reported speech past continuous examples

What is Reported Speech and how to use it? with Examples

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Olivia Drake

Reported speech and indirect speech are two terms that refer to the same concept, which is the act of expressing what someone else has said.

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Reported speech is different from direct speech because it does not use the speaker’s exact words. Instead, the reporting verb is used to introduce the reported speech, and the tense and pronouns are changed to reflect the shift in perspective. There are two main types of reported speech: statements and questions.

1. Reported Statements: In reported statements, the reporting verb is usually “said.” The tense in the reported speech changes from the present simple to the past simple, and any pronouns referring to the speaker or listener are changed to reflect the shift in perspective. For example, “I am going to the store,” becomes “He said that he was going to the store.”

2. Reported Questions: In reported questions, the reporting verb is usually “asked.” The tense in the reported speech changes from the present simple to the past simple, and the word order changes from a question to a statement. For example, “What time is it?” becomes “She asked what time it was.”

It’s important to note that the tense shift in reported speech depends on the context and the time of the reported speech. Here are a few more examples:

• Direct speech: “I will call you later.”Reported speech: He said that he would call me later.
• Direct speech: “Did you finish your homework?”Reported speech: She asked if I had finished my homework.
• Direct speech: “I love pizza.”Reported speech: They said that they loved pizza.

When do we use reported speech?

Reported speech is used to report what someone else has said, thought, or written. It is often used in situations where you want to relate what someone else has said without quoting them directly.

Reported speech can be used in a variety of contexts, such as in news reports, academic writing, and everyday conversation. Some common situations where reported speech is used include:

News reports:  Journalists often use reported speech to quote what someone said in an interview or press conference.

Business and professional communication:  In professional settings, reported speech can be used to summarize what was discussed in a meeting or to report feedback from a customer.

Conversational English:  In everyday conversations, reported speech is used to relate what someone else said. For example, “She told me that she was running late.”

Narration:  In written narratives or storytelling, reported speech can be used to convey what a character said or thought.

How to make reported speech?

1. Change the pronouns and adverbs of time and place: In reported speech, you need to change the pronouns, adverbs of time and place to reflect the new speaker or point of view. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “I’m going to the store now,” she said. Reported speech: She said she was going to the store then.

In this example, the pronoun “I” is changed to “she” and the adverb “now” is changed to “then.”

2. Change the tense: In reported speech, you usually need to change the tense of the verb to reflect the change from direct to indirect speech. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “I will meet you at the park tomorrow,” he said. Reported speech: He said he would meet me at the park the next day.

In this example, the present tense “will” is changed to the past tense “would.”

3. Change reporting verbs: In reported speech, you can use different reporting verbs such as “say,” “tell,” “ask,” or “inquire” depending on the context of the speech. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “Did you finish your homework?” she asked. Reported speech: She asked if I had finished my homework.

In this example, the reporting verb “asked” is changed to “said” and “did” is changed to “had.”

Overall, when making reported speech, it’s important to pay attention to the verb tense and the changes in pronouns, adverbs, and reporting verbs to convey the original speaker’s message accurately.

How do I change the pronouns and adverbs in reported speech?

1. Changing Pronouns: In reported speech, the pronouns in the original statement must be changed to reflect the perspective of the new speaker. Generally, the first person pronouns (I, me, my, mine, we, us, our, ours) are changed according to the subject of the reporting verb, while the second and third person pronouns (you, your, yours, he, him, his, she, her, hers, it, its, they, them, their, theirs) are changed according to the object of the reporting verb. For example:

Direct speech: “I love chocolate.” Reported speech: She said she loved chocolate.

Direct speech: “You should study harder.” Reported speech: He advised me to study harder.

Direct speech: “She is reading a book.” Reported speech: They noticed that she was reading a book.

2. Changing Adverbs: In reported speech, the adverbs and adverbial phrases that indicate time or place may need to be changed to reflect the perspective of the new speaker. For example:

Direct speech: “I’m going to the cinema tonight.” Reported speech: She said she was going to the cinema that night.

Direct speech: “He is here.” Reported speech: She said he was there.

Note that the adverb “now” usually changes to “then” or is omitted altogether in reported speech, depending on the context.

It’s important to keep in mind that the changes made to pronouns and adverbs in reported speech depend on the context and the perspective of the new speaker. With practice, you can become more comfortable with making these changes in reported speech.

How do I change the tense in reported speech?

In reported speech, the tense of the reported verb usually changes to reflect the change from direct to indirect speech. Here are some guidelines on how to change the tense in reported speech:

Present simple in direct speech changes to past simple in reported speech. For example: Direct speech: “I like pizza.” Reported speech: She said she liked pizza.

Present continuous in direct speech changes to past continuous in reported speech. For example: Direct speech: “I am studying for my exam.” Reported speech: He said he was studying for his exam.

Present perfect in direct speech changes to past perfect in reported speech. For example: Direct speech: “I have finished my work.” Reported speech: She said she had finished her work.

Past simple in direct speech changes to past perfect in reported speech. For example: Direct speech: “I visited my grandparents last weekend.” Reported speech: She said she had visited her grandparents the previous weekend.

Will in direct speech changes to would in reported speech. For example: Direct speech: “I will help you with your project.” Reported speech: He said he would help me with my project.

Can in direct speech changes to could in reported speech. For example: Direct speech: “I can speak French.” Reported speech: She said she could speak French.

Remember that the tense changes in reported speech depend on the tense of the verb in the direct speech, and the tense you use in reported speech should match the time frame of the new speaker’s perspective. With practice, you can become more comfortable with changing the tense in reported speech.

Do I always need to use a reporting verb in reported speech?

No, you do not always need to use a reporting verb in reported speech. However, using a reporting verb can help to clarify who is speaking and add more context to the reported speech.

In some cases, the reported speech can be introduced by phrases such as “I heard that” or “It seems that” without using a reporting verb. For example:

Direct speech: “I’m going to the cinema tonight.” Reported speech with a reporting verb: She said she was going to the cinema tonight. Reported speech without a reporting verb: It seems that she’s going to the cinema tonight.

However, it’s important to note that using a reporting verb can help to make the reported speech more formal and accurate. When using reported speech in academic writing or journalism, it’s generally recommended to use a reporting verb to make the reporting more clear and credible.

Some common reporting verbs include say, tell, explain, ask, suggest, and advise. For example:

Direct speech: “I think we should invest in renewable energy.” Reported speech with a reporting verb: She suggested that they invest in renewable energy.

Overall, while using a reporting verb is not always required, it can be helpful to make the reported speech more clear and accurate

How to use reported speech to report questions and commands?

1. Reporting Questions: When reporting questions, you need to use an introductory phrase such as “asked” or “wondered” followed by the question word (if applicable), subject, and verb. You also need to change the word order to make it a statement. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “What time is the meeting?” Reported speech: She asked what time the meeting was.

Note that the question mark is not used in reported speech.

2. Reporting Commands: When reporting commands, you need to use an introductory phrase such as “ordered” or “told” followed by the person, to + infinitive, and any additional information. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “Clean your room!” Reported speech: She ordered me to clean my room.

Note that the exclamation mark is not used in reported speech.

In both cases, the tense of the reported verb should be changed accordingly. For example, present simple changes to past simple, and future changes to conditional. Here are some examples:

Direct speech: “Will you go to the party with me?”Reported speech: She asked if I would go to the party with her. Direct speech: “Please bring me a glass of water.”Reported speech: She requested that I bring her a glass of water.

Remember that when using reported speech to report questions and commands, the introductory phrases and verb tenses are important to convey the intended meaning accurately.

How to make questions in reported speech?

To make questions in reported speech, you need to use an introductory phrase such as “asked” or “wondered” followed by the question word (if applicable), subject, and verb. You also need to change the word order to make it a statement. Here are the steps to make questions in reported speech:

Identify the reporting verb: The first step is to identify the reporting verb in the sentence. Common reporting verbs used to report questions include “asked,” “inquired,” “wondered,” and “wanted to know.”

Change the tense and pronouns: Next, you need to change the tense and pronouns in the sentence to reflect the shift from direct to reported speech. The tense of the verb is usually shifted back one tense (e.g. from present simple to past simple) in reported speech. The pronouns should also be changed as necessary to reflect the shift in perspective from the original speaker to the reporting speaker.

Use an appropriate question word: If the original question contained a question word (e.g. who, what, where, when, why, how), you should use the same question word in the reported question. If the original question did not contain a question word, you can use “if” or “whether” to introduce the reported question.

Change the word order: In reported speech, the word order of the question changes from the inverted form to a normal statement form. The subject usually comes before the verb, unless the original question started with a question word.

Here are some examples of reported questions:

Direct speech: “Did you finish your homework?”Reported speech: He wanted to know if I had finished my homework. Direct speech: “Where are you going?”Reported speech: She wondered where I was going.

Remember that when making questions in reported speech, the introductory phrases and verb tenses are important to convey the intended meaning accurately.

Here you can find more examples of direct and indirect questions

What is the difference between reported speech an indirect speech?

In reported or indirect speech, you are retelling or reporting what someone said using your own words. The tense of the reported speech is usually shifted back one tense from the tense used in the original statement. For example, if someone said, “I am going to the store,” in reported speech you would say, “He/she said that he/she was going to the store.”

The main difference between reported speech and indirect speech is that reported speech usually refers to spoken language, while indirect speech can refer to both spoken and written language. Additionally, indirect speech is a broader term that includes reported speech as well as other ways of expressing what someone else has said, such as paraphrasing or summarizing.

Examples of direct speech to reported

• Direct speech: “I am hungry,” she said. Reported speech: She said she was hungry.
• Direct speech: “Can you pass the salt, please?” he asked. Reported speech: He asked her to pass the salt.
• Direct speech: “I will meet you at the cinema,” he said. Reported speech: He said he would meet her at the cinema.
• Direct speech: “I have been working on this project for hours,” she said. Reported speech: She said she had been working on the project for hours.
• Direct speech: “What time does the train leave?” he asked. Reported speech: He asked what time the train left.
• Direct speech: “I love playing the piano,” she said. Reported speech: She said she loved playing the piano.
• Direct speech: “I am going to the grocery store,” he said. Reported speech: He said he was going to the grocery store.
• Direct speech: “Did you finish your homework?” the teacher asked. Reported speech: The teacher asked if he had finished his homework.
• Direct speech: “I want to go to the beach,” she said. Reported speech: She said she wanted to go to the beach.
• Direct speech: “Do you need help with that?” he asked. Reported speech: He asked if she needed help with that.
• Direct speech: “I can’t come to the party,” he said. Reported speech: He said he couldn’t come to the party.
• Direct speech: “Please don’t leave me,” she said. Reported speech: She begged him not to leave her.
• Direct speech: “I have never been to London before,” he said. Reported speech: He said he had never been to London before.
• Direct speech: “Where did you put my phone?” she asked. Reported speech: She asked where she had put her phone.
• Direct speech: “I’m sorry for being late,” he said. Reported speech: He apologized for being late.
• Direct speech: “I need some help with this math problem,” she said. Reported speech: She said she needed some help with the math problem.
• Direct speech: “I am going to study abroad next year,” he said. Reported speech: He said he was going to study abroad the following year.
• Direct speech: “Can you give me a ride to the airport?” she asked. Reported speech: She asked him to give her a ride to the airport.
• Direct speech: “I don’t know how to fix this,” he said. Reported speech: He said he didn’t know how to fix it.
• Direct speech: “I hate it when it rains,” she said. Reported speech: She said she hated it when it rained.

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Reported Speech: Rules, Examples, Exceptions

👉 Quiz 1 / Quiz 2

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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.

There are a lot of tricky little details to remember, but don’t worry, I’ll explain them and we’ll see lots of examples. The lesson will have three parts – we’ll start by looking at statements in reported speech, and then we’ll learn about some exceptions to the rules, and finally we’ll cover reported questions, requests, and commands.

So much of English grammar – like this topic, reported speech – can be confusing, hard to understand, and even harder to use correctly. I can help you learn grammar easily and use it confidently inside my Advanced English Grammar Course.

In this course, I will make even the most difficult parts of English grammar clear to you – and there are lots of opportunities for you to practice!

Backshift of Verb Tenses in Reported Speech

When we use reported speech, we often change the verb tense backwards in time. This can be called “backshift.”

Here are some examples in different verb tenses:

Reported Speech (Part 1) Quiz

Exceptions to Backshift in Reported Speech

Now that you know some of the reported speech rules about backshift, let’s learn some exceptions.

There are two situations in which we do NOT need to change the verb tense.

No backshift needed when the situation is still true

For example, if someone says “I have three children” (direct speech) then we would say “He said he has three children” because the situation continues to be true.

If I tell you “I live in the United States” (direct speech) then you could tell someone else “She said she lives in the United States” (that’s reported speech) because it is still true.

When the situation is still true, then we don’t need to backshift the verb.

But when the situation is NOT still true, then we DO need to backshift the verb.

Imagine your friend says, “I have a headache.”

• If you immediately go and talk to another friend, you could say, “She said she has a headache,” because the situation is still true
• If you’re talking about that conversation a month after it happened, then you would say, “She said she had a headache,” because it’s no longer true.

No backshift needed when the situation is still in the future

We also don’t need to backshift to the verb when somebody said something about the future, and the event is still in the future.

Here’s an example:

• On Monday, my friend said, “I ‘ll call you on Friday .”
• “She said she ‘ll call me on Friday”, because Friday is still in the future from now.
• It is also possible to say, “She said she ‘d (she would) call me on Friday.”
• Both of them are correct, so the backshift in this case is optional.

Let’s look at a different situation:

• On Monday, my friend said, “I ‘ll call you on Tuesday .”
• “She said she ‘d  call me on Tuesday.” I must backshift because the event is NOT still in the future.

Review: Reported Speech, Backshift, & Exceptions

Quick review:

• Normally in reported speech we backshift the verb, we put it in a verb tense that’s a little bit further in the past.
• when the situation is still true
• when the situation is still in the future

Reported Requests, Orders, and Questions

Those were the rules for reported statements, just regular sentences.

What about reported speech for questions, requests, and orders?

For reported requests, we use “asked (someone) to do something”:

• “Please make a copy of this report.” (direct speech)
• She asked me to make a copy of the report. (reported speech)

For reported orders, we use “told (someone) to do something:”

• “Go to the bank.” (direct speech)
• “He told me to go to the bank.” (reported speech)

The main verb stays in the infinitive with “to”:

• She asked me to make a copy of the report. She asked me  make  a copy of the report.
• He told me to go to the bank. He told me  go  to the bank.

For yes/no questions, we use “asked if” and “wanted to know if” in reported speech.

• “Are you coming to the party?” (direct)
• He asked if I was coming to the party. (reported)
• “Did you turn off the TV?” (direct)
• She wanted to know if I had turned off the TV.” (reported)

The main verb changes and back shifts according to the rules and exceptions we learned earlier.

Notice that we don’t use do/does/did in the reported question:

• She wanted to know did I turn off the TV.
• She wanted to know if I had turned off the TV.

For other questions that are not yes/no questions, we use asked/wanted to know (without “if”):

• “When was the company founded?” (direct)
• She asked when the company was founded.” (reported)
• “What kind of car do you drive?” (direct)
• He wanted to know what kind of car I drive. (reported)

Again, notice that we don’t use do/does/did in reported questions:

• “Where does he work?”
• She wanted to know  where does he work.
• She wanted to know where he works.

Also, in questions with the verb “to be,” the word order changes in the reported question:

• “Where were you born?” ([to be] + subject)
• He asked where I was born. (subject + [to be])
• He asked where was I born.

Reported Speech (Part 2) Quiz

Learn more about reported speech:

• Reported speech: Perfect English Grammar
• Reported speech: BJYU’s

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They say gossip is a natural part of human life. That’s why language has evolved to develop grammatical rules about the “he said” and “she said” statements. We call them reported speech.

Every time we use reported speech in English, we are talking about something said by someone else in the past. Thinking about it brings me back to high school, when reported speech was the main form of language!

Learn all about the definition, rules, and examples of reported speech as I go over everything. I also included a worksheet at the end of the article so you can test your knowledge of the topic.

What Does Reported Speech Mean?

Reported speech is a term we use when telling someone what another person said. You can do this while speaking or writing.

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 her necklaces.

When we tell someone what another individual said, we use reporting verbs like told, asked, convinced, persuaded, and said. We also change the first-person figure in the quotation into the third-person speaker.

Reported Speech Examples

We usually talk about the past every time we use reported speech. That’s because the time of speaking is already done. For example:

• Direct speech: The employer asked me, “Do you have experience with people in the corporate setting?”

Indirect speech: The employer asked me if I had experience with people in the corporate setting.

• Direct speech: “I’m working on my thesis,” I told James.

Indirect speech: I told James that I was working on my thesis.

Reported Speech Structure

A speech report has two parts: the reporting clause and the reported clause. Read the example below:

• Harry said, “You need to help me.”

The reporting clause here is William said. Meanwhile, the reported clause is the 2nd clause, which is I need your help.

What are the 4 Types of Reported Speech?

Aside from direct and indirect, reported speech can also be divided into four. The four types of reported speech are similar to the kinds of sentences: imperative, interrogative, exclamatory, and declarative.

Reported Speech Rules

The rules for reported speech can be complex. But with enough practice, you’ll be able to master them all.

Choose Whether to Use That or If

The most common conjunction in reported speech is that. You can say, “My aunt says she’s outside,” or “My aunt says that she’s outside.”

Use if when you’re reporting a yes-no question. For example:

• Direct speech: “Are you coming with us?”

Indirect speech: She asked if she was coming with them.

Verb Tense Changes

Change the reporting verb into its past form if the statement is irrelevant now. Remember that some of these words are irregular verbs, meaning they don’t follow the typical -d or -ed pattern. For example:

• Direct speech: I dislike fried chicken.

Reported speech: She said she disliked fried chicken.

Note how the main verb in the reported statement is also in the past tense verb form.

Use the simple present tense in your indirect speech if the initial words remain relevant at the time of reporting. This verb tense also works if the report is something someone would repeat. For example:

• Slater says they’re opening a restaurant soon.
• Maya says she likes dogs.

This rule proves that the choice of verb tense is not a black-and-white question. The reporter needs to analyze the context of the action.

Move the tense backward when the reporting verb is in the past tense. That means:

• Present simple becomes past simple.
• Present perfect becomes past perfect.
• Present continuous becomes past continuous.
• Past simple becomes past perfect.
• Past continuous becomes past perfect continuous.

Here are some examples:

• The singer has left the building. (present perfect)

He said that the singers had left the building. (past perfect)

• Her sister gave her new shows. (past simple)
• She said that her sister had given her new shoes. (past perfect)

If the original speaker is discussing the future, change the tense of the reporting verb into the past form. There’ll also be a change in the auxiliary verbs.

• Will or shall becomes would.
• Will be becomes would be.
• Will have been becomes would have been.
• Will have becomes would have.

For example:

• Direct speech: “I will be there in a moment.”

Indirect speech: She said that she would be there in a moment.

Do not change the verb tenses in indirect speech when the sentence has a time clause. This rule applies when the introductory verb is in the future, present, and present perfect. Here are other conditions where you must not change the tense:

• If the sentence is a fact or generally true.
• If the sentence’s verb is in the unreal past (using second or third conditional).
• If the original speaker reports something right away.
• Do not change had better, would, used to, could, might, etc.

Changes in Place and Time Reference

Changing the place and time adverb when using indirect speech is essential. For example, now becomes then and today becomes that day. Here are more transformations in adverbs of time and places.

• This – that.
• These – those.
• Now – then.
• Here – there.
• Tomorrow – the next/following day.
• Two weeks ago – two weeks before.
• Yesterday – the day before.

Here are some examples.

• Direct speech: “I am baking cookies now.”

Indirect speech: He said he was baking cookies then.

• Direct speech: “Myra went here yesterday.”

Indirect speech: She said Myra went there the day before.

• Direct speech: “I will go to the market tomorrow.”

Indirect speech: She said she would go to the market the next day.

Using Modals

If the direct speech contains a modal verb, make sure to change them accordingly.

• Will becomes would
• Can becomes could
• Shall becomes should or would.
• Direct speech: “Will you come to the ball with me?”

Indirect speech: He asked if he would come to the ball with me.

• Direct speech: “Gina can inspect the room tomorrow because she’s free.”

Indirect speech: He said Gina could inspect the room the next day because she’s free.

However, sometimes, the modal verb should does not change grammatically. For example:

• Direct speech: “He should go to the park.”

Indirect speech: She said that he should go to the park.

Imperative Sentences

To change an imperative sentence into a reported indirect sentence, use to for imperative and not to for negative sentences. Never use the word that in your indirect speech. Another rule is to remove the word please . Instead, say request or say. For example:

• “Please don’t interrupt the event,” said the host.

The host requested them not to interrupt the event.

• Jonah told her, “Be careful.”
• Jonah ordered her to be careful.

Reported Questions

When reporting a direct question, I would use verbs like inquire, wonder, ask, etc. Remember that we don’t use a question mark or exclamation mark for reports of questions. Below is an example I made of how to change question forms.

• Incorrect: He asked me where I live?

Correct: He asked me where I live.

Here’s another example. The first sentence uses direct speech in a present simple question form, while the second is the reported speech.

• Where do you live?

She asked me where I live.

Wrapping Up Reported Speech

My guide has shown you an explanation of reported statements in English. Do you have a better grasp on how to use it now?

Reported speech refers to something that someone else said. It contains a subject, reporting verb, and a reported cause.

Don’t forget my rules for using reported speech. Practice the correct verb tense, modal verbs, time expressions, and place references.

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EnglishPost.org

Reported Speech: Structures and Examples

Reported speech (Indirect Speech) is how we represent the speech of other people or what we ourselves say.

Reported Speech focuses more on the content of what someone said rather than their exact words

The structure of the independent clause depends on whether the speaker is reporting a statement, a question, or a command.

Table of Contents

Reported Speech Rules and Examples

Present tenses and reported speech, past tenses and reported speech, reported speech examples, reported speech and the simple present, reported speech and present continuous, reported speech and the simple past, reported speech and the past continuous, reported speech and the present perfect, reported speech and the past perfect, reported speech and ‘ can ’ and ‘can’t’, reported speech and ‘ will ’ and ‘ won’t ’, reported speech and could and couldn’t, reported speech and the future continuous, reported questions exercises online.

To turn sentences into Indirect Speech, you have to follow a set of rules and this is what makes reported speech difficult for some.

To make reported speech sentences, you need to manage English tenses well.

• Present Simple Tense changes into Past Simple Tense
• Present Progressive Tense changes into Past Progressive Tense
• Present Perfect Tense changes into Past Perfect Tense
• Present Perfect Progressive Tense changes into Past Perfect Tense
• Past Simple Tense changes into Past Perfect Tense
• Past Progressive Tense changes into Perfect Continuous Tense
• Past Perfect Tense doesn’t change
• Past Perfect Progressive Tense doesn’t change
• Future Simple Tense changes into would
• Future Progressive Tense changes into “would be”
• Future Perfect Tense changes into “would have·
• Future Perfect Progressive Tense changes into “would have been”

These are some examples of sentences using indirect speech

The present simple tense usually changes to the past simple

The present continuous tense usually changes to the past continuous.

The past simple tense usually changes to the past perfect

The past continuous tense usually changes to the past perfect continuous.

The present perfect tense usually changes to the past perfect tense

The past perfect tense does not change

 ‘ Can ’ and ‘can’t’ in direct speech change to ‘ could ’ and ‘ couldn’t ’

‘ Will ’ and ‘ won’t ’ in direct speech change to ‘ would ’ and ‘ wouldn’t ’

Could and couldn’t doesn’t change

Will ’ and ‘ won’t ’ in direct speech change to ‘ would ’ and ‘ wouldn’t ’

These are some online exercises to learn more about reported questions

• Present Simple Reported Yes/No Question Exercise
• Present Simple Reported Wh Question Exercise
• Mixed Tense Reported Question Exercise
• Present Simple Reported Statement Exercise
• Present Continuous Reported Statement Exercise

Manuel Campos

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Direct and Indirect of Past Continuous Tense

We talked about direct and indirect of past indefinite tense . In the article below you will learn about direct and indirect of past continuous tense. You will learn how to convey a message to someone from past progressive tense. Direct and indirect speech structures for positive, negative, negative interrogative and interrogative sentences.

For direct and indirect speech complete rules click: Direct and indirect speech complete rules

Tense Change: As a rule, when we change a direct speech sentence we go one tense back, so therefore, when you change a direct speech from past continuous tense , you have to use past perfect continuous tense in indirect speech.

Affirmatives

• Direct speech: RP +, + S + be2 + V1ing + ROTS He said, “We were watching a movie at 10:00 pm last night.”
• Indirect speech: RP + that night+ S + had been + V1ing + ROTS He told me that they had been watching a movie at 10:00 pm the night before.
• Direct speech: RP +, + S + be2 not + V1ing + ROTS I said to my teacher, “She was not cheating during the quiz.”
• Indirect speech: RP + that + S + had not + been + V1ing + ROTS I told my teacher that she hadn`t been cheating during the quiz.

Interrogatives

• Direct speech: RP +, + Be2 + S + V1ing + ROTS They asked, “Were you trying to convince us for joining the IHLP class at Learn ESL?”
• Indirect speech: RP + if + S + had been + V1ing + ROTS The asked me if I had been trying to convince them for joining the IHLP class at Learn ESL.

Negative interrogative

• Direct speech: RP +, + Be 2 not + S + V1ing + ROTS She asked, “Weren’t they eating dinner at King Restaurant?”
• Indirect speech: RP + if + S + had not + been + V1ing + ROTS She asked me if they had not been eating dinner at King Restaurant.

WH/Information questions

• Direct speech: RP +, +WH + be2 + S + V1ing + ROTS He asked, “What were you doing yesterday?”
• Indirect speech: RP + WH + S + had been + V1ing + ROTS He wanted to know what I had been doing the day before.

Check out Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises With Answers

If you would like to know more about direct or quoted speech, or indirect or reported speech, check out more in the book below.

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The Reported Speech

Table of Contents

What is reported speech, direct speech vs reported speech.

Different types of reported speech

When you use reported speech, you either report:

A. Reporting statements

1- pronouns.

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

3. Modal verbs

4- Place, demonstratives, and time expressions

B. Reporting Questions

C. Reporting requests/commands

D. Other transformations

Main clauses connected with and/but, punctuation rules of the reported speech, can we omit that in the reported speech, list of reporting verbs.

• English Grammar
• Reported Speech

Reported Speech - Definition, Rules and Usage with Examples

Reported speech or indirect speech is the form of speech used to convey what was said by someone at some point of time. This article will help you with all that you need to know about reported speech, its meaning, definition, how and when to use them along with examples. Furthermore, try out the practice questions given to check how far you have understood the topic.

Table of Contents

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.

• The first thing you have to keep in mind is that you need not use any quotation marks as you are not using the exact words of the speaker.
• You can use the following formula to construct a sentence in the reported speech.

• You can use verbs like said, asked, requested, ordered, complained, exclaimed, screamed, told, etc. If you are just reporting a declarative sentence , you can use verbs like told, said, etc. followed by ‘that’ and end the sentence with a full stop . When you are reporting interrogative sentences, you can use the verbs – enquired, inquired, asked, etc. and remove the question mark . In case you are reporting imperative sentences , you can use verbs like requested, commanded, pleaded, ordered, etc. If you are reporting exclamatory sentences , you can use the verb exclaimed and remove the exclamation mark . Remember that the structure of the sentences also changes accordingly.
• Furthermore, keep in mind that the sentence structure , tense , pronouns , modal verbs , some specific adverbs of place and adverbs of time change when a sentence is transformed into indirect/reported speech.

Transforming Direct Speech into Reported Speech

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.

Here are some tips you can follow to become a pro in using reported speech.

• 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.

Given below are a few examples to show you how reported speech can be written. Check them out.

• Santana said that she would be auditioning for the lead role in Funny Girl.
• Blaine requested us to help him with the algebraic equations.
• Karishma asked me if I knew where her car keys were.
• The judges announced that the Warblers were the winners of the annual acapella competition.
• Binsha assured that she would reach Bangalore by 8 p.m.
• Kumar said that he had gone to the doctor the previous day.
• Lakshmi asked Teena if she would accompany her to the railway station.
• Jibin told me that he would help me out after lunch.
• The police ordered everyone to leave from the bus stop immediately.
• Rahul said that he was drawing a caricature.

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 reported speech?

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.”

What is the formula of reported speech?

You can use the following formula to construct a sentence in the reported speech. Subject said that (report whatever the speaker said)

Give some examples of reported speech.

Given below are a few examples to show you how reported speech can be written.

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English Language Centre / Study Zone / Level 490 — Upper Intermediate / Grammar Topics / Reported Speech

Reported Speech

Introduction.

When reporting what someone said, we have to pay careful attention to our verb tenses. Generally, reported speech is introduced by the verb say (Other reporting verbs include tell, mention, inform). The verb is used in the past tense, said , which indicates that something was spoken in the past. For example:

“she said”, “he said”, “they said”

The main verb in the reported speech sentence is also in the past tense. In a sentence where the main verb is already in the past tense, then the verb changes to another past tense verb as it is moving further into the past.

Usually, the tense in reported speech is one tense back in time from the tense in direct speech. However, often if the speaker is reporting something soon after it has been said, there is no change in the verb tense. This is also true if the reported statement is a general truth. For example:

“The capital of Canada is Ottawa.” → Byron said that the capital of Canada is Ottawa.

Remember that in reported speech, there are no quotation marks.

Verbs usually change to the past in reported speech because we are talking about the past. For example:

In reported speech, the simple past ( I did ) often stays the same or it changes to the past perfect ( I had done ).

Examples of Verb Changes in Reported Speech

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Narration Change in Past Tense

Back to: Direct and Indirect Speech (Narration)

Examples of narration change in simple past, past continuous, past perfect, past perfect continuous are given below –

Table of Contents

Direct and Indirect Speech Simple Past Tense Examples

If reported verb is in  Past Tense,  reported speech will change from  Past Indefinite Tense  to  Past Perfect Tense .

Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech in Past Continuous Tense

If reported verb is in  Past Tense,  reported speech will change from  Past Continuous Tense  to  Past Perfect Continuous Tense .

Direct and Indirect Speech Past Perfect Tense Examples Direct and indirect speech past perfect continuous tense examples. If reported verb is in  Past Tense & reported speech is in  Past Perfect Continuous Tense , it will not change. e.g. Reported Speech Made Simple: Easy Examples Included Reported Speech | 0 comments Table of Contents What is Reported Speech? Reported speech is used when we want to report back what somebody said. That is to say, to tell someone what you have been told. We usually use reporting verbs like “say” or “tell” in the sentence. To do this, we use direct speech or indirect speech. Example:  Direct speech:  ‘I like to learn new languages,’ said Daniel. Indirect speech:  Daniel says (that) he likes to learn new languages. In this example, the present tense verb (like) stays the same, except for the change of the subject from “I” to “he”. We have the option of adding the word “that” in reported speech, which doesn’t change the meaning.  In indirect speech, usually, we use a tense which is further back in the past rather than the original one from direct speech. This is called  backshift . However, when we are reporting general truth or facts, we don’t need to change the tense in indirect speech. More Examples: Direct speech:  ‘I  go  to the gym next to your house.’ Indirect speech:  My friend told me that she  goes  to the gym next to my house. Direct speech:  ‘I  travel  a lot in my job,’ he said. Indirect speech:  He said (that) he  traveled  a lot in his job. Direct speech:  ‘We  lived  in France for five years.’ Indirect speech:  She told me they  had lived  in Paris for five years. As you can see, the tense backshifts one step to the past in indirect speech example. To help you understand this better, we are going to cover every tense with examples. Tense Changes. 1- reported speech in the present tense:. When using the present tense in direct speech, the present simple becomes the past simple. The present continuous changes to past continuous. The present perfect changes to the past perfect in indirect speech. Direct speech:  ‘I  like  ice cream.’ Indirect speech:  He said (that) he  liked  ice cream. Direct speech:  ‘I am  living  in Georgia. Indirect speech:  She said (that) she  was living  in Georgia. Direct speech:  ‘I have not seen The Titanic.’ Indirect speech:  He said (that) he  had not seen  The Titanic.’ 2- Reported Speech in the Past Tense: When using the past tense in direct speech, past simple changes to past perfect. The past continuous changes to past perfect continuous in indirect speech. Direct speech:  ‘I  wrote  that book last year.’ Indirect speech:  She said (that) she  had written  that book last year. Direct speech:  ‘It  was raining  all day.’ Indirect speech:  He told me (that) it  had been raining  all day. 3- Reported Speech in the Past Perfect: The past perfect doesn’t change in indirect speech doesn’t change. Direct speech:  ‘I  had read  everything about this topic.’ Indirect speech:  She said (that) she  had read  everything about this topic. When talking about questions in reported speech,  the changes of tense remain the same as above . However, the words “say/said” or “tell/told” become “asked” in indirect speech. See the following example: Direct speech:  ‘Where is Tom?’ Indirect speech:  She asked me where Tom was. As you notice, the present simple verb “to be” in the direct question is inverted with the subject “Tom” in indirect speech. In addition, the tense is backshifted. Let’s see more examples: Direct question Indirect question What are you doing? She asked me what I was doing. Where do you live? He asked me where I lived. Where is the police officer, please? He asked me where the police officer was. To report ‘yes / no’ questions, we use ‘if’, and as usual the tense changes remain the same. Check out these examples: Direct question Indirect question Do you like me? She asked me if I liked her. Have you ever been to Paris? He asked me if I had ever been to Paris. Are you living with him? He asked me if I was living with him. We often want to report to our friends when someone asked us for favors in a polite way. We could say for example: Direct speech: Close the window, please. Or: Could you close the window, please? Or: Would you mind closing the window, please? To report requests like these all we have to do is use this formula: Ask me + to + infinitive Direct speech: Could you close the window, please. Indirect speech: She asked me to close the window. Direct request Indirect request Please help me. He asked me to help him. Could you please hand me the book? She asked me to hand her the book. Could you pass the salt, please? She asked me to pass the salt. Can you pick up my son from school? She asked me to pick up her son from school. Would you mind coming early today? She asked me to come early today. The negative form of a request in reported speech is easy to make: Direct speech: Please don’t be late. Indirect speech: The teacher asked us not to be late. Making Orders. We form orders in reported speech the same way we do for request. The only difference is instead of using “asked,” we use “told”. See the following examples: Direct order Indirect order Sit down! He told me to sit down. Don’t worry! He told her not to worry. Be on time! He told me to be on time. Don’t smoke! He told us not to smoke. Keep quiet! She told us to keep quiet. Time Expressions. We often change time expressions when moving from direct speech into reported speech: Direct speech: I saw him today, she said. Indirect speech: She said (that) she had seen him that day. Direct speech: I saw him yesterday, she said. Indirect speech: She said (that) she had seen him the day before. Here’s a list of phrases of time in direct speech and their equivalent in reported speech: Direct speech Indirect speech Today That day Yesterday The day before Tomorrow The next/following day Day before yesterday Two days before The day after tomorrow In two days’ time/two days later Next week/month/year The following week/month/year Last week/month/year The previous week/month/year Ago Before Place and Demonstrative Expressions. Here’s a list of phrases of place in direct speech and their equivalent in reported speech: Direct question Indirect question Here There I was born  . He told me he had been born  . Demonstrative expressions in reported speech: Direct question Indirect question This That  is my book. She said   was her book. Direct question Indirect question These Those  are my friends. He said   were her friends. Submit a Comment Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Simple present Present continuous Present perfect Present perfect continuous Simple past Past continuous Past perfect Past perfect continuous Simple future Future continuous Future perfect Future perfect continuous Masculine and feminine nouns Countable and uncountable nouns The Plural of compound Nouns Possessive Noun Modals in the present and past Most and have to Shall and will Determiners Demonstratives Posssessive adjectives Quantifiers Personal pronouns Object pronouns Reflexive pronouns Possessive pronouns Relative pronouns Prepositions Prepositions of time Prepositions of place List of Phrasal Prepositions Coordinating & Subordinating Interjections In English Auxiliary verbs Linking verbs Phrasal verbs Finite verb Non-finite verb Transitive and intransitive verbs List of irregular verbs Conditional Sentences Conditional type zero Conjunctive Adverbs Sentence Adverbs Reported Speech Class 6 Maths Class 6 Science Class 6 Social Science Class 6 English Class 7 Maths Class 7 Science Class 7 Social Science Class 7 English Class 8 Maths Class 8 Science Class 8 Social Science Class 8 English Class 9 Maths Class 9 Science Class 9 Social Science Class 9 English Class 10 Maths Class 10 Science Class 10 Social Science Class 10 English Class 11 Maths Class 11 Computer Science (Python) Class 11 English Class 12 Maths Class 12 English Class 12 Economics Class 12 Accountancy Class 12 Physics Class 12 Chemistry Class 12 Biology Class 12 Computer Science (Python) Class 12 Physical Education GST and Accounting Course Excel Course Tally Course Finance and CMA Data Course Payroll Course Interesting Learn English Learn Excel Learn Tally Learn GST (Goods and Services Tax) Learn Accounting and Finance GST Tax Invoice Format Accounts Tax Practical Tally Ledger List GSTR 2A - JSON to Excel Are you in school ? Do you love Teachoo? We would love to talk to you! Please fill this form so that we can contact you Direct Indirect Speech Verbs and tenses Prepositions Articles,Vowels and Consonants Active Voice and Passive Voice Gender-Masculine and Feminine Singular and Plural Nouns Conjunctions Interjections Direct Indirect of Past Continuous Last updated at April 16, 2024 by Teachoo If Direct Speech is Past Continous−−>In indirect Form it becomes Past Perfect Continous Direct Speech Mom said"I was cooking your favorite dish" Indirect Speech Mom said that she had been cooking my favorite dish" Note:- In Direct Speech,we use "was cooking" (Past Continuous) In Indirect Speech,we use "had been cooking"(Past Perfect Continuous) (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Convert into Indirect Speech Grandma said" I was praying since morning" Grandma said that she had been praying in since morning" She said" I was trembling with fear" She said" that she had been trembling with fear" Boy said" I was roaming the street" Boy said" that he had been roaming in the street" Girl said" I was window shopping" Girl said" that she had been window shopping" They said" We were listening to songs on Youtube" They said" that we had been listening to songs on Youtube" The nurse said" Baby was suffering from fever" The nurse said" that Baby had been suffering from fever" CA Maninder Singh CA Maninder Singh is a Chartered Accountant for the past 14 years. He also provides Accounts Tax GST Training in Delhi, Kerala and online. Get E-filing Return Practice Watch videos and do assignments Add more skills to your resume Get Professional Certification in Accounts and Taxation Hi, it looks like you're using AdBlock :( Please login to view more pages. it's free :), solve all your doubts with teachoo black. Reported Speech Exercises Perfect english grammar. Here's a list of all the reported speech exercises on this site: ( Click here to read the explanations about reported speech ) Reported Statements: Present Simple Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here) Present Continuous Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here) Past Simple Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here) Present Perfect Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here) Future Simple Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here) Mixed Tense Reported Statement Exercise (intermediate) (in PDF here) 'Say' and 'Tell' (quite easy) (in PDF here) Reported Questions: Present Simple Reported Yes/No Question Exercise (intermediate) (in PDF here) Present Simple Reported Wh Question Exercise (intermediate) (in PDF here) Mixed Tense Reported Question Exercise (intermediate) (in PDF here) Reported Orders and Requests: Reported Requests and Orders Exercise (intermediate) (in PDF here) Reported Speech Mixed Exercise 1 (difficult) (in PDF here) Reported Speech Mixed Exercise 2 (difficult) (in PDF here) Hello! I'm Seonaid! I'm here to help you understand grammar and speak correct, fluent English. Read more about our learning method Stack Exchange Network Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow , the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Q&A for work Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Past Continuous in reported speech Let's imagine someone has told me: Last month while we were traveling in Cyprus, my mother was packing her bags for her first ever foreign trip. I was wondering whether I could paraphrase it, and make it in reported speech: He told me his mum ___ her bags when they ___ in Cyprus. Should it be two Past Perfect Continuous sentences? I'm afraid it could be wrong here. perfect-aspect continuous-aspect 1 Such a confusing example, involving someone packing for a first trip while already apparently on a trip. Or does the mother live in Cyrpus? Who is "we" - does this include the mother? It's hard to advise on grammar without understanding the sentence. –  cruthers Commented Aug 25, 2021 at 2:30 1 For a "while" clause, it's clear that the action is at the same time as the main clause, so you don't need to put it in past perfect. "He told me his mum had been packing her bags while they were traveling in Cyprus. –  Peter Shor Commented Aug 25, 2021 at 2:55 “He told me that while they were traveling in Cyprus, his mother was packing her bags for her first-ever foreign trip.” This does not resolve the ambiguity; it is reasonable to assume that we/they are the speaker and a companion other than his mother. –  Xanne Commented Aug 25, 2021 at 4:13 @cruthers we is "me and my wife" for example. Mother is the third person. And she was going to another country. Sorry for the confusion. –  Alexander Svetochev Commented Aug 26, 2021 at 11:12 @PeterShor Thanks for the answer. What if it's a "when" clause, not a "while" one? -He told me his mum had been packing her bags when we had been travelling in Cyprus a month before, –  Alexander Svetochev Commented Aug 26, 2021 at 11:17 Know someone who can answer? Share a link to this question via email , Twitter , or Facebook . Your answer, sign up or log in, post as a guest. Required, but never shown By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy . Browse other questions tagged past-tense speech perfect-aspect continuous-aspect or ask your own question . Featured on Meta Site maintenance - Tuesday, July 23rd 2024, 8 PM - Midnight EST (3 AM - 7 AM... Announcing a change to the data-dump process Upcoming initiatives on Stack Overflow and across the Stack Exchange network... Hot Network Questions How do people print text on GUI on Win3.1/95/98/... before Win2000? Guess-the-number game in Python One hat's number is the sum of the other 2. 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Where is git-prompt.sh located in Ubuntu 24.04? Density operator commutator in master equation How to buy train ticket for bike from Udine (IT) to Villach (AT) What does the word "Eine" mean in Latin? Probability for a random variable to exceed its expectation Reported speech Tense changes in reported speech Indirect speech (reported 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. Normally, the tense in reported speech is one tense back in time from the tense in direct speech: She said, "I  am  tired." = She said that she  was  tired. Phrase in Direct Speech Equivalent in Reported Speech "I always   coffee", she said She said that she always   coffee. "I   a book", he explained. He explained that he   a book "Bill   on Saturday", he said. He said that Bill   on Saturday. "I   to Spain", he told me. He told me that he   to Spain. "I   the light," he explained. He explained that he   the light. They complained, "We   for hours". They complained that they   for hours. "We   in Paris", they told me. They told me that they   in Paris. "I   in Geneva on Monday", he said. He said that he   in Geneva on Monday. She said, "  the car next Friday". She said that she   the car next Friday. You do not need to change the tense if the reporting verb is in the present, or if the original statement was about something that is still true (but this is only for things which are general facts, and even then usually we like to change the tense) , e.g. He says  he has missed  the train but  he'll catch  the next one. We explained that  it is  very difficult to find our house. Direct speech: The sky is blue. Reported speech: She said (that) the sky  is/was  blue. These modal verbs do not change in reported speech:  might, could, would, should, ought to : We explained, "It  could  be difficult to find our house." = We explained that it  could  be difficult to find our house. She said, "I  might  bring a friend to the party." = She said that she  might  bring a friend to the party. Course Curriculum Direct and indirect speech 15 mins Tense changes in reported speech 20 mins Changing time and place in reported speech 20 mins Reported questions 20 mins Reporting verbs 20 mins Reporting orders and requests 15 mins Reporting hopes, intentions and promises 20 mins 224 COMMENTS Reported Speech 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. What is Reported Speech and How to Use It? with Examples Reported speech: She said she was going to the store then. In this example, the pronoun "I" is changed to "she" and the adverb "now" is changed to "then.". 2. Change the tense: In reported speech, you usually need to change the tense of the verb to reflect the change from direct to indirect speech. Here's an example: Reported Speech: Rules, Examples, Exceptions When we use reported speech, we often change the verb tense backwards in time. This can be called "backshift.". Here are some examples in different verb tenses: "I want to go home.". She said she wanted to go home. "I 'm reading a good book.". She said she was reading a good book. "I ate pasta for dinner last night.". Reported Speech For example: Direct speech: I dislike fried chicken. Reported speech: She said she disliked fried chicken. Note how the main verb in the reported statement is also in the past tense verb form. Use the simple present tense in your indirect speech if the initial words remain relevant at the time of reporting. Reported Speech: Structures and Examples Reported Speech Rules and Examples. To turn sentences into Indirect Speech, you have to follow a set of rules and this is what makes reported speech difficult for some. ... Reported Speech and The Past Continuous. The past continuous tense usually changes to the past perfect continuous. Direct Speech : Reported Speech : My mom was cooking ... Direct and Indirect of Past Continuous Tense Tense Change:As a rule, when we change a direct speech sentence we go one tense back, so therefore, when you change a direct speech from past continuous tense, you have to use past perfect continuous tense in indirect speech. Direct speech: RP +, + S + be2 + V1ing + ROTS He said, "We were watching a movie at 10:00 pm last night.". Reported speech: indirect speech Reported speech: indirect speech - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary The Reported 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 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. Q2. PDF Unit 12A Grammar: Reported Speech(1 Transform the following sentences from direct speech into reported speech: 1. "I am always in a bad mood on Monday mornings," said Brian. 2. "They were working last week," she said. 3. "I have been to Zimbabwe," said Evelyn. 4. "Isabell will give you a lift to the airport tomorrow," he said. 5. Reported Speech Generally, reported speech is introduced by the verb say (Other reporting verbs include tell, mention, inform). The verb is used in the past tense, said, which indicates that something was spoken in the past. For example: "she said", "he said", "they said". The main verb in the reported speech sentence is also in the past tense. Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech in Past Tense Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech in Past Continuous Tense. If reported verb is in Past Tense, reported speech will change from Past Continuous Tense to Past Perfect Continuous Tense. Direct Speech. Indirect Speech. The government said, "We were planning a new bill.". The government said that they had been planning a new bill. Reported Speech Made Simple: Easy Examples Included The past continuous changes to past perfect continuous in indirect speech. Examples: Direct speech: 'I wrote that book last year.' Indirect speech: She said (that) she had written that book last year. Direct speech: 'It was raining all day.' Indirect speech: He told me (that) it had been raining all day. 3- Reported Speech in the Past ... Direct Indirect of Past Continuous Example. Direct Speech. Mom said"I was cooking your favorite dish". Indirect Speech. Mom said that she had been cooking my favorite dish". Note:-. In Direct Speech,we use "was cooking" (Past Continuous) In Indirect Speech,we use "had been cooking" (Past Perfect Continuous) Reported Speech Exercises Here's a list of all the reported speech exercises on this site: (Click here to read the explanations about reported speech) Reported Statements: Present Simple Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here) Present Continuous Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here) Past Simple Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in ... Reported Speech with Examples and Test (PDF) Reported Speech (Reporting verb in past tense) "I eat breakfast at 8 AM.". She said (that) she ate breakfast at 8 AM. "We are going to the beach.". They told me (that) they were going to the beach. "He speaks Spanish fluently.". She said (that) he spoke Spanish fluently. "She cooks delicious meals.". Past Continuous in reported speech Aug 25, 2021 at 2:30. 1. For a "while" clause, it's clear that the action is at the same time as the main clause, so you don't need to put it in past perfect. "He told me his mum had been packing her bags while they were traveling in Cyprus. - Peter Shor. Aug 25, 2021 at 2:55. "He told me that while they were traveling in Cyprus, his mother ... Tense changes in reported speech In indirect speech, the structure of the reported clause depends on whether the speaker is reporting a statement, a question or a command. Normally, the tense in reported speech is one tense back in time from the tense in direct speech: She said, "I am tired." = She said that she was tired. Phrase in Direct Speech. Equivalent in Reported Speech. Indirect Speech for All Tenses Indirect speech: He said that Sara was going to school. (Tense changed) Rules for change of tense and examples are as follows: Present simple tense into Past simple tense. Present continuous tense into Past continuous tense. Present perfect tense into Past perfect tense. Present perfect continuous tense into Past perfect continuous tense. assignment essay homework phd report resume review speech thesis