An introduction to reported speech with practice problems.
Reported Speech Guide for ESL Students
Mastering Reported Speech
Learn how to tell people what someone else said!
What is Reported Speech?
We use reported speech (or indirect speech) to tell someone what another person said. When we do this, we often change the tense of the verb and the pronouns.
Direct Speech
This is exactly what the person said, using quotation marks (" ").
Suda said, "I am very happy today."
Reported Speech
This is reporting the speech to someone else, usually without quotation marks.
Suda said that she was very happy that day.
Key Changes:
The verb tense often moves back one step (e.g., am → was). This is called "backshifting".
Pronouns change (e.g., I → she).
Time and place words can also change (e.g., today → that day).
Rule 1: Tense Changes (Backshifting)
When we report what someone said in the past, the verb tense usually "takes one step back" into the past.
Present Simple → Past Simple
"I like mango." → He said that he liked mango.
Present Continuous → Past Continuous
"I am studying." → She said that she was studying.
Past Simple / Present Perfect → Past Perfect
"I finished my homework." → He said he had finished his homework.
will → would, can → could, may → might
"I will call you." → He said he would call me.
Important Note:
If the information in the direct speech is still true, you don't have to change the tense. This is common when reporting facts. For example: "The earth is round." → He said that the earth is round.
Rule 2: Pronoun & Time/Place Words
You must also change pronouns and words about time and place to match the new situation.
✅ Pronoun Changes
The pronoun changes depending on who is speaking.
"I like my job," he said. → He said he liked his job.
"We will visit," they said. → They said they would visit.
✅ Time & Place Changes
These words often need to "move" with the time of reporting.
now → then / at that time
today → that day
yesterday → the day before
tomorrow → the next day
here → there
Example Sentence:
Direct: Malee said, "My brother is coming to meet me heretomorrow."
Reported: Malee said that her brother was coming to meet hertherethe next day.
Practice Quiz!
Let's check your understanding. Choose the best option to report the speech.
