Reported Speech

I am very happy today.

Susanna said (that) she was very happy that day.

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We use reported speech to talk about what someone said.

When we report a statement, we have to:

 take away the quotation marks

e.g Some students are talking, said the teacher. The teacher said (that) some students were talking.
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 change the tense

simple present t simple past present continuous t past continuous e.g I am very happy today, said Susanna. Susanna said (that) she was very happy that day. e.g Some students are talking, said the teacher. The teacher said (that) some students were talking.
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 change the pronouns

I/you t he/she we/you t they us/you t them our/your t their me/you t him/her my/your t his/her

mine/yours t his/hers ours/yours t theirs e.g I am very happy today, said Susanna. Susanna said (that) she was very happy that day.
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 change the time words

today yesterday tomorrow t that day t the day before t the following day

e.g. I am very happy today, said Susanna. Susanna said (that) she was very happy that day.
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How many people are there in your family?

Tony asked Ray how many people there were in his family.

When we report a question, we have to:

 take away the quotation marks  change the tense  change the pronouns  change the time words
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We also have to:  change the question mark to a full stop e.g. How many people are there in your family? Tony asked Ray. Tony asked Ray how many people there were in his family.
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 change the order of words

e.g. How many people are there in your family? Tony asked Ray. Tony asked Ray how many people there were in his family.
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