Reported Speech
Perfect english grammar.
Reported Statements
Here's how it works:
We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'. ( Click here for more about using 'say' and 'tell' .) If this verb is in the present tense, it's easy. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence:
- Direct speech: I like ice cream.
- Reported speech: She says (that) she likes ice cream.
We don't need to change the tense, though probably we do need to change the 'person' from 'I' to 'she', for example. We also may need to change words like 'my' and 'your'. (As I'm sure you know, often, we can choose if we want to use 'that' or not in English. I've put it in brackets () to show that it's optional. It's exactly the same if you use 'that' or if you don't use 'that'.)
But , if the reporting verb is in the past tense, then usually we change the tenses in the reported speech:
- Reported speech: She said (that) she liked ice cream.
* doesn't change.
- Direct speech: The sky is blue.
- Reported speech: She said (that) the sky is/was blue.
Click here for a mixed tense exercise about practise reported statements. Click here for a list of all the reported speech exercises.
Reported Questions
So now you have no problem with making reported speech from positive and negative sentences. But how about questions?
- Direct speech: Where do you live?
- Reported speech: She asked me where I lived.
- Direct speech: Where is Julie?
- Reported speech: She asked me where Julie was.
- Direct speech: Do you like chocolate?
- Reported speech: She asked me if I liked chocolate.
Click here to practise reported 'wh' questions. Click here to practise reported 'yes / no' questions. Reported Requests
There's more! What if someone asks you to do something (in a polite way)? For example:
- Direct speech: Close the window, please
- Or: Could you close the window please?
- Or: Would you mind closing the window please?
- Reported speech: She asked me to close the window.
- Direct speech: Please don't be late.
- Reported speech: She asked us not to be late.
Reported Orders
- Direct speech: Sit down!
- Reported speech: She told me to sit down.
- Click here for an exercise to practise reported requests and orders.
- Click here for an exercise about using 'say' and 'tell'.
- Click here for a list of all the reported speech exercises.
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IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Learn how to transform direct speech into reported speech with different reporting verbs, tenses, modal verbs, adverbs and places. See examples, exercises and explanations in this PDF lesson.
A PDF document that explains the difference between direct and indirect speech, and how to form indirect speech with changes in pronouns, adjectives, time and place expressions, and tenses. Includes examples, tables, and exercises.
Learn how to use reported speech to change direct speech into different tenses and forms. See examples of reported statements, questions, requests and orders with explanations and exercises.
Learn how to transform direct speech into reported speech with this PDF lesson. Find definitions, examples, exercises and explanations of pronouns, tenses, place, time and question types.
Learn how to use reported speech to convey what someone else has said, with examples and a test. Download the PDF file to practice reported speech with different tenses, verbs, questions, requests and time expressions.
Reported speech Reported statements If we want to report what other people said, thought or felt, we can use the direct or indirect (reported) speech. The direct speech: "I like it," he said. "Irene is late," he thought. "I will pass the exam," she hoped. The indirect (reported) speech: He said he liked it. He thought that Irene was late.
Learn how to use reporting verbs to transform direct speech into reported speech with different structures and meanings. Download the PDF file with examples, explanations and exercises.
Learn how to use reported speech to report what someone else has said without using a direct quote. See examples, explanations and practice exercises with answers.
Learn how to use reported speech to talk about what someone said, with examples and explanations. Find out the rules for verb tense, reporting verbs and direct speech.
Learn how to use reported speech with a reporting verb and change the tense of direct speech. Watch a video and read a conversation between Sophie and David, an English language student.