Reported Speech in English: Rules, Changes and Practice

Hello English learners! Welcome to a new lesson. Today, we are going to look at reported speech, also called indirect speech. This is one of the most useful grammar topics in English because we use it all the time when we want to report what somebody said, asked, told us, or suggested.

If you are preparing for B2 First or C1 Advanced, reported speech is especially important because it helps you write and speak in a more accurate, natural, and flexible way.

In this lesson, you will learn:

what reported speech is
the difference between direct speech and reported speech
how to use say and tell
how tenses change
how pronouns, time words, and place words change
how to report statements, questions, commands, and requests

And at the end, you will find plenty of practice to help you remember it all.

What is reported speech?

Direct speech gives the exact words somebody said. We use quotation marks.

Sara said, “I like swimming.”

Reported speech tells us what someone said, but not in exactly the same words. We do not use quotation marks.

Sara said that she liked swimming.

The meaning stays the same, but the structure changes.

Say and tell in reported speech

Learners often confuse say and tell, so let’s make this nice and clear.

We use say

when we do not mention the person who listened.

Simon said that he wanted to go home.

We can also say:

Simon said to me that he wanted to go home.

However, this structure is less common than told me.

We use tell

when it is followed by the person spoken to.

Simon told me that he wanted to go home.

So remember:

say + something
tell + someone + something

A good old grammar rule, but still a useful one.

What can we report?

We can report:

statements
questions
commands
requests
suggestions

Let’s look at each area step by step.

Reported statements

To report a statement, we usually use a reporting verb such as say or tell, followed by a that-clause.

Peter said that he wanted to buy a new car.
Rebecca told me that she was going to work.

In spoken English, that is often omitted.

Peter said he wanted to buy a new car.
Rebecca told me she was going to work.

Both forms are correct.

Tense changes in reported speech

When the reporting verb is in the past, the tense in the original sentence often moves one step back into the past.

Present Simple → Past Simple

Peter said, “I want to buy a new car.”
Peter said that he wanted to buy a new car.

Present Continuous → Past Continuous

Rebecca said, “I am going to work.”
Rebecca said that she was going to work.

Present Perfect → Past Perfect

Paul said, “I’ve already had breakfast.”
Paul said that he had already had breakfast.

Past Simple → Past Simple or Past Perfect

Rob said, “I arrived at the office at 8.15.”
Rob said that he arrived at the office at 8.15.
Rob said that he had arrived at the office at 8.15.

Past Continuous → Past Continuous or Past Perfect Continuous

Barry said, “I was sleeping at four.”
Barry said that he was sleeping at four.
Barry said that he had been sleeping at four.

am / is / are going to → was / were going to

He said, “I am going to sell my car.”
He said that he was going to sell his car.

will → would

Tanya said, “I’ll go home for lunch.”
Tanya said that she would go home for lunch.

Present Perfect Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous

Gabi said, “We have been waiting for hours.”
Gabi said that they had been waiting for hours.

Tenses that do not usually change

Sometimes the tense stays the same.

1. Past perfect usually stays the same

Sally said, “I had learned to read by the time I was five.”
Sally said that she had learned to read by the time she was five.

2. When the reporting verb is in the present

Jill says, “I can do it by myself.”
Jill says that she can do it by herself.

3. When the statement is still true or is a general truth

Ryan said, “The Moon goes around the Earth.”
Ryan said that the Moon goes around the Earth.

That one is still true, unless the universe has changed its timetable without warning.

Modal verb changes in reported speech

Some modal verbs change in reported speech.

Modal verbs that usually change

can → could

Bill said, “I can swim.”
Bill said that he could swim.

may → might

He said, “I may play basketball in the afternoon.”
He said that he might play basketball in the afternoon.

must → had to

Sonya said, “I must go.”
Sonya said that she had to go.

Modal verbs that usually do not change

could → could

Jane said, “I could drop by later.”
Jane said that she could drop by later.

might → might

They said, “We might regret our decision.”
They said that they might regret their decision.

would → would

He said, “I would like to come.”
He said that he would like to come.

should → should

Chris said, “I should buy a new car.”
Chris said that he should buy a new car.

ought to → ought to

Patricia said, “You ought to eat more.”
Patricia said that I ought to eat more.

Changes in pronouns and possessive adjectives

Pronouns and possessive adjectives change according to the meaning.

She said, “We can go to the cinema.”
She said that they could go to the cinema.

You always need to think about who I, you, we, my, and your refer to in the new sentence.

Changes in place and time words

In reported speech, words referring to time and place often change.

Place words

this → that
these → those
here → there

Examples:

He said, “This is my phone.”
He said that that was his phone.
She said, “I’ll wait for you here.”
She said that she would wait for me there.

Time expressions

now → then
today → that day
tonight → that night
this week → that week
yesterday → the day before
last week → the previous week
tomorrow → the next day / the following day
next month → the following month
two days ago → two days before

These changes help show that we are looking back from a different point in time.

Reported questions

In reported questions, we do not use question word order, and we do not use a question mark.

So instead of:

She asked if was he tired. ❌

we say:

She asked if he was tired. ✅

Yes / no questions

To report a yes/no question, we use if or whether.

She asked, “Are you coming home for dinner?”
She asked him if / whether he was coming home for dinner.

Wh-questions

To report a wh-question, we use the question word.

He asked, “What time are you coming home?”
He asked me what time I was coming home.

More examples:

“Where do you live?”
She asked me where I lived.
“Why are you laughing?”
He asked why I was laughing.

Reported commands and requests

To report commands and requests, we usually use:

tell / ask + object + to-infinitive

Commands

The teacher told me, “Do your homework.”
The teacher told me to do my homework.

Negative commands

Mother said to me, “Don’t touch the glass.”
Mother told me not to touch the glass.

Requests

The policeman said, “Can I search the house?”
The policeman asked me to let him search the house.

That last version is much more natural than simply saying asked me to search the house, because it reflects the real meaning of the original request.

Final thoughts

Reported speech is one of those grammar topics that may look complicated at first, but once you understand the patterns, it becomes much easier. The key is to notice the changes in tense, pronouns, word order, and time expressions.

Take it step by step, and remember: English likes order. Reported speech is simply direct speech wearing a tidy jacket.

Download reported speech practice worksheet in PDF here

Grammatical Patterns after Reporting Verbs

Direct and Indirect Questions

Cleft Sentences

Nominalisation in English

Modal Verbs of Speculation

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