Reported Speech

Exercises

Explanation

• Direct speech shows the exact words inside quotation marks:
  Maria said, “I’m tired.”

• Reported speech tells the same idea in a different way — no quotation marks:
  Maria said she was tired.

Basic Rule

When we report speech, we usually move the verb one tense back in time (this is called backshifting). We also change pronouns and time expressions to fit the new situation.

Example:

Changes in Tense (Backshifting)

If the reporting verb (like say, tell, ask) is in the present tense, you don’t change the tense:

She says she likes her job.

Changing Pronouns

Pronouns often change because the speaker or listener is different:

“I love my new phone,” Anna said. → Anna said she loved her new phone.
“You are late,” he told me. → He told me I was late.
“We will help you,” they said. → They said they would help me.

Changing Time and Place Words

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said. → She said she would see me the next day.
“We met here last night,” he said. → He said they had met there the previous night.

Reporting Different Types of Sentences

1. Statements

Use say or tell (and sometimes explain, inform, promise, etc.).

“I’m moving to Paris,” she said. → She said she was moving to Paris.
“We will call you soon,” they told me. → They told me they would call me soon.
“I promise I’ll try my best,” he said. → He promised to try his best.

2. Yes/No Questions

Use ask if or ask whether. Word order becomes normal (no question form).

“Do you like chocolate?” she asked. → She asked if I liked chocolate.
“Have you seen this movie?” he asked. → He asked whether I had seen that movie.

3. Wh- Questions (what, where, why, when, who, how)

Use the same question word, but the sentence becomes a statement (no question mark).

“Where do you live?” she asked. → She asked where I lived.
“What are you doing?” he asked. → He asked what I was doing.
“Why did you leave early?” they asked. → They asked why I had left early.

4. Commands and Requests

Use tell, ask, order, advise, or beg + to + infinitive.

“Close the door!” she said. → She told me to close the door.
“Please wait here,” he said. → He asked me to wait there.
“Don’t be late,” my teacher said. → My teacher told me not to be late.

5. Offers, Promises, and Suggestions

• Offers: use offer + to + verb
  “I’ll help you with your bags,” he said. → He offered to help me with my bags.

• Promises: use promise + to + verb
  “I’ll call you tonight,” she said. → She promised to call me that night.

• Suggestions: use suggest + -ing or suggest + that
  “Let’s go for a walk,” he said. → He suggested going for a walk.
  “You should see a doctor,” she said. → She suggested that I see a doctor.

Common Reporting Verbs

Summary

Tip for Learners

If the reporting verb is in the present tense (e.g., She says, He tells me), you don’t need to change the verb tense in the reported speech:

She says she likes dogs.

But if the reporting verb is in the past tense (She said, He told me), move the verb one step back in time:

She said she liked dogs.

Reported speech helps you retell conversations, summarize news, and report information clearly and accurately. It’s an essential skill for effective communication — and it’s easier than it looks, isn’t it?