http://www.

first-
Reported Speech certificate-course.com

The following is a mini-tutorial on REPORTED SPEECH. Once you have completed the tutorial, you are
ready to do the practice exercises.

When we repeat what another person has said, we don’t usually use the speaker’s exact words, what
we call direct speech. We usually explain what the person has said, which is indirect or reported
speech.

“I’ll see you at the pub,” said Kevin

(These are Kevin’s exact words – direct speech)

Kevin said (that) he would see me at the pub

(I am telling another person what Kevin has said to me – reported speech)

>>>>>><<<<<<

It is important to know how to change direct speech into reported speech. When transforming a
statement, ask yourself if you need to change:

1. Verbs (either in present tense or by backshifting

“I speak English,” says John

John says (that) he speaks English

st
(Notice that there is no need to change the verb tense here. However, it is necessary to shift from 1
rd
person singular – speak – to 3 person singular – speaks.)

“I am tired,” said Mary

Mary said (that) she was tired

(Here it is necessary to change the verb tense or to backshift. Am becomes was.)

2. Pronouns

“My parents invited us to dinner,” said Jane

(This is what Jane said to me.)

Jane said that her parents have invited us to dinner

(This is what I said to another person who was present, but who didn’t hear what Jane said.)

www.first-certificate-course.com
 http://www.first-
Reported Speech certificate-course.com

3. Time and place expressions

“We went to the cinema yesterday,” said Dave

(This is direct speech and for our purposes, we are going to say that I ran into Dave and his girlfriend two
weeks ago and that this is what he said to me.)

Dave said that they had gone to the cinema the previous day

(I meet someone two weeks after Dave made this statement and I explain what Dave said to me.)

>>>>>><<<<<<

Sometimes it is necessary to backshift the verb when going from direct into reported speech. What this
means is that we take the verb back one verb tense. Look at the following examples to see how the
verbs backshift :

DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH

Simple Present (becomes) Simple Past

Bill and Kate: “We are very busy”

They said (that) they were very busy

Present Continuous (becomes) Past Continuous

Karen: “I am watching TV”

Karen said (that) she was watching TV

Present Perfect (becomes) Past Perfect

Sally and Ed: “We have just arrived”

They said (that) they had just arrived

Present Perfect Continuous (becomes) Past Perfect Continuous

Ted: “I have been applying for jobs”

Ted said (that) he had been applying for jobs

Simple Past (becomes) Past Perfect

Susan: “I got up early”

Susan said (that) she had got up early

www.first-certificate-course.com
 http://www.first-
Reported Speech certificate-course.com

Present Modals (become) Past Modals

Tom: “I will help you”

Tom said (that) he would help me

Henry: “I can speak French”

Henry said (that) he could speak French

Emma: “It may rain”

Emma said (that) it might rain

Karen: “I must give my sister a call”

Karen said (that) she had to give her sister a call

Modals with No Change

Liz: “I would like a cup of tea, please”

Liz said (that) she would like a cup of tea

Mike: “We could go out to dinner”

Mike said (that) we could go out to dinner

Dan: “I should study more”

Dan said (that) he should study more

Mum: “You ought to visit your grandmother”

Mum said (that) I ought to visit my grandmother

>>>>>><<<<<<

Sometimes the information we wish to report comes in the form of a question. When this happens, it is
important to remember that there is no subject verb inversion.

Sam: “Where are my keys?”

Sam asked where his keys were

Dad: “Where have you been?”

Dad asked me where I had been

Julie: “What are they doing?”

Julie wanted to know what they were doing

www.first-certificate-course.com
 http://www.first-
Reported Speech certificate-course.com

We’ve talked about how to use reported speech for statements and for questions. We also need to
know how to use it for requests and orders. For example:

Maggie: “Say hello to your parents for me”

Maggie asked me to say hello to my parents

Ian: Please speak English

Ian told me to speak English

For negative requests, use not to + infinitive:

Frank: “Don’t quit your job

Frank told me not to quit my job

>>>>>><<<<<<

You will notice that in the above examples of reported speech, we sometimes use say or tell to transmit
what the speaker said. These are probably the two most common reporting verbs, but there are other
verbs we can also use. (Please note that the grammatical structure of the sentence can vary, depending
on the reporting verb used.) Some common reporting verbs are:

claim
declare
deny
mention
offer
promise
suggest

>>>>>><<<<<<

www.first-certificate-course.com
 http://www.first-
Reported Speech certificate-course.com

We also mentioned that sometimes it’s necessary to change time and place expressions. Here are some
common words and expressions that can change when we shift from direct speech into reported
speech:

DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH

today that day

now then

yesterday the day before

... days ago ... days before

last week the week before

next year the following year

tomorrow the next day / the following day

here there

this that

these those

You are now ready to put into practice what you have learned in this tutorial. Go directly to the practice
exercises.

www.first-certificate-course.com