Grammar

Reported Speech
Grammar – Reported Speech
Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is a
means of expressing the content of statements,
questions or other utterances, without quoting them
as is done in direct speech.
For example:
He said "I'm coming" is direct speech
whereas He said he was coming is indirect/reported
speech.
 Direct Speech - Tense Reported Speech

present simple Simple past tense

present continuous Past continuous

past simple Past perfect

past continuous Past perfect continuous

present perfect Past perfect
past perfect* Past perfect

will would
would* would
can could

could* could
shall would
ought to/should* ought to/should
may might
might* might/had to
have to/has to had to
must must
 Tense Direct Speech Reported Speech
present simple I like ice cream She said (that) she liked ice cream.
She said (that) she was living in
present continuous I am living in London
London.
She said (that) she had bought a car
past simple I bought a car
OR She said (that) she bought a car.
She said (that) she had been walking
past continuous I was walking along the street
along the street.
present perfect I haven't seen Julie She said (that) she hadn't seen Julie.
She said (that) she had taken English
past perfect* I had taken English lessons before
lessons before.
She said (that) she would see me
will I'll see you later
later.
would* I would help, but..” She said (that) she would help but...
She said (that) she could speak
can I can speak perfect English
perfect English.
She said (that) she could swim when
could* I could swim when I was four
she was four.
shall I shall come later She said (that) she would come later.
She said (that) she should call her
should* I should call my mother
mother
might* I might be late She said (that) she might be late
She said (that) she must study at the
must I must study at the weekend weekend OR She said she had to
study at the weekend
Grammar – Reported Speech
If we want to mention who the speaker talked to,
we use told, otherwise we use said.

She said that she had lost her wallet.

She told me that she had lost her wallet.

Grammar – Reported Speech
* We use the infinitive (the base form of the verb with ‘to’’ in front - to
do/to stay) in reported speech, especially with told and ask (for orders
and requests)

1. “Stay in bed for a few days,” the doctor said to me.

The doctor told me to stay in bed for a few days.
2. “Don’t shout,” I said to Jim.
I told Jim not to shout.
3. “Please don’t tell anybody what happened,” Sonia said to
me.
Sonia asked me not to tell anybody what had happened.
Grammar – Reported Speech
Direct Speech Indirect Speech

We usually change from first or second to third person

Pronouns and possessive adjectives
except when the speaker is reporting his own words.
today that day
yesterday the day before (the previous day)
Tomorrow / the next day The following day
The day before yesterday Two days before / earlier
Yesterday morning The previous morning
A year / month / week ago A year before / earlier
The day after tomorrow In two days' time
Next week / month / year The following week / month / year
now then
tonight that night
here here / there
this that, it
these those
 Reported Speech
* If the reporting verb (say, tell, remark, declare etc) is in the present
tense, present perfect or future tense the statement can be
reported without changing the tense.
Present
e.g. He says, “I was happy.” (Direct speech)
He says that he was happy. (Indirect speech)

Present Perfect
e.g. He has said, “It is my fault.” (Direct speech)
He has said that it is his fault. (Indirect speech)

Future
e.g. She will say, “I have not been well.” (Direct speech)
She will say that she has not been well. (Indirect speech)
Grammar – Reported Speech
1. She said, ‘I returned the book.’ (past tense)
She said that she had returned the book. (past perfect)
2. The coach remarked, ‘It is very warm.’ (present tense)
The coach remarked that it was very warm. (past tense)
3. Rahul said “I asked him for help as he is a trustworthy
person.” (past tense)
Rahul said that he had asked him for help as he is a
trustworthy person. (past perfect)
4. ‘I will not accept any payment,’ he declared.
He declared that he would not accept any payment.
(will – would)
5. Viraj said, ‘My brother works in a firm.’ (present tense)
Viraj said that his brother worked in a firm. (past tense)