Introduction to Reported Speech
Reported Speech, often referred to as indirect speech, is a vital component in English language learning, especially for ESL students. It’s used to relay what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. This linguistic approach is essential for effective communication, as it allows speakers to integrate others’ thoughts, statements, or questions into their own discourse, while adapting them to fit the grammatical context. Understanding and mastering Reported Speech is not only crucial for daily conversation but also for academic and professional settings.
Reported Speech is used to tell or report what someone has said.
For example, look at this sentence: Harry said, “I love Susan.” If we ask someone else to tell us what Harry said, the person would say (or report) what the first person said like this.
He said he loved Susan.
Or Harry said he loved Susan.
But notice how the verb tense changed. Love became loved. Here are some rules…
The present tense verb is change to the past tense in reported speech.
Sally said, “I like pizza.”
What did she say?
She said (that*) she liked pizza.
The past tense is change to the past perfect in reported speech.
Joe said, “I went to New York City.”
What did he say?
He said (that) he had gone to New York City.
The present continuous is changed to the past continuous.
Michael said, “I am taking an English class.”
What did he say?
He said (that) he was taking an English class.
*You can use the work that in reported speech if you want. It doesn’t matter if you do or not.
Make sure to check out Reported Speech – Part 2 for additional lessons, FAQs, and a practice quiz.
Practice Quiz on Reported Speech
Below is a 6-question quiz designed to test and reinforce your understanding of Reported Speech. Try converting the following direct speech examples into reported speech:
Check Your UnderstandingWrite the sentences using reported speech.
1. Lisa said, “I like to cook.” What did she say?
2. Tony said, “I finished his homework.” What did he say?
3. Ryan said, “I am working right now.” What did he say?
4. Gwen and Ed said, “We are going to Canada.” What did they say?
5. The teachers said, “We help students everyday.” What did they say?
6. The radio announcer said, “It rained this morning.” What did he say?
Remember, pay attention to changes in verb tense, pronouns, and time/place references. Once you have tried converting these sentences, compare your answers with the examples provided earlier or with a partner to assess your understanding.
Answer Key:
- She said (that) she liked to cook.
- He said (that) he had finished his homework.
- He said (that) he was working right now.
- They said (that) they were going to Canada.
- They said (that) they helped students everyday.
- He said (that) it had rained this morning.
Frequently Asked Questions about Reported Speech
Direct speech quotes the exact words spoken, using quotation marks. For example: She said, “I am busy.” Reported speech, on the other hand, paraphrases these words without quotation marks and often requires grammatical adjustments. Example: She said she was busy.
Generally, verb tenses in reported speech shift back one tense. For example, present simple becomes past simple (e.g., “I go” becomes “he said he went”). However, if the reporting is done in the present, or the original statement is about a universal truth or habitual action, the tense may not change.
Pronouns in reported speech usually change to maintain the original speaker’s perspective. For instance, “I” often changes to “he” or “she”, and “you” changes to “he”, “she”, or “they”, depending on the context.
Yes, references to time and place are usually adjusted to suit the perspective of the reporter. Words like “today” might change to “that day,” and “here” might change to “there.”
When reporting questions, the sentence structure changes from a question format to a statement format. The tense often changes similarly to statements. For example, “Are you coming?” changes to “He asked if I was coming.”