REPORTED SPEECH (Indirect speech)

If we report what another person has said, we usually do not use the speaker’s exact words (direct
speech), but reported (indirect) speech. Therefore, you need to learn how to transform direct speech
into reported speech. The structure is a little different depending on whether you want to transform a
statement, question or request.

Statements
When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:

▪ pronouns
▪ present tense verbs (3rd person singular)
▪ place and time expressions
▪ tenses (backshift)

Type Example

direct speech “I speak English.”

reported speech He says that he speaks English.

(no backshift)

reported speech
He said that he spoke English.
(backshift)

Backshift

You must change the tense if the introductory clause is in Simple Past (e. g. He said). This is called
backshift.

Example
He said, “I am happy.” – He said that he was happy.
 Direct Speech Reported Speech

Simple Present Simple Past

Present Progressive/Continuous Past Progressive/ Continuous

Simple Past

Present Perfect Simple Past Perfect Simple

Past Perfect Simple

Past Progressive

Present Perfect Progressive Past Perfect Progressive

Past Perfect Progressive

Future I (going to) was / were going to

Future I (will)
Conditional I (would)
Conditional I (would)

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.

Place and Time expressions

For place and time expressions you have to check whether place and time are the same in direct and
reported speech or not. Check out the following example:

It is Friday and you meet James at a restaurant. James

tells you that he saw Caroline in this restaurant today. (“I
saw Caroline here today.”) A few minutes later, Helen
joins you and you want to report what James has told
you. Place (here) and time (today) are the same and you
can say:

→ James said that he had seen Caroline here today.

One day later, you meet Mary at the same restaurant.

Again, you want to report to her what James has told
 you. The place is the same, but not the time (it happened
yesterday). So you would say:

→ James said that he had seen Caroline here yesterday.

Still a few days later, Tom rings you at home. Again,

you want to report to him what James has told you.
However, now you are not at the restaurant (but at
home) and a few days have passed since then. So you
would say:

→ James said that he had seen Caroline at the restaurant

on Friday.

oder

→ I met James in a restaurant on Friday and he said that

he had seen Caroline there that day.

Therefore you always have to think which place and time expressions are logical in a certain situation.

In the following table, you will find ways of transforming place and time expressions 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
 Exercise

Rewrite the sentences in reported speech. Change pronouns and time expressions where necessary.

1. She said, "I am reading."

→ She said that ______________________________________________________________
2. They said, "We are busy."
→ They said that ______________________________________________________________
3. He said, "I know a better restaurant."
→ He said that ________________________________________________________________
4. She said, "I woke up early."
→ She said that ________________________________________________________________
5. He said, "I will ring her."
→ He said that _________________________________________________________________
6. They said, "We have just arrived."
→ They said that _______________________________________________________________
7. He said, "I will clean the car."
→ He said that _________________________________________________________________
8. She said, "I did not say that."
→ She said that _________________________________________________________________
9. She said, "I don't know where my shoes are."
→ She said that _________________________________________________________________
10. He said: "I won't tell anyone."
→ He said that __________________________________________________________________

More sentences…

1. They said, "This is our book."

→ They said ______________________________________________________________
2. She said, "I went to the cinema yesterday."
→ She said _____________________________________________________________________
3. He said, "I am writing a test tomorrow."
→ He said ______________________________________________________________________
4. You said, "I will do this for him."
→ You said ____________________________________________________________________
5. She said, "I am not hungry now."
→ She said _____________________________________________________________________
6. They said, "We have never been here before."
→ They said _____________________________________________________________________
7. They said, "We were in London last week."
→ They said ______________________________________________________________________
8. He said, "I will have finished this paper by tomorrow."
→ He said ________________________________________________________________________
9. He said, "They won't sleep."
→ He said ________________________________________________________________________
10. She said, "It is very quiet here."
→ She said _______________________________________________________________________