Reported speech

How to use Reported Speech

If you have a sentence in Direct Speech, try to follow our 5 steps to
put the sentence into Reported Speech..
• Define the type of the sentence (statement, questions, command)
• What tense is used in the introductory sentence?
• Do you have to change the person (pronoun)?
• Do you have to backshift the tenses?
• Do you have to change expressions of time and place?
1. Statements, Questions, Commands
Mind the type of sentences when you use Reported Speech.
Statements
Questions
Commands, Requests
2. The introductory sentence
If the introductory sentence is in the Simple Present, there
is no backshift of tenses.
Direct Speech: Susan: “Mary works in an office.”
Reported Speech:
Introductory Simple Present →
Susan says (that)* Mary works in an office.
Introductory Simple Past →
Susan said (that)* Mary worked in an office.
3. Change of persons/pronouns
If there is a pronoun in Direct Speech, it has possibly to be
changed in Reported Speech, depending on the situation.
Direct Speech → Susan: “I work in an office.”
Reported Speech → Susan said (that)* she worked in an
office.
Here I is changed to she.
Backshift of tenses
If there is backshift of tenses in Reported Speech, the
tenses are shifted the following way.
Direct Speech → Peter: “I work in the garden.”
Reported Speech → Peter said (that)* he worked in
the garden.
Backshift
/ tonight / that night

/ the previous day

/ the previous week

But:
The verbs could, should, would, might, must, needn’t, ought
to, used to do not normally change.

Example:
He said, “She might be right.” – He said that she might be
right.
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.
Exercises from Worksheet
Simple Present
1. She said she lived in New York.
2. She told me he worked in a bank.
3. She said Julie didn’t like going out much.
4. She said she didn’t have a computer .
5. She said they never arrived on time.
6. He told me they often met friends in London at the weekend.
7. She said David didn’t have any children.
8. She said she didn’t go to the gym very often.
9. She said Lucy owned three flats in the city.
10. She said she never got up early on Sundays.
Past Simple
1. She said she had been / went to the cinema yesterday.
2. She told me Jane had left / left the party early.
3. She said she hadn’t gone / didn't go out at the weekend.
4. She said he hadn’t liked / didn't like chocolate as a child.
5. She said they had visited / visited Japan.
6. He told me she hadn’t bought / didn't buy the dress.
7. She told me she had travelled / travelled through India
and Pakistan.
8. She said he had met / met his girlfriend in a café.
9. She said David hadn’t arrived / didn't arrive until 10
o'clock.
10. She told me they had gone / went to the park to have a
picnic.
Present continuous or progressive
1. She told me she was sleeping.
2. She told me that they were working.
3. She told me she was coming to the party.
4. She told me he was talking on the telephone.
5. She told me Lucy was reading a book in front of the fire.
6. She said she wasn't going out.
7. She said they weren’t visiting Paris during their trip.
8. She said she was listening to her new CD.
9. She told me John was working in bar for the summer.
10. She told me she wasn't going to go on holiday.
Present perfect
1. She said she’d never been to Brazil.
2. She said she had visited Paris three times.
3. She said he had read ‘War and Peace’.
4. She said she hadn't seen Julie for ages.
5. She said he hadn't been to school this week.
6. She said they hadn't seen ‘The Lord of the Rings’.
7. She said they’d eaten in a lot of different restaurants.
8. She said she’d never tried skateboarding.
9. She said Lucy had drunk six cups of coffee today.
10. She said Mr Black had written three books.
Mix of tense
1. She said (that) he worked in a bank.
2. She told me (that) they went (had gone) out last night
(the night before).
3. She said (that) she was coming.
4. She told me (that) she had been waiting for the bus when
he arrived.
5. She said (that) she had never been there before.
6. She told me (that) she didn't go (hadn't gone) to the
party.
7. She said (that) Lucy would come later.
8. She told me (that) he hadn't eaten breakfast.
9. She said (that) she could help me tomorrow.
10. She told me (that) I should go to bed early.
11. She told me (that) she didn't like chocolate.
12. She said (that) she wouldn't see me tomorrow.
13. She said (that) she was living in Paris for a few months.
14. She told me (that) she visited (had visited) her parents
at the weekend.
15. She said (that) she hadn't eaten sushi before.
16. She said (that) she hadn't travelled by underground
before she came to London.
17. She said (that) they would help if they could.
18. She told me (that) she would do the washing-up later.
19. She said (that) he could read when he was three.
20. She said (that) she had been sleeping when Julie called
Reported Questions
Reported Questions
The question becomes a statement. Mind the word
order: subject – verb
If the introductory sentence is in the Simple Present, there
is no backshift of tenses.
Direct Speech → Susan: “Does Mary work in an office?”
Reported Speech → Susan asks if/whether Mary works in
an office.
The introductory sentence in Present:
Susan asks ... → is in the Simple Present.
There is no backshift of tenses.
The auxiliary do is dropped in the Reported speech.
1.2. The introductory sentence in the
Simple Past
If the introductory sentence is in the Simple Past, there is
usually backshift of tenses.
Direct Speech → Susan: “Does Mary work in an office?”
Reported Speech → Susan asked if/whether Mary worked in
an office.
The introductory sentence: Susan asked... → is in the Simple
Past. There is backshift of tenses.
Types of introductory sentences
The word ask in introductory sentences in Reported
Questions can be substituted with other words, e.g.
▪ want to know
▪ wonder
2. Questions with and without question
words
Questions can be formed with or without question words.
If there is a question without a question word in Direct Speech,
use whether or if in Reported Speech.
Peter: “Do you play football?” →
Peter asked me whether (if) I played football.
If there is a question with a question word in Direct Speech,
use this question word in Reported Speech.
Peter: “When do you play football?” →
Peter asked me when I played football.
Let’s practice …
▪ http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/indirect-questions-
exercise-1.html
▪ http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/indirect-questions-
exercise-2.html
▪ http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/indirect-questions-
exercise-3.html
Reported Commands
There is no backshift of tenses with commands/requests in
Reported Speech.
You only have to change the person and shift expressions of
time/place.
Form
affirmative commands → to + infinitive
negative commands → not + to + infinitive
1.1. Affirmative commands 1.2. Negative commands

Direct Speech → Direct Speech →

Dad: “Do your homework.” Teacher: “Don't talk to your
friend.”
Reported Speech →
Dad told me to do my Reported Speech →
homework. The teacher told me not to
talk to my friend
1.3. The introductory sentence in
commands
The word tell in introductory sentences in Reported
Commands can be substituted with other words, e.g.
•advise
•ask
There is no backshift of tenses, no matter which tense is
used in the introductory sentence.
Direct Speech
Dad: “Do your homework.”
Reported Speech
Dad tells me to do my homework.
Dad told me to do my homework.
2. Suggestions
Direct Speech
Father: “Let's watch a film.”
Reported Speech
Father suggested watching a film.
Father suggested that they should watch a film
Do not use the infintive after suggest.
Father suggested to watch a film.
Prof.: Erika Mancilla A.
Let’s practise …
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/reported-speech-
exercise-3.html
http://www.englisch-
hilfen.de/en/exercises/reported_speech/commands_negati
ons.htm
http://www.englisch-
hilfen.de/en/exercises/reported_speech/commands_negati
ons.htm
Sources
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/support-files/reported_statements.pdf
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/reported-speech-exercise-1.html
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/support-
files/reported_statements_present_simple.pdf
https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/indirect-questions-exercise-1.html
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/grammar/reported_statements.htm