Indirect (Reported) Speech

When we tell people what another person said or thought, we often use reported speech (also called indirect speech). To do this correctly, we usually change:

Verb tenses (e.g., present → past)
Pronouns (e.g., I → he/she, my → his/her)
Time and place expressions (e.g., now → then, today → that day)

💬 Sally: “I don’t have time.” → Sally said (that) she didn’t have time.

💬 Peter: “I am tired.” → He said (that) he was tired.

🟦Omission of that

We often leave out that after reporting verbs like say, think, believe, etc.

She said (that) she was late.
I thought (that) I would get the job.

🟩Say or Tell?

Both are common in reported speech, but they are used differently:

Tell + person + something → tell someone (that)...
Say + something (+ to someone) → say (that)...

❌ They said me they would help.

✅ They told me they would help.

❌ He told he didn’t have a car.

✅ He said he didn’t have a car.

🟨Tense Changes in Indirect Speech

When the reporting verb is in the past (e.g., said, told), we usually “backshift” the tense.

Grammar chart showing tense changes in reported speech: present simple → past simple, present continuous → past continuous, will → would, can → could, etc.

🟦Changes in Time & Place Expressions

Words like now, today, here often change in reported speech.

Chart showing changes in time expressions: now → then, today → that day, tomorrow → the next day, yesterday → the day before, here → there, etc.

🟥Questions and Imperatives in Indirect Speech

Reported questions: Use normal word order (subject + verb). No do/does/did.

“Where do you live?” → She asked where I lived.
“Did you see the movie?” → He asked if I had seen the movie.

Reported commands/requests: Use tell/ask + someone + to + verb.

“Close the door.” → She told me to close the door.
“Please help me.” → He asked me to help him.

Grammar chart for B1 level showing how to report questions and imperatives in indirect speech.

⬛Pronoun Changes

Pronouns change based on who is speaking and who is being reported.

“I will help you.” → He said he would help me.

“That’s my pen.” → She said it was her pen.

“I need your help.” → She said she needed my help.

📌 Remember:
• Backshift tenses when the reporting verb is in the past.
• Change pronouns, time, and place words.
• Use tell + person, but say + (to person).
• In reported questions: subject + verb (no inversion).
• For commands: ask/tell someone to do something.