Reported Speech

Direct speech: It is the exact words said by the speaker.

Indirect speech: It is the speaker’s speech that is reported by others with
some changes.

Statements Questions Orders/imperatives

S + reporting verb, “..speech..”
S + reporting verb + that +..speech..
Wh Q: Wh word S+ reporting verb+to+stem
Yes/no Q: if/whether s+reporting verv+ not to+stem

1- Statement: He said:” I study at the secondary school”.

He said that he studied at the
secondary school.
2- Questions: He said: “ who is t
Wh Q
He asked me who that girl was.
He said: “Did you live here?” Yes/No Q
He asked me if I had lived there
3- Imperatives: He says/said: “would you please help me to write a report?”.
(Request )
He asks/asked me to help him to write a report.
He said, “write your report today!”. (order +)
He ordered me to write my report that day.
He said, “Don’t write your report now!”. (order-)
He ordered me not to write my report then.
If the reporting verb in (PRESENT.SIMLPE): Tenses do not change.

If the reporting verb in (PAST.SIMPLE): Tenses do change.

Table of tenses’ shift.

The tense in quoted The tense in reported
(direct) speech (indirect) speech
- Simple past - Past perfect [had+v(past
participle)]
- Past continuous [was/were+v(ing)] - Past perfect continuous
[had+been+v(ing)]
- Past perfect - Past perfect

- Simple present - Simple past [(regular v+ed)

(irregular v changes)]
- Present perfect [has/have+v(past - Past perfect
participle)]