REPORTED SPEECH

Definition
Reported speech is often also called indirect speech. When we use reported speech, we are usually talking about the past (because obviously the person who spoke originally spoke in the past). The verbs therefore usually have to be in the past too. For example: "I'm going to the cinema". He said he was going to the cinema.
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)

Pronouns
In reported speech, you often have to change the pronoun depending on who says what.
Example She says, My mum doesnt have time today. She says that her mum doesnt have time today.

Tenses
No backshift

Do not change the tense if the introductory clause is in Simple Present (e. g. He says). Note, however, that you might have to change the form of the present tense verb (3rd person singular).
Example He says, I speak English. He says that he speaks English. 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 SpeechReported Speech Simple PresentSimple Past Present ProgressivePast Progressive Simple PastPast Perfect Simple Present Perfect Simple Past Perfect Simple Past ProgressivePast Perfect Progressive Present 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, neednt, 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. 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 SpeechReported Speech todaythat day nowthen yesterdaythe day before days ago days before

last weekthe week before next yearthe following year tomorrowthe next day / the following day herethere thisthat

Questions
When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:

pronouns present tense verbs (3rd person singular) place and time expressions tenses (backshift) transform the question into an indirect question use the interrogative or if / whether

Also note that you have to:

Type Example with interrogative direct speech Why dont you speak English? reported speech He asked me why I didnt speak English. without interrogative direct speech Do you speak English? reported speech He asked me whether / if I spoke English.

Questions in Reported Speech

For pronouns, tenses and place / time expressions see statements in reported speech. Besides, note that instead of that you use the interrogative. If there is no interrogative, use whether / if. Direct Speech statement He said: She lives in London. question with interrogative He asked:Where does she live? question without He asked: Does she live in interrogative London? Reported Speech He said that she lived in London He asked where she lived. He asked whether she lived in London.

He asked if she lived in London. It is also important that you use an indirect question in reported speech, i.e. after the interrogative or whether / if you continue the sentence as if it were a statement (subject-verb etc.). The auxiliary verb do is not used in indirect questions. Example: He asked: Where does she live? He asked where she lived.

Requests
When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:

pronouns place and time expressions

Type Example direct speech Carol, speak English. reported speech He told Carol to speak English.

For pronouns and place / time expressions see statements in reported speech. Tenses are not relevant for requests simply use to + infinite verb. Example: She said, Say hello to your mum. She asked me to say hello to my mum. For negative requests, use not to + infinite verb. Example: He said, Dont give up, Bob. He advised Bob not to give up.

Additional Information and Exceptions

Apart from the above mentioned basic rules, there are further aspects that you should keep in mind, for example:

main clauses connected with and / but tense of the introductory clause reported speech for difficult tenses

exceptions for backshift requests with must, should, ought to and lets

Main Clauses connected with and / but

If two complete main clauses are connected with and or but, put that after the conjunction.
Example: He said, I saw her but she didnt see me. He said that he had seen her but that she hadnt seen him.

If the subject is left out in the second main clause (the conjunction is followed by a verb), do not use that.
Example: She said, I am a nurse and work in a hospital. He said that she was a nurse and worked in a hospital.

Tense of the Introductory Clause

The introductory clause usually is in Past Tense.
Example: He said that

Present Tense is often used to report a conversation that is still going on, e. g. during a phone call or while reading a letter.
Example: I am fine. Tom says / writes that he is fine.

The introductory clause can also be in another tense. In the following table you can see, for which tense of the introductory clause you have to use backshift in reported speech.
No Backshift

Backshift

if introductory clause is in Simple Present (He says ) Present Perfect (He has said ) Future I will (He will say ) Future I going to (He is going to

if introductory clause is in Simple Past (He said ) Past Perfect (He had said ) Future II ( He will have said ) Conditional I (He would say )

say )

Conditional II (He would have said )

Backshift in Reported Speech

The basic rules for backshift when transforming direct speech into reported speech are:
Direct Speech Simple Present Present Progressive Simple Past Present Perfect Past Perfect Past Progressive Present Perfect Progressive Past Perfect Progressive Future I (going to) Future I (will) Conditional I Future II Conditional II Exceptions Reported Speech Simple Past Past Progressive Past Perfect Simple

Past Perfect Progressive

was / were going to Conditional I Conditional II

Backshift of Simple Present is optional if the situation is still unchanged or if you agree with the original speaker.
Beispiel: Canberra is the capital of Australia. She said that Canberra is / was the capital of Australia.

Backshift of Simple Past and Past Progressive is optional if they cannot be mistakenly taken for backshift of Present Tense. So backshift is not necessary if there is a time expression indicating past.
Example: She left Boston on Monday. He said that she left / had left Boston on Monday.

Simple Past and Past Progressive do not normally change in sentences with when / if.

Example: When I was having breakfast, the telephone suddenly rang. She said that when she was having breakfast, the telephone suddenly rang. Example: If I had more time, I would learn French. He said that if he had more time, he would learn French.

Requests
The basic rule for requests is: introductory clause + to + infinite verb.
Example: Say hello to your mum. She asked me to say hello to my mum.

Advise expressions with must, should and ought are usually reported using advise / urge.
Example: You must read that book. He advised / urged me to read that book.

The expression lets is usually reported using suggest. In this case, there are various possibilities for reported speech: gerund or statement with should.
Example: Lets go to the cinema. He suggested going to the cinema. He suggested that we should go.to the cinema.