Reported Speech (Indirect Speech) in English – Summary

How to use reported speech.

If you have a sentence in Direct Speech, try to follow our 5 steps to put the sentence into Reported Speech..

  • Define the type of the sentence (statement, questions, command)
  • What tense is used in the introductory sentence?
  • Do you have to change the person (pronoun)?
  • Do you have to backshift the tenses?
  • Do you have to change expressions of time and place?

1. Statements, Questions, Commands

Mind the type of sentences when you use Reported Speech. There is more detailed information on the following pages.

  • Commands, Requests

2. The introductory sentence

If you use Reported Speech there are mostly two main differences.

The introductory sentence in Reported Speech can be in the Present or in the Past .

If the introductory sentences is in the Simple Present, there is no backshift of tenses.

Direct Speech:

  • Susan, “ Mary work s in an office.”

Reported Speech:

  • Introductory sentence in the Simple Present → Susan says (that)* Mary work s in an office.
  • Introductory sentence in the Simple Past → Susan said (that)* Mary work ed in an office.

3. Change of persons/pronouns

If there is a pronoun in Direct Speech, it has possibly to be changed in Reported Speech, depending on the siutation.

  • Direct Speech → Susan, “I work in an office.”
  • Reported Speech → Susan said (that)* she worked in an office.

Here I is changed to she .

4. Backshift of tenses

If there is backshift of tenses in Reported Speech, the tenses are shifted the following way.

  • Direct Speech → Peter, “ I work in the garden.”
  • Reported Speech → Peter said (that)* he work ed in the garden.

5. Conversion of expressions of time and place

If there is an expression of time/place in the sentence, it may be changed, depending on the situation.

  • Direct Speech → Peter, “I worked in the garden yesterday .”
  • Reported Speech → Peter said (that) he had worked in the garden the day before .

6. Additional information

In some cases backshift of tenses is not necessary, e.g. when statements are still true. Backshift of tenses is never wrong.

  • John, “My brother is at Leipzig university.”
  • John said (that) his brother was at Leipzig university. or
  • John said (that) his brother is at Leipzig university.

when you use general statements.

  • Mandy, “The sun rises in the east.”
  • Mandy said (that) the sun rose in the east. or
  • Mandy said (that) the sun rises in the east.

* The word that is optional, that is the reason why we put it in brackets.

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IMAGES

  1. Reported Speech: A Complete Grammar Guide ~ ENJOY THE JOURNEY

    how to make reported speech

  2. Reported Speech: How To Use Reported Speech

    how to make reported speech

  3. ESL Teachers: REPORTED SPEECH

    how to make reported speech

  4. Reported Speech: A Complete Grammar Guide ~ ENJOY THE JOURNEY

    how to make reported speech

  5. Reported Speech: Important Grammar Rules and Examples • 7ESL

    how to make reported speech

  6. Reported Speech: A Complete Grammar Guide ~ ENJOY THE JOURNEY

    how to make reported speech

VIDEO

  1. REPORTED SPEECH IN ENGLISH |Indirect speech

  2. Reported speech

  3. Reported speech

  4. Reported Speech Part 1

  5. Reported Speech

  6. Reported speech Direct and Indirect speech|| grammar 📚 subscribe to my channel 💕#education #viral

COMMENTS

  1. Reported Speech (Indirect Speech) in Eng…

    Here's how it works: We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'. ( Click here for more about using 'say' and 'tell' .) If this verb is in the present tense, it's easy. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence: Direct speech: I like ice cream. Reported speech: She says (that) …