → He says that he is tired.
- “I’ll call you tomorrow.” → She says she’ll call you tomorrow.
This happens often during phone calls, when we read a message aloud or when we quickly pass on information. Only the pronouns and, if necessary, the time expressions change.
Reporting verbs: beyond say, tell, and ask
Each reporting verb is followed by a specific grammar pattern. Learning these patterns in groups is the quickest way to use them correctly.
- Verb + to-infinitive: promise, offer, refuse, agree, threaten. He promised to call me. She refused to sign.
- Verb + object + to-infinitive: advise, warn, remind, invite, encourage, order, persuade. The doctor advised me to rest. He warned us not to touch it.
- Verb + -ing: suggest, admit, deny, recommend, mention. Tom admitted breaking the window. She suggested going to the cinema.
- Verb + preposition + -ing: apologise for, insist on, accuse someone of, thank someone for, congratulate someone on. She accused him of lying. They thanked us for helping.
- Verb + that-clause: explain, announce, complain, claim, add, reply, state. The manager announced that the office would close early.
Notice how “I’m sorry I’m late,” becomes He apologised for being late. One precise verb replaces a whole clause. The verb suggest can also take a that-clause: She suggested that we leave early. Using a wider range of verbs makes your reported speech clearer, shorter and more expressive.
Common mistakes in reported speech
Even advanced learners repeat the same few errors. Here are the three most common ones and how to fix them.
Confusing say and tell
- ❌ He said me that he was tired.
- ✅ He told me that he was tired.
- ✅ He said that he was tired.
Remember: tell is always followed by a person, while say is not. Fixed expressions such as tell the truth, tell a story and tell a lie also use tell.
Retaining subject-verb inversion in questions
- ❌ She asked where was the bank.
- ✅ She asked where the bank was.
A reported question is not a question any more, so it uses statement word order. Do not use do, does or did, and do not add a question mark. “Do you like jazz?” becomes He asked if I liked jazz, not He asked did I like jazz.
Forgetting to change pronouns and time expressions
- ❌ Jack said that I would meet you tomorrow.
- ✅ Jack said that he would meet me the next day.
When the situation has changed, words such as I, you, tomorrow and here must change with it. Otherwise the sentence can sound confusing or even refer to the wrong person.
A quick checklist helps you avoid all three problems when writing reported speech: choose the right reporting verb and pattern, change the pronouns, then check the tense, the time words and the word order.
Reported speech practice exercises
Practise what you have learned by changing these sentences into reported speech. Try to finish all ten before you read the answer key.
Exercise 1: Statements
- “I am tired,” said Ella.
- “We have finished the project,” they told me.
- “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said to her.
- “She was reading when I called,” Paul said.
- “I can’t come to the party,” said Jim.
Exercise 2: Questions
- “Where do you live?” she asked me.
- “Have you seen my keys?” he asked.
- “Are they coming tonight?” Sam asked.
Exercise 3: Commands
- “Close the window,” the teacher told us.
- “Don’t touch the screen,” she said to him.
Answer key
- Ella said (that) she was tired.
- They told me (that) they had finished the project.
- He told her (that) he would see her the next day.
- Paul said (that) she had been reading when he called (or had called).
- Jim said (that) he couldn’t come to the party.
- She asked me where I lived.
- He asked if (or whether) I had seen his keys.
- Sam asked if (or whether) they were coming that night.
- The teacher told us to close the window.
- She told him not to touch the screen.
Reported speech in real-life contexts
Reported speech is not only a classroom topic. You use it every time you share news, summarise a meeting or retell a story. These are some of the most common real-life situations:
- At work: The manager said that the deadline had moved to Friday. This pattern appears in meeting notes, project updates and emails.
- In the news: The minister announced that schools would reopen next week. Journalists rely on verbs such as claim, announce and state to show who is responsible for a statement.
- In messages: My sister texted that she was running late.
- In storytelling: He told me he had never seen anything like it.
- In academic writing: The author argues that… or The study found that… are typical ways to report other people’s ideas.
- In interviews and exams: She asked whether I had any experience.
Whatever the context, the same rules apply, which is why a solid understanding of reported speech pays off in study, work and daily conversation.
DO YOU WANT TO MASTER ENGLISH GRAMMAR?
Reported speech is just one piece of the puzzle. To speak and write with real confidence, you also need a firm grasp of the tenses that make backshifting possible. Keep learning step by step: review the rules, study the examples and practise a little every day. Small, regular sessions always beat one long study marathon.
Really understand the English tenses with our free Complete Tenses PDFs
If you want to see how reported speech connects with every verb tense, download our free Complete Tenses PDFs. They bring all the tenses together in one place so you can review them quickly, whenever you need them:
- clear explanations of each tense;
- simple timelines and example sentences;
- common mistakes and how to avoid them;
- practice exercises with answers.
Download your copy today and turn tense confusion into confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is reported speech?
Reported speech lets you tell someone what another person said without repeating their exact words. For example, “I’m tired,” said Sam becomes Sam said he was tired.
How do I change direct speech into indirect speech?
Drop the quotation marks, add that, if or whether, then change the pronouns, the tense and the time words. Backshift the tense only when your reporting verb is in the past.
Why does the verb tense change in reported speech?
We move the verb one step back because the original words now belong to the past. “I work here” becomes She said she worked there.
When can I keep the original tense?
Keep it when the fact is always true or still true now, such as The teacher said that water boils at 100°C. You also keep it when your reporting verb is in the present, as in He says he’s busy.
What is the difference between say and tell?
Tell always needs a person after it (She told me), while say does not (She said that she was late). Writing She said me is the most common mistake learners make.
Conclusion
Reported speech may look tricky at first, but it follows a clear pattern. Choose the right reporting verb, change the pronouns, move the tense back when the reporting verb is in the past, and adjust the time and place words. Once you apply these steps a few times, they start to feel natural.
Now it’s your turn to practise. Report what your friends, teachers and colleagues say every day, and try the exercises in this guide until the rules come without thinking. The more you use reported speech, the more confident and fluent you will sound in both speaking and writing.
