She said she to go home.
Be careful: “said” and “told” have a small difference.
After “told,” we need to include a person:
Hi, I’m Shayna. I create courses helping English as a Second Language learners become more fluent in just a few minutes a day – so they can speak English naturally and confidently in work and daily life.
Definition of reported speech, rules to be followed when using reported speech, table 1 – change of pronouns, table 2 – change of adverbs of place and adverbs of time, table 3 – change of tense, table 4 – change of modal verbs, tips to practise reported speech, examples of reported speech, check your understanding of reported speech, frequently asked questions on reported speech in english, what is reported speech.
Reported speech is the form in which one can convey a message said by oneself or someone else, mostly in the past. It can also be said to be the third person view of what someone has said. In this form of speech, you need not use quotation marks as you are not quoting the exact words spoken by the speaker, but just conveying the message.
Now, take a look at the following dictionary definitions for a clearer idea of what it is.
Reported speech, according to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, is defined as “a report of what somebody has said that does not use their exact words.” The Collins Dictionary defines reported speech as “speech which tells you what someone said, but does not use the person’s actual words.” According to the Cambridge Dictionary, reported speech is defined as “the act of reporting something that was said, but not using exactly the same words.” The Macmillan Dictionary defines reported speech as “the words that you use to report what someone else has said.”
Reported speech is a little different from direct speech . As it has been discussed already, reported speech is used to tell what someone said and does not use the exact words of the speaker. Take a look at the following rules so that you can make use of reported speech effectively.
Subject said that (report whatever the speaker said) |
As discussed earlier, when transforming a sentence from direct speech into reported speech, you will have to change the pronouns, tense and adverbs of time and place used by the speaker. Let us look at the following tables to see how they work.
I | He, she |
Me | Him, her |
We | They |
Us | Them |
You | He, she, they |
You | Him, her, them |
My | His, her |
Mine | His, hers |
Our | Their |
Ours | Theirs |
Your | His, her, their |
Yours | His, hers, theirs |
This | That |
These | Those |
Here | There |
Now | Then |
Today | That day |
Tomorrow | The next day / The following day |
Yesterday | The previous day |
Tonight | That night |
Last week | The week before |
Next week | The week after |
Last month | The previous month |
Next month | The following month |
Last year | The previous year |
Next year | The following year |
Ago | Before |
Thus | So |
Simple Present Example: Preethi said, “I cook pasta.” | Simple Past Example: Preethi said that she cooked pasta. |
Present Continuous Example: Preethi said, “I am cooking pasta.” | Past Continuous Example: Preethi said that she was cooking pasta. |
Present Perfect Example: Preethi said, “I have cooked pasta.” | Past Perfect Example: Preethi said that she had cooked pasta. |
Present Perfect Example: Preethi said, “I have been cooking pasta.” | Past Perfect Continuous Example: Preethi said that she had been cooking pasta. |
Simple Past Example: Preethi said, “I cooked pasta.” | Past Perfect Example: Preethi said that she had cooked pasta. |
Past Continuous Example: Preethi said, “I was cooking pasta.” | Past Perfect Continuous Example: Preethi said that she had been cooking pasta. |
Past Perfect Example: Preethi said, “I had cooked pasta.” | Past Perfect (No change) Example: Preethi said that she had cooked pasta. |
Past Perfect Continuous Example: Preethi said, “I had been cooking pasta.” | Past Perfect Continuous (No change) Example: Preethi said that she had been cooking pasta. |
Will | Would |
May | Might |
Can | Could |
Shall | Should |
Has/Have | Had |
Here are some tips you can follow to become a pro in using reported speech.
Given below are a few examples to show you how reported speech can be written. Check them out.
Transform the following sentences into reported speech by making the necessary changes.
1. Rachel said, “I have an interview tomorrow.”
2. Mahesh said, “What is he doing?”
3. Sherly said, “My daughter is playing the lead role in the skit.”
4. Dinesh said, “It is a wonderful movie!”
5. Suresh said, “My son is getting married next month.”
6. Preetha said, “Can you please help me with the invitations?”
7. Anna said, “I look forward to meeting you.”
8. The teacher said, “Make sure you complete the homework before tomorrow.”
9. Sylvester said, “I am not going to cry anymore.”
10. Jade said, “My sister is moving to Los Angeles.”
Now, find out if you have answered all of them correctly.
1. Rachel said that she had an interview the next day.
2. Mahesh asked what he was doing.
3. Sherly said that her daughter was playing the lead role in the skit.
4. Dinesh exclaimed that it was a wonderful movie.
5. Suresh said that his son was getting married the following month.
6. Preetha asked if I could help her with the invitations.
7. Anna said that she looked forward to meeting me.
8. The teacher told us to make sure we completed the homework before the next day.
9. Sylvester said that he was not going to cry anymore.
10. Jade said that his sister was moving to Los Angeles.
What is the definition of reported speech.
Reported speech, according to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, is defined as “a report of what somebody has said that does not use their exact words.” The Collins Dictionary defines reported speech as “speech which tells you what someone said, but does not use the person’s actual words.” According to the Cambridge Dictionary, reported speech is defined as “the act of reporting something that was said, but not using exactly the same words.” The Macmillan Dictionary defines reported speech as “the words that you use to report what someone else has said.”
You can use the following formula to construct a sentence in the reported speech. Subject said that (report whatever the speaker said)
Given below are a few examples to show you how reported speech can be written.
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40 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech Sentences
Table of Contents
While using English, we use direct and indirect speeches quite often. If a sentence is expressed exactly as it came out of the mouth of the person who said it, it becomes a direct speech. However Indirect Speech (also called reported speech) refers to transmitting a sentence that someone has said. It is often used in daily language.
For example,
Susan said, “I ate pizza yesterday.”. (Direct Speech)
Mathilda said: “I have to go out.”. (Direct Speech)
Julie asked: “Did the train leave?” (Direct Speech)
1 | It is too late. | |
I said it was too late. | ||
2 | I had taken Spanish lessons before. | |
He said he had taken Spanish lessons before. | ||
3 | Did you do your homework? | |
He asked me if I did (had done) my homework. | ||
4 | Please help me carry this! | |
My mother asked me to help her carry that. | ||
5 | I like ice cream. | |
He said that he liked ice cream. | ||
6 | I’II see you later. | |
He said he would see me later. | ||
7 | I could swim when I was four. | |
He said he could swim when he was four. | ||
8 | I should call my mother. | |
He said he should call her mother. | ||
9 | I might be late. | |
He said he might be late. | ||
10 | He said, “I was teaching earlier.” | |
He said he had been teaching earlier. | ||
11 | Mary said, “I have been writing this essay.” | |
Mary said that he had been writing that essay. | ||
12 | Michael said, “I may go there.’ | |
Michael says that she may go there. | ||
13 | We can´t go the zoo next week. | |
They said they couldn’t go to the zoo next week. | ||
14 | George is said, “I write a letter”. | |
George is said that she wrote a letter. | ||
15 | I said, “He is driving a car” | |
I said that he was driving a car. | ||
16 | I am reading a book, he explained. | |
He explained that he was reading a book. | ||
17 | My father said, “I am cooking dinner.” | |
My father said he was cooking dinner. | ||
18 | My sister said, “I had already eaten.” | |
My sister said she had already eaten. | ||
19 | My boyfriend asked, “Do you like horror films?” | |
Do you like horror films? my boyfriend asked. | ||
20 | I never get up late, my mother said. | |
My mother said that she never got up late. |
21 | She said, “I might come early.” | |
She said she might come early. | ||
22 | I am leaving home now.” | |
He said that he left home then. | ||
23 | Are you living here? | |
He asked me if I was living here. | ||
24 | I’m going to come. | |
She said that she was going to come. | ||
25 | We can communicate smoothly. | |
They said that they could communicate smothly. | ||
26 | I often enjoy myself. | |
Mary will say that that she often enjoys herself. | ||
27 | Everything is going fine. | |
The news says that everything is going fine. | ||
28 | My father was born in 1962. | |
My father told us that he was born in 1962. | ||
29 | She said, “I’ve missed my train.” | |
She said that she’d missed her train. | ||
30 | I’m sorry for the accident. | |
Georger told Samuel (that) he was sorry for the accident. | ||
31 | He said, “I am a football player.” | |
He said that he was a football player. | ||
32 | Michael said, “I will buy a new car.” | |
Michael said that she will buy a new car. | ||
33 | Mark said, “Bill needs a pencil.” | |
Mark said that Bill needed a pencil. | ||
34 | She said, “I went to the shopping center.” | |
She said that she had gone to the shopping center. | ||
35 | I write poems. | |
He says that he writes poems. | ||
36 | She said: “I would buy new house if I were rich”. | |
She said that she would buy new house if she had been rich”. | ||
37 | May I go out? | |
She wanted to know if she might go out. | ||
38 | She is American, she said. | |
She said she was American. | ||
39 | My son, do the exercise.“ | |
Sh told her son to do the exercise. | ||
40 | I don’t know what to do. | |
Samuel added that he didn’t know what to do. |
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Are you having trouble understanding the difference between direct and indirect speech? Direct speech is when you quote someone’s exact words, while indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words. This can be a tricky concept to grasp, but with a little practice, you’ll be able to use both forms of speech with ease.
When someone speaks, we can report what they said in two ways: direct speech and indirect speech. Direct speech is when we quote the exact words that were spoken, while indirect speech is when we report what was said without using the speaker’s exact words. Here’s an example:
Direct speech: “I love pizza,” said John. Indirect speech: John said that he loved pizza.
Using direct speech can make your writing more engaging and can help to convey the speaker’s tone and emotion. However, indirect speech can be useful when you want to summarize what someone said or when you don’t have the exact words that were spoken.
To change direct speech to indirect speech, you need to follow some rules. Firstly, you need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb. Secondly, you need to change the pronouns and adverbs in the reported speech to match the new speaker. Here’s an example:
Direct speech: “I will go to the park,” said Sarah. Indirect speech: Sarah said that she would go to the park.
It’s important to note that when you use indirect speech, you need to use reporting verbs such as “said,” “told,” or “asked” to indicate who is speaking. Here’s an example:
Direct speech: “What time is it?” asked Tom. Indirect speech: Tom asked what time it was.
In summary, understanding direct and indirect speech is crucial for effective communication and writing. Direct speech can be used to convey the speaker’s tone and emotion, while indirect speech can be useful when summarizing what someone said. By following the rules for changing direct speech to indirect speech, you can accurately report what was said while maintaining clarity and readability in your writing.
When it comes to reporting speech, there are two ways to go about it: direct and indirect speech. Direct speech is when you report someone’s exact words, while indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words. Here are some of the key differences between direct and indirect speech:
In direct speech, the pronouns used are those of the original speaker. However, in indirect speech, the pronouns have to be changed to reflect the perspective of the reporter. For example:
In the above example, the pronoun “I” changes to “he” in indirect speech.
Another major difference between direct and indirect speech is the change of tenses. In direct speech, the verb tense used is the same as that used by the original speaker. However, in indirect speech, the verb tense may change depending on the context. For example:
In the above example, the present continuous tense “am studying” changes to the past continuous tense “was studying” in indirect speech.
When reporting indirect speech, the time and place references may also change. For example:
In the above example, “tomorrow” changes to “the next day” in indirect speech.
Overall, it is important to understand the differences between direct and indirect speech to report speech accurately and effectively. By following the rules of direct and indirect speech, you can convey the intended message of the original speaker.
When you need to report what someone said in your own words, you can use indirect speech. To convert direct speech into indirect speech, you need to follow a few rules.
The first step is to remove the quotation marks that enclose the relayed text. This is because indirect speech does not use the exact words of the speaker.
To indicate that you are reporting what someone said, you need to use a reporting verb such as “said,” “asked,” “told,” or “exclaimed.” You also need to use a linker such as “that” or “whether” to connect the reporting verb to the reported speech.
For example:
When you use indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb.
You also need to change the pronouns in the reported speech to match the subject of the reporting verb.
By following these rules, you can convert direct speech into indirect speech and report what someone said in your own words.
Converting indirect speech into direct speech involves changing the reported speech to its original form as spoken by the speaker. Here are the steps to follow when converting indirect speech into direct speech:
Here is an example to illustrate the process:
Indirect Speech: John said that he was tired and wanted to go home.
Direct Speech: “I am tired and want to go home,” John said.
By following these steps, you can easily convert indirect speech into direct speech.
Direct and indirect speech are two ways to report what someone has said. Direct speech reports the exact words spoken by a person, while indirect speech reports the meaning of what was said. Here are some examples of both types of speech:
Direct speech is used when you want to report the exact words spoken by someone. It is usually enclosed in quotation marks and is often used in dialogue.
Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is used to report what someone said without using their exact words. It is often used in news reports, academic writing, and in situations where you want to paraphrase what someone said.
Here are some examples of indirect speech:
In indirect speech, the verb tense may change to reflect the time of the reported speech. For example, “I am going to the store” becomes “Sarah said that she was going to the store.” Additionally, the pronouns and possessive adjectives may also change to reflect the speaker and the person being spoken about.
Overall, both direct and indirect speech are important tools for reporting what someone has said. By using these techniques, you can accurately convey the meaning of what was said while also adding your own interpretation and analysis.
What is direct and indirect speech?
Direct and indirect speech refer to the ways in which we communicate what someone has said. Direct speech involves repeating the exact words spoken, using quotation marks to indicate that you are quoting someone. Indirect speech, on the other hand, involves reporting what someone has said without using their exact words.
How do you convert direct speech to indirect speech?
To convert direct speech to indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions. You also need to introduce a reporting verb, such as “said,” “told,” or “asked.” For example, “I love ice cream,” said Mary (direct speech) can be converted to “Mary said that she loved ice cream” (indirect speech).
What is the difference between direct speech and indirect speech?
The main difference between direct speech and indirect speech is that direct speech uses the exact words spoken, while indirect speech reports what someone has said without using their exact words. Direct speech is usually enclosed in quotation marks, while indirect speech is not.
What are some examples of direct and indirect speech?
Some examples of direct speech include “I am going to the store,” said John and “I love pizza,” exclaimed Sarah. Some examples of indirect speech include John said that he was going to the store and Sarah exclaimed that she loved pizza .
What are the rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech?
The rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech include changing the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions. You also need to introduce a reporting verb and use appropriate reporting verbs such as “said,” “told,” or “asked.”
What is a summary of direct and indirect speech?
Direct and indirect speech are two ways of reporting what someone has said. Direct speech involves repeating the exact words spoken, while indirect speech reports what someone has said without using their exact words. To convert direct speech to indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions and introduce a reporting verb.
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This website is AMNAZING
MY NAAMEE IS KISHU AND I WANTED TO TELL THERE ARE NO EXERCISES AVAILLABLEE BY YOUR WEBSITE PLEASE ADD THEM SSOON FOR OUR STUDENTS CONVIENCE IM A EIGHT GRADER LOVED YOUR EXPLABATIO
sure cries l miss my friend
he saiad,” we are all sinners”. convert into indirect speech
He said that they were all sinners.
The topic of Direct and Indirect Speech of Assertive Sentences (2025) holds significant importance in English Grammar. Therefore, practicing is essential to excel in the skill of transforming Direct and Indirect Speech of Assertive Sentences. This article introduces rules and examples of Direct and Indirect Speech of Assertive Sentences, along with simple steps to facilitate understanding.
Direct speech, also known as quoted speech, involves repeating the exact words spoken by someone. On the other hand, indirect speech, or reported speech , involves conveying the meaning of someone’s words without necessarily using their exact phrasing.
An assertive sentence is essentially a statement that presents a fact or an opinion believed to be true. It serves to assert a claim or articulate a belief or fact with clarity and confidence. Typically, an assertive sentence consists of a subject, followed by a verb and an object (S+V+O) . These sentences can be either positive or negative in nature.
For example,
To identify assertive sentences, consider the following:
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Guidelines for shifting assertive sentences from direct to indirect speech are crucial for accurate communication. Understanding the rules ensures seamless transformation.
Initially, it’s important to find out the type of sentence enclosed within quotation marks or inverted commas in direct speech, specifically in the format of assertive sentences.
By analyzing the sentence enclosed in quotation marks, i,e. “The sky is blue,” we figure out it’s assertive. When switching from direct to indirect speech, we apply rules for assertive sentences.
In indirect narration of assertive sentences, the reporting verb typically remains “ say ” or “ tell ,” maintaining the tense consistency between direct and indirect speech. Commonly used reporting verbs in indirect narration include:
Direct Narration: He said , “I am happy.” Indirect Narration: He said that he was happy.
Direct Narration: The teacher said to me, “I shall give you the answer paper tomorrow.” Indirect Narration: The teacher told me that he would give me the answer paper the next day.
Direct Narration: He says , “I am going to visit the Taj.” Indirect Narration: He says that he is going to visit the Taj.
Direct Narration: You say to her, “You are going to sing today.” Indirect Narration: You tell her that she is going to sing that day.
In indirect narration of assertive sentences, the conjunction ‘that’ follows the reporting verb ‘say’ or comes after the object of the verb ‘tell’. Alternatively, ‘that’ is positioned before the subordinate clause in indirect narration.
Changes in persons for indirect narration have been previously addressed and should be examined attentively.
In indirect speech, the subject of the reported speech is replaced by the subject of the reporting verb, maintaining the same number.
Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
---|---|
She says, “ am ill today.” | She says that is ill that day. |
The subject of the reported speech is replaced by the object of the reporting verb in indirect speech, while preserving the same number.
Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
---|---|
He says to me, “ can do this work.” | He tells me that can do that work. |
There is no change in the person of the indirect speech when the subject of the reported speech is in the third person in the direct form.
Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
---|---|
I said, “ will not wait for his friend.” | I said that would not wait for his friend. |
The General Rules section on the preceding page has detailed the modifications in the reporting verb in indirect narration and the verb of the reported speech, emphasizing the importance of comprehending these concepts.
Additionally, various examples exemplifying the shift from direct to indirect narration of assertive sentences have been presented, alongside discussions on changes of verbs and persons in indirect narration.
In indirect speech, different reporting verbs can be used to convey the reported statement. Below are lists of reporting verbs along with examples and explanations of their usage:
These reporting verbs are used to effectively convey the reported speech in indirect narration while providing nuances in meaning and context.
Note carefully the Change of Assertive Sentences from Direct Speech to Indirect Speech.
Direct: The boy said, “I’ll do the work now.”
Indirect: The boy said that he would do the work then.
Direct: He said, “I am glad to be here this evening.”
Indirect: He said that he was glad to be there that evening.
Direct: He said, “I shall go to Delhi tomorrow.”
Indirect: He said that he would go to Delhi the next day.
Direct: He said, “I have never seen anything like it.”
Indirect: He said that he had never seen anything like it.
Direct : Bimal said to him, “You should be more careful.”
Indirect: Bimal told him that he should be more careful.
Direct: He said, “I have passed the examination.
Indirect: He said that he had passed the examination.
Direct: He said, “I passed the examination.”
Direct: He said, “I was playing football.”
Indirect: He said that he had been playing football.
Direct: He said, “I shall play football.”
Indirect: He said that he would play football.
Direct: He says, “I shall help the poor.”
Indirect: He says that he will help the poor.
Direct: You will say, “I do not take tea.”
Indirect: You will say that you do not take tea.”
Direct: They said, “We are not afraid.”
Indirect: They said that they were not afraid.
Direct: She said, “I am working in the garden.”
Indirect: She said that she was working in the garden.
Direct: “I love chocolate ice cream,” she exclaimed. Indirect: She exclaimed that she loved chocolate ice cream.
Direct: “The concert starts at 7 PM,” he reminded us. Indirect : He reminded us that the concert started at 7 PM.
Direct: “We have completed the task,” they assured him. Indirect: They assured him that they had completed the task.
Direct: “She is writing a novel,” he mentioned. Indirect: He mentioned that she was writing a novel.
Direct: “I will help you with your homework,” she promised. Indirect: She promised to help with the homework.
Direct: “They were playing football in the park,” she observed. Indirect: She observed that they had been playing football in the park.
Direct: “I attend yoga classes every Sunday,” he explained. Indirect: He explained that he attended yoga classes every Sunday.
Direct: “The movie starts in ten minutes,” she informed me. Indirect: She informed me that the movie would start in ten minutes.
Direct: “I have visited Paris before,” she mentioned. Indirect: She mentioned that she had visited Paris before.
Direct: “The company is launching a new product next month,” he said. Indirect: He said that the company was launching a new product the following month.
Direct: You said to me, “I have sold a bicycle.”
Indirect: You told me that you had sold a bicycle.
Direct: I said to Mitali, “You misunderstand me.”
Indirect: I told Mitali that she misunderstood me.
Direct: We said to them, “We will help you.”
Indirect: We told them that we would help them.
Indirect: Reba told Rajib that he was working very sincerely.
Direct: Mantu said, “Iron is a very useful metal.”
Indirect: Mantu said that Iron is a very useful metal.
Direct: He said, “I can lift this heavy luggage.”
Indirect: He said that he could lift that heavy luggage.
Direct: Sima said to me, “I gave you a pen yesterday.”
Indirect: Sima told me that she had given me a pen the previous day.
Direct: They said, “We are happy now.”
Indirect: They said that they were happy then.
Change the mode of narration.
Direct: He said, “I will attend the meeting tomorrow.” Indirect: He said that he would attend the meeting the next day.
Direct : “She sings beautifully,” he remarked. Indirect: He remarked that she sang beautifully.
Direct: “We have completed the project,” they announced. Indirect: They announced that they had completed the project.
Direct: “I am going to buy a new car,” she mentioned. Indirect: She mentioned that she was going to buy a new car.
Direct: “They are arriving at 3 o’clock,” he informed us. Indirect: He informed us that they would arrive at 3 o’clock.
Direct: “I have finished my homework,” she said. Indirect: She said that she had finished her homework.
Direct: “He is reading a book,” Mary observed. Indirect: Mary observed that he was reading a book.
Direct: “We will visit the museum next week,” they promised. Indirect: They promised that they would visit the museum the following week.
Direct: “The train arrives at 9 AM,” he informed me. Indirect: He informed me that the train arrived at 9 AM.
Direct: “I can speak French fluently,” she claimed. Indirect: She claimed that she could speak French fluently.
Direct: “They bought a new house last month,” he mentioned. Indirect: He mentioned that they had bought a new house the previous month.
Direct: “I play the guitar,” he told us. Indirect: He told us that he played the guitar.
Change the following from Direct to Indirect Speech of Assertive Sentence.
i) She says, “I shall dance.”
ii) You will say, “I am happy.
iii) They said, “We support the right.”
iv) The policeman said to the boys, “You have not followed the rules of the road.”
v) The man said, “I have lost the way.”
vi) You said to me, “I am your familiar friend.”
vii) He said to you, “You helped me in my evil days.”
viii) The teacher said, “A friend in need is a friend indeed.”
ix) Anjali said to her friends, “I shall not go on with my studies like you.”
x) Dipali said to us, “You are not listening to my suggestion.”
Turn the following from Direct to Indirect Speech of Assertive Sentence.
i) He said, “It may rain today.”
ii) He said to me, “My brother is sorry to irritate you.”
iii) Jayanta said, “It is of no use to kill the bird.”
iv) Pratap said to the boys, “You have not completed the work.”
v) Rajat said, “I shall leave for Mumbai with my family tomorrow.”
vi) Nabanita said, “My father breathed his last a week ago.”
vii) Malina said to her friends, “I am not in à position to comply with your request.
viii) Rituparna said to Suparna, “You did not attend my birthday party yesterday.”
ix) Manas said, “My brother has been working in a factory for a few months.”
x) Mother said, “God is great and kind to all.”
xi) The teacher said to the boy, “You have forgotten the lesson.”
xii) The boy said, “I shall go out and play.”
xiii) He said, “I am happy to be here today.”
xiv) They said, “We shall play the game again”
xxv) The boy said, “Two and two make.”
xvi) “I have lost my books and yours too”, she told them.
xvii) The princess says, “I have lost my way.”
xviii) They say, “We must keep our locality clean.”
xix) The girl says, “These books are their’s, but this one is mine.”
xx) The Happy Prince said, “I led the dance in the great hall.”
A. Convert the following assertive sentences from direct to indirect speech:
1. she said, “i am reading a book.”.
a) She says that she reads a book. b) She says that she is reading a book. c) She said that she is reading a book. d) She said that she was reading a book.
a) He promises that he will finish his work. b) He promises that he finishes his work. c) He promised that he will finish his work. d) He promised that he would finish his work.
a) They say that they completed the project. b) They say that they have completed the project. c) They said that they had completed the project. d) They said that they complete the project.5
a) She admitted that she feels tired. b) She admitted that she was feeling tired. c) She admitted that she is feeling tired. d) She admitted that she had felt tired.
5. “We will visit our grandparents tomorrow,” they promised.
a) They promise that they visit their grandparents tomorrow. b) They promise that they visited their grandparents tomorrow. c) They promised that they will visit their grandparents tomorrow. d) They promised that they would visit their grandparents tomorrow.
a) He mentioned that he has already completed his assignment. b) He mentioned that he had already completed his assignment. c) He mentioned that he already completed his assignment. d) He mentioned that he completes his assignment.
7. “We are going to watch a movie tonight,” they informed.
a) They inform that they will go to watch a movie tonight. b) They informed that they will watch a movie tonight. c) They informed that they are going to watch a movie tonight. d) They informed that they were going to watch a movie tonight.
a) She said that she can speak French fluently. b) She said that she could speak French fluently. c) She says that she can speak French fluently. d) She says that she could speak French fluently.
9. “I don’t like swimming,” he admitted.
a) He admitted that he didn’t like swimming. b) He admitted that he doesn’t like swimming. c) He admitted that he did not like swimming. d) He admitted that he won’t like swimming.
10. “We have arrived,” they exclaimed.
a) They exclaim that they have arrived. b) They exclaimed that they had arrived. c) They exclaimed that they arrive. d) They exclaim that they arrived.
Indirect speech focuses more on the content of what someone said rather than their exact words. In indirect speech , the structure of the reported clause depends on whether the speaker is reporting a statement, a question or a command.
direct | indirect | reported clause | |
statement | ) I was tired. | -clause | |
question | . . | clause clause clause | |
command | . | -infinitive clause |
Indirect speech: reporting statements
Indirect reports of statements consist of a reporting clause and a that -clause. We often omit that , especially in informal situations:
The pilot commented that the weather had been extremely bad as the plane came in to land. (The pilot’s words were: ‘The weather was extremely bad as the plane came in to land.’ )
I told my wife I didn’t want a party on my 50th birthday. ( that -clause without that ) (or I told my wife that I didn’t want a party on my 50th birthday .)
Reporting yes-no questions and alternative questions.
Indirect reports of yes-no questions and questions with or consist of a reporting clause and a reported clause introduced by if or whether . If is more common than whether . The reported clause is in statement form (subject + verb), not question form:
She asked if [S] [V] I was Scottish. (original yes-no question: ‘Are you Scottish?’ )
The waiter asked whether [S] we [V] wanted a table near the window. (original yes-no question: ‘Do you want a table near the window? )
He asked me if [S] [V] I had come by train or by bus. (original alternative question: ‘Did you come by train or by bus?’ )
Questions: yes-no questions ( Are you feeling cold? )
Indirect reports of wh -questions consist of a reporting clause, and a reported clause beginning with a wh -word ( who, what, when, where, why, how ). We don’t use a question mark:
He asked me what I wanted.
Not: He asked me what I wanted?
The reported clause is in statement form (subject + verb), not question form:
She wanted to know who [S] we [V] had invited to the party.
Not: … who had we invited …
In indirect questions with who, whom and what , the wh- word may be the subject or the object of the reported clause:
I asked them who came to meet them at the airport. ( who is the subject of came ; original question: ‘Who came to meet you at the airport?’ )
He wondered what the repairs would cost. ( what is the object of cost ; original question: ‘What will the repairs cost?’ )
She asked us what [S] we [V] were doing . (original question: ‘What are you doing?’ )
Not: She asked us what were we doing?
We also use statement word order (subject + verb) with when , where, why and how :
I asked her when [S] it [V] had happened (original question: ‘When did it happen?’ ).
Not: I asked her when had it happened?
I asked her where [S] the bus station [V] was . (original question: ‘Where is the bus station?’ )
Not: I asked her where was the bus station?
The teacher asked them how [S] they [V] wanted to do the activity . (original question: ‘How do you want to do the activity?’ )
Not: The teacher asked them how did they want to do the activity?
Questions: wh- questions
Indirect reports of commands consist of a reporting clause, and a reported clause beginning with a to -infinitive:
The General ordered the troops to advance . (original command: ‘Advance!’ )
The chairperson told him to sit down and to stop interrupting . (original command: ‘Sit down and stop interrupting!’ )
We also use a to -infinitive clause in indirect reports with other verbs that mean wanting or getting people to do something, for example, advise, encourage, warn :
They advised me to wait till the following day. (original statement: ‘You should wait till the following day.’ )
The guard warned us not to enter the area. (original statement: ‘You must not enter the area.’ )
Verbs followed by a to -infinitive
We can use the reporting verb in the present simple in indirect speech if the original words are still true or relevant at the time of reporting, or if the report is of something someone often says or repeats:
Sheila says they’re closing the motorway tomorrow for repairs.
Henry tells me he’s thinking of getting married next year.
Rupert says dogs shouldn’t be allowed on the beach. (Rupert probably often repeats this statement.)
We often use the present simple in newspaper headlines. It makes the reported speech more dramatic:
JUDGE TELLS REPORTER TO LEAVE COURTROOM
PRIME MINISTER SAYS FAMILIES ARE TOP PRIORITY IN TAX REFORM
Present simple ( I work )
Reported speech
Reported speech: direct speech
In indirect speech, we can use the past continuous form of the reporting verb (usually say or tell ). This happens mostly in conversation, when the speaker wants to focus on the content of the report, usually because it is interesting news or important information, or because it is a new topic in the conversation:
Rory was telling me the big cinema in James Street is going to close down. Is that true?
Alex was saying that book sales have gone up a lot this year thanks to the Internet.
‘Backshift’ refers to the changes we make to the original verbs in indirect speech because time has passed between the moment of speaking and the time of the report.
direct speech | indirect speech |
not very happy at work.’ | not very happy at work. |
going home.’ | going home. |
be late.’ | be late. |
been working,’ she said. | . |
to make her so angry?’ he asked. | to make her so angry. |
In these examples, the present ( am ) has become the past ( was ), the future ( will ) has become the future-in-the-past ( would ) and the past ( happened ) has become the past perfect ( had happened ). The tenses have ‘shifted’ or ‘moved back’ in time.
direct | indirect | |
present simple | → | past simple |
present continuous | → | past continuous |
present perfect simple | → | past perfect simple |
present perfect continuous | → | past perfect continuous |
past simple | → | past perfect simple |
past continuous | → | past perfect continuous |
future (will) | → | future-in-the-past (would) |
past perfect | ↔ | past perfect (no change) |
The past perfect does not shift back; it stays the same:
Direct speech | Indirect speech |
| already left. |
Some, but not all, modal verbs ‘shift back’ in time and change in indirect speech.
direct speech | indirect speech | change | |
| be there,’ he promised. | be there. | becomes |
| need more money.’ I open it?’ she asked. | need more money. open it. | usually becomes in reported questions, becomes |
| see you at 2.30,’ he added. | see me at 2.30. | becomes |
| be back later,’ she said. wait in the hallway,’ he said. | be back later. wait in the hallway. | (possibility) becomes (permission) becomes |
| pay by 30th April.’ be awful to live in such a noisy place,’ she said. | pay by 30th April. be awful to live in such a noisy place. | (obligation) usually becomes (speculation) does not change |
| sell it for about 2,000 euros,’ he said. | sell it for about 2,000 euros. | no change |
| go there immediately,’ she said. | go there immediately. | no change |
| buy it if I had the money,’ he said. | buy it if he had the money. | no change |
| snow tonight,’ he warned. | snow that night. | no change |
| come till six o’clock,’ he said. | come till six o’clock. | no change |
We can use a perfect form with have + - ed form after modal verbs, especially where the report looks back to a hypothetical event in the past:
He said the noise might have been the postman delivering letters. (original statement: ‘The noise might be the postman delivering letters.’ )
He said he would have helped us if we’d needed a volunteer. (original statement: ‘I’ll help you if you need a volunteer’ or ‘I’d help you if you needed a volunteer.’ )
Used to and ought to do not change in indirect speech:
She said she used to live in Oxford. (original statement: ‘I used to live in Oxford.’ )
The guard warned us that we ought to leave immediately. (original statement: ‘You ought to leave immediately.’ )
We don’t need to change the tense in indirect speech if what a person said is still true or relevant or has not happened yet. This often happens when someone talks about the future, or when someone uses the present simple, present continuous or present perfect in their original words:
He told me his brother works for an Italian company. (It is still true that his brother works for an Italian company.)
She said she ’s getting married next year. (For the speakers, the time at the moment of speaking is ‘this year’.)
He said he ’s finished painting the door. (He probably said it just a short time ago.)
She promised she ’ll help us. (The promise applies to the future.)
Changes to personal pronouns in indirect reports depend on whether the person reporting the speech and the person(s) who said the original words are the same or different.
direct | indirect | |
don’t want to shock people,’ Tom said. | said he didn’t want to shock people. | different speakers ( changes to ) |
’ll look after Toby,’ I said. | said I would look after Toby. | same speaker (no change) |
need to be here at nine o’clock,’ George told Beatrice. | told Beatrice she needed to be there at nine o’clock. | different speakers ( changes to ) |
hope you will join us tonight,’ I said to James. | told James I hoped he would join us that night. | same speaker (no change to ; changes to ) |
We often change demonstratives ( this, that ) and adverbs of time and place ( now, here, today , etc.) because indirect speech happens at a later time than the original speech, and perhaps in a different place.
direct speech | indirect speech |
.’ | the next/following day. |
this moment in time.’ | . |
.” | . |
,’ the boy protested. | . |
direct | indirect | |
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The word order in indirect reports of wh- questions is the same as statement word order (subject + verb), not question word order:
She always asks me where [S] [V] I am going .
Not: She always asks me where am I going .
We don’t use a question mark when reporting wh- questions:
I asked him what he was doing.
Not: I asked him what he was doing?
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When we report something, we may need to make changes to:
direct speech | reported speech |
---|---|
She said, "I saw Mary yesterday." | She said she had seen Mary the day before. |
He said: "My mother is here." | He said that his mother was there. |
If we report something around the same time, then we probably do not need to make any changes to time words . But if we report something at a different time, we need to change time words. Look at these example sentences:
Here is a list of common time words, showing how you change them for reported speech:
direct speech | reported speech |
---|---|
now | then, at that time |
today | that day, on Sunday, yesterday |
tonight | that night, last night, on Sunday night |
tomorrow | the next day/ the following day, on Sunday, today |
yesterday | the day before/ the previous day, on Sunday |
last night | the night before/ the previous night, on Sunday night |
this week | that week, last week |
last month | the month before/ the previous month, in May |
next year | the following year, in 2014 |
two minutes ago | two minutes before |
in one hour | one hour later |
If we are in the same place when we report something, then we do not need to make any changes to place words . But if we are in a different place when we report something, then we need to change the place words. Look at these example sentences:
Here are some common place words, showing how you change them for reported speech:
direct speech | indirect speech |
---|---|
here | there, in Starbucks |
this | that |
this book | the book, that book, |
in this room | in the room, in that room, in the kitchen |
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Direct: "I will help you," she promised. Reported: She promised that she would help me. Direct: "You should study harder," he advised. Reported: He advised that I should study harder. Direct: "I didn't take your book," he denied. Reported: He denied taking my book. Direct: "Let's go to the cinema," she suggested.
Watch my reported speech video: Here's how it works: We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'. ( Click here for more about using 'say' and 'tell' .) If this verb is in the present tense, it's easy. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence: Direct speech: I like ice cream. Reported speech: She says (that) she likes ice cream.
Reported speech: direct speech - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary
Reported speech: He asked if he would see me later. In the direct speech example you can see the modal verb 'will' being used to ask a question. Notice how in reported speech the modal verb 'will' and the reporting verb 'ask' are both written in the past tense. So, 'will' becomes 'would' and 'ask' becomes 'asked'.
Direct speech: Elisabeth said, "I like coffee.". As indirect reported speech, it looks like this: Indirect speech: Elisabeth said she liked coffee. You can see that the subject ("I") has been changed to "she," to show who is being spoken about. If I'm reporting the direct speech of someone else, and this person says "I," I'd ...
There are two kinds of reported speech you can use: direct speech and indirect speech. I'll break each down for you. A direct speech sentence mentions the exact words the other person said. For example: Kryz said, "These are all my necklaces.". Indirect speech changes the original speaker's words. For example: Kryz said those were all ...
Yes, and you report it with a reporting verb. He said he wanted to know about reported speech. I said, I want and you changed it to he wanted. Exactly. Verbs in the present simple change to the past simple; the present continuous changes to the past continuous; the present perfect changes to the past perfect; can changes to could; will changes ...
5. Conversion of expressions of time and place. If there is an expression of time/place in the sentence, it may be changed, depending on the situation. Direct Speech → Peter, "I worked in the garden yesterday .". Reported Speech → Peter said (that) he had worked in the garden the day before. Direct Speech.
1. We use direct speech to quote a speaker's exact words. We put their words within quotation marks. We add a reporting verb such as "he said" or "she asked" before or after the quote. Example: He said, "I am happy.". 2. Reported speech is a way of reporting what someone said without using quotation marks.
Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is a way of retelling what someone else has said without repeating their exact words. For example, let's say you have a friend called Jon and one called Mary. Mary has organised a house party and has invited you and Jon. Jon, however, is not feeling well.
A direct speech can be transformed into an indirect speech and vice versa using a suitable reporting verb and a linker depending on the sentence. Let's have an example first. Tina said to me, "Are you busy now?" [direct speech] Tina asked me whether I was busy then. [indirect speech] Direct Speech. Speaker. Reporting verb. Direct speech ...
Introduction. In English grammar, we use reported speech to say what another person has said. We can use their exact words with quotation marks, this is known as direct speech, or we can use indirect speech. In indirect speech, we change the tense and pronouns to show that some time has passed. Indirect speech is often introduced by a reporting ...
What is reported speech? "Reported speech" is when we talk about what somebody else said - for example: Direct Speech: "I've been to London three times.". Reported Speech: She said she'd been to London three times. We often use "reported speech" when talking about a conversation that happened in the past. There are some ...
Reported speech - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary
Select a play, a drama or a short story with dialogues and try transforming the sentences in direct speech into reported speech. Write about an incident or speak about a day in your life using reported speech. Develop a story by following prompts or on your own using reported speech.
If a sentence is expressed exactly as it came out of the mouth of the person who said it, it becomes a direct speech. However Indirect Speech (also called reported speech) refers to transmitting a sentence that someone has said. It is often used in daily language. For example, Susan told me she ate pizza yesterday. (Indirect Speech) Susan said ...
Differences between Direct and Indirect Speech. Change of Pronouns. Change of Tenses. Change of Time and Place References. Converting Direct Speech Into Indirect Speech. Step 1: Remove the Quotation Marks. Step 2: Use a Reporting Verb and a Linker. Step 3: Change the Tense of the Verb. Step 4: Change the Pronouns.
Below are lists of reporting verbs along with examples and explanations of their usage: Reporting Verbs for Assertive Sentences: 1. Say. Direct: She said, "I will come tomorrow.". Indirect: She said that she would come tomorrow. Explanation: "Say" is a generic reporting verb used to convey the reported statement.
Reported speech: indirect speech - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary
Time and Place in Reported Speech. When we report something, we may need to make changes to: time (now, tomorrow) place (here, this room) direct speech. reported speech. She said, "I saw Mary yesterday." She said she had seen Mary the day before. He said: "My mother is here."
Last week's Republican National Convention in Milwaukee came chock-full of attacks on Harris, while Trump's speech accepting the nomination was written with no direct mentions of Biden; he ad ...