Reported Speech

Reported speech (also called indirect speech) is used to report what someone else has said without quoting them directly. It often requires changes in tense, pronouns, and time expressions.

Definition / Explanation

Reported speech conveys the content of a spoken statement without using the exact words of the speaker. It usually follows a reporting verb like say, tell, ask.

Rules / Guidelines

• Shift the tense back when reporting past statements: “I am tired” → He said he was tired.
• Change pronouns to match the new subject: “I love this book” → She said she loved that book.
• Adjust time expressions: today → that day, tomorrow → the next day.
• Questions: Use "if" or "whether" for yes/no questions: “Are you coming?” → He asked if I was coming.
• Commands: Use verbs like tell, ask, order + infinitive: “Close the door!” → She told me to close the door.

Examples

• Direct: “I am hungry.” → Reported: He said he was hungry.
• Direct: “We will meet tomorrow.” → Reported: They said they would meet the next day.
• Direct: “Do you like pizza?” → Reported: He asked if I liked pizza.
• Direct: “Please help me.” → Reported: She asked me to help her.
• Direct: “I have finished my homework.” → Reported: He said he had finished his homework.

Practice Exercises

1. Change to reported speech: “I can’t find my keys.”
2. Change to reported speech: “We are leaving tomorrow.”
3. Change to reported speech: “Did you see the movie?”
4. Change to reported speech: “Please sit down.”
5. Change to reported speech: “I have never been to Paris.”

Answers / Explanation

1. He/She said he/she couldn’t find his/her keys.
2. They said they were leaving the next day.
3. He/She asked if I had seen the movie.
4. He/She asked me to sit down.
5. He/She said he/she had never been to Paris.