When you tell someone what another person said, you do not always repeat their exact words. Instead, you often use reported speech to communicate the original message in your own sentence.

For example, imagine your friend says, “I am tired.” Later, you tell another person about the conversation. You might say, “My friend said that she was tired.”

Both sentences communicate the same basic message, but the grammar changes. The pronoun changes from I to she, and the verb changes from am to was.

Understanding reported speech rules helps you describe conversations accurately, explain information, and communicate what other people have said. It is also useful for developing your overall English grammar and understanding spoken English in different contexts.

In this guide, you will learn how to change direct speech into indirect speech, when to change verb tenses, how to report questions and commands, and how to avoid common mistakes. You will also find practical exercises to test your understanding.

What Is Reported Speech in English?

Reported speech, also called indirect speech, is used to tell someone what another person said without repeating their exact words.

There are two main forms of speech: direct speech and reported speech.

Direct Speech

Direct speech repeats the speaker’s exact words. Quotation marks are normally used in writing.

Examples:

• Sara said, “I am busy.”
• Ahmed said, “I work in Doha.”
• The teacher said, “The exam starts at nine.”
• Mary said, “I have finished my homework.”

The words inside quotation marks represent what the original speaker said.

Reported Speech

Reported speech communicates the original message without quoting the exact words. Quotation marks are not normally needed.

Examples:

• Sara said that she was busy.
• Ahmed said that he worked in Doha.
• The teacher said that the exam started at nine.
• Mary said that she had finished her homework.

Notice that the original message remains broadly the same, but the grammar may change to fit the new sentence.

The word that is often used to introduce a reported statement, but it can usually be omitted.

For example:

• He said that he was tired.
• He said he was tired.

Both sentences are correct.

Reported Speech Rules: The Basic Structure

The structure of reported speech depends on whether you are reporting a statement, question, command, request, or suggestion.

For a statement, the basic structure is:

Subject + reporting verb + (that) + reported statement

Examples:

• She said that she was happy.
• He told me that he needed help.
• They explained that the meeting had been cancelled.

The reporting verb introduces the information being reported. Common reporting verbs include say, tell, explain, ask, promise, and suggest.

The structure changes for questions and commands, as explained later in this guide.

The Difference Between “Say” and “Tell”

One of the most important reported speech rules concerns the verbs say and tell.

Use say when you focus on the words or message. If you mention the listener, use say to someone.

Examples:

• She said that she was tired.
• He said to me that he needed more time.

Use tell when you mention the person who receives the information. It is normally followed by an object.

Examples:

• She told me that she was tired.
• He told his manager that he needed more time.
• They told us that the office was closed.

Compare these sentences:

Incorrect: She told that she was tired.

Correct: She said that she was tired.

Correct: She told me that she was tired.

A useful rule to remember is that tell normally needs a person as its object, while say does not.

Reported Speech Tense Changes

One of the most common features of reported speech is backshift. Backshift means moving the verb into an earlier tense when the reporting verb is in the past.

For example:

Direct speech: “I am hungry.”

Reported speech: She said that she was hungry.

The present simple form am changes to the past simple form was.

However, backshift is not always necessary. The correct choice depends on the reporting verb, the context, and whether the original information is still true or relevant.

Reported Speech Tense Change Table

The following table shows the most common tense changes when the reporting verb is in the past.

Direct Speech	Reported Speech	Example
Present simple	Past simple	“I live here.” → He said he lived there.
Present continuous	Past continuous	“I am studying.” → She said she was studying.
Present perfect	Past perfect	“I have finished.” → He said he had finished.
Present perfect continuous	Past perfect continuous	“I have been waiting.” → She said she had been waiting.
Past simple	Past perfect	“I saw him.” → She said she had seen him.
Past continuous	Past perfect continuous	“I was sleeping.” → He said he had been sleeping.
Will	Would	“I will call you.” → She said she would call me.
Can	Could	“I can swim.” → He said he could swim.
May	Might	“I may be late.” → She said she might be late.
Must	Had to (for obligation)	“I must leave.” → He said he had to leave.

These are common patterns rather than automatic changes that apply in every situation. Some modal verbs and past forms can remain unchanged when the context makes that appropriate.

Rule 1: Present Simple Changes to Past Simple

When the reporting verb is in the past, the present simple often changes to the past simple.

Examples:

Direct speech: “I work in a hospital.”

Reported speech: He said that he worked in a hospital.

Direct speech: “She speaks three languages.”

Reported speech: They said that she spoke three languages.

Direct speech: “We live near the university.”

Reported speech: They said that they lived near the university.

The main verb moves back one tense to fit the reporting context.

Rule 2: Present Continuous Changes to Past Continuous

The present continuous often changes to the past continuous.

Examples:

Direct speech: “I am preparing for my exam.”

Reported speech: She said that she was preparing for her exam.

Direct speech: “They are watching a film.”

Reported speech: He said that they were watching a film.

Direct speech: “We are waiting for the bus.”

Reported speech: They said that they were waiting for the bus.

Remember that both the auxiliary verb and the main verb form may change.

Rule 3: Present Perfect Changes to Past Perfect

The present perfect commonly changes to the past perfect when reporting a statement with a past reporting verb.

Examples:

Direct speech: “I have completed the assignment.”

Reported speech: He said that he had completed the assignment.

Direct speech: “She has visited London.”

Reported speech: They said that she had visited London.

Direct speech: “We have already eaten.”

Reported speech: They told me that they had already eaten.

The present perfect uses have/has + past participle, while the past perfect uses had + past participle.

Rule 4: Past Simple Often Changes to Past Perfect

The past simple often changes to the past perfect when the reporting verb is in the past.

Examples:

Direct speech: “I bought a new laptop.”

Reported speech: She said that she had bought a new laptop.

Direct speech: “We visited the museum.”

Reported speech: They said that they had visited the museum.

Direct speech: “He missed the bus.”

Reported speech: She explained that he had missed the bus.

In everyday English, speakers sometimes retain the past simple when the sequence of events is already clear. However, the past perfect is a useful and standard way to show that the reported event happened before the reporting moment.

Rule 5: Will Changes to Would

When reporting a future intention or prediction, will commonly changes to would.

Examples:

Direct speech: “I will help you.”

Reported speech: She said that she would help me.

Direct speech: “We will arrive tomorrow.”

Reported speech: They said that they would arrive the next day.

Direct speech: “He will call later.”

Reported speech: She told me that he would call later.

Notice that time expressions may also change depending on when the statement is reported.

Rule 6: Can, May and Must

Modal verbs often change in reported speech, but the appropriate form depends on their meaning.

Common changes include:

• can → could
• may → might
• must → had to when expressing obligation in many contexts

Examples:

Direct speech: “I can speak French.”

Reported speech: He said that he could speak French.

Direct speech: “I may join you.”

Reported speech: She said that she might join us.

Direct speech: “I must finish this report today.”

Reported speech: He said that he had to finish that report that day.

The verb must does not always have to become had to. When it expresses a logical conclusion or when the obligation still applies, must may remain unchanged.

For example:

Direct speech: “You must be exhausted.”

Reported speech: She said that I must be exhausted.

In this example, must expresses a deduction rather than an obligation.

When Do You Need to Change the Tense?

Backshift is common, but it is not compulsory in every reported sentence.

Understanding when to change the tense will help you avoid unnatural or inaccurate sentences.

When the Reporting Verb Is in the Present

If the reporting verb is in the present, the original tense usually remains unchanged.

Examples:

Direct speech: “I am busy.”

Reported speech: She says that she is busy.

Direct speech: “I work from home.”

Reported speech: He says that he works from home.

Direct speech: “We have finished the task.”

Reported speech: They say that they have finished the task.

Because says and say are present-tense reporting verbs, the original tense generally remains the same.

When the Information Is Still True

You can often keep the original tense when the statement remains true at the time of reporting.

Direct speech: “The Earth revolves around the Sun.”

Reported speech: The teacher said that the Earth revolves around the Sun.

The present simple remains appropriate because this is a general scientific fact.

Another example:

Direct speech: “Water boils at 100°C at standard atmospheric pressure.”

Reported speech: The teacher explained that water boils at 100°C at standard atmospheric pressure.

The present simple is appropriate because the statement describes a general fact under specified conditions.

You may also hear the past simple in some reported statements, depending on context and the speaker’s focus. The important point is to preserve the intended meaning.

When You Are Reporting Something Immediately

If you report something shortly after hearing it, you may not need to change the tense, especially when the information is still current.

For example:

Direct speech: “I need some help.”

Reported speech: He says he needs some help.

If you report the same statement later using a past reporting verb, backshift may be more natural:

He said that he needed some help.

The best choice depends on the timing and context.

Pronoun Changes in Reported Speech

Pronouns often change because the person reporting the message may be different from the original speaker.

For example:

Direct speech: Sara said, “I am tired.”

Reported speech: Sara said that she was tired.

The pronoun I changes to she because the sentence is now being reported by someone else.

Other examples:

• Direct: Ali said, “I have lost my keys.”
• Reported: Ali said that he had lost his keys.
• Direct: Mary said, “We are ready.”
• Reported: Mary said that they were ready.
• Direct: Ahmed said to me, “You can use my computer.”
• Reported: Ahmed told me that I could use his computer.

Pronoun changes depend on who originally spoke, who was addressed, and who is reporting the message. They do not follow one fixed substitution table in every situation.

Before changing a pronoun, ask yourself:

1. Who said the original sentence?
2. Who was the speaker talking to?
3. Who is reporting the message now?

Answering these questions will help you choose the correct pronouns.

Changes to Time and Place Expressions

When you report speech at a different time or place, some time and place expressions may need to change.

For example:

Direct speech: “I will see you tomorrow.”

Reported speech: She said that she would see me the next day.

The word tomorrow changes to the next day because the reporting context has changed.

Common Time and Place Changes

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
now	then / at that time
today	that day
yesterday	the day before / the previous day
tomorrow	the next day / the following day
last night	the night before
next week	the following week
two days ago	two days before / two days earlier
this week	that week
here	there
this	that
these	those

These changes are common, but they are not always necessary. If the time or place reference is still accurate, the original expression may remain appropriate.

For example, if you report a message on the same day, today may still be correct.

Direct speech: “I have a meeting today.”

Reported speech, later that same day: She said that she had a meeting today.

The word today remains meaningful because the reporting takes place on the same day.

Always consider the actual time and place rather than changing every expression automatically.

How to Report Questions in English

Reported questions follow different word-order rules from direct questions. The most important rule is that reported questions normally use statement word order.

In other words, you do not usually keep the auxiliary-subject inversion found in direct questions.

There are two main types: yes/no questions and WH-questions.

Rule 1: Reporting Yes/No Questions

Use if or whether to report a question that can be answered with yes or no.

The structure is:

Subject + asked + if/whether + subject + verb

Examples:

Direct question: “Are you ready?”

Reported question: She asked if I was ready.

Direct question: “Do you speak English?”

Reported question: He asked whether I spoke English.

Direct question: “Have they arrived?”

Reported question: She asked if they had arrived.

Notice that the reported question does not use the usual direct-question word order.

Incorrect: She asked if was I ready.

Correct: She asked if I was ready.

Rule 2: Reporting WH-Questions

WH-questions begin with words such as what, where, when, why, who, and how.

When reporting these questions, keep the question word but use statement word order.

Examples:

Direct question: “Where do you live?”

Reported question: He asked where I lived.

Direct question: “What are you doing?”

Reported question: She asked what I was doing.

Direct question: “When will the meeting start?”

Reported question: He asked when the meeting would start.

Direct question: “Why did you leave early?”

Reported question: She asked why I had left early.

The auxiliary verb do or did is generally removed when it is only used to form the direct question, and the remaining verb is placed in the appropriate tense.

Rule 3: Do Not Use a Question Mark for an Indirect Question in a Statement

An indirect question embedded in a statement does not normally end with a question mark.

Examples:

• She asked me where I lived.
• He wanted to know whether I was available.
• They asked when the train would arrive.

However, if the entire sentence is itself a question, a question mark may be needed.

For example:

“Could you tell me where the station is?”

The embedded question uses statement word order, but the overall sentence is a direct question.

How to Report Commands, Requests and Instructions

Commands and requests often use the structure:

Reporting verb + object + to + base verb

For negative commands, use:

Reporting verb + object + not to + base verb

Reporting Commands

Examples:

Direct speech: The teacher said to me, “Open your book.”

Reported speech: The teacher told me to open my book.

Direct speech: The manager said, “Finish the report.”

Reported speech: The manager instructed the team to finish the report.

Common reporting verbs include tell, instruct, order, and ask. Choose a verb that reflects the speaker’s intention and level of authority.

Reporting Requests

Use ask + object + to + verb for many reported requests.

Examples:

Direct speech: “Please help me.”

Reported speech: She asked me to help her.

Direct speech: “Please wait here.”

Reported speech: He asked us to wait there.

Direct speech: “Could you send me the document?”

Reported speech: She asked me to send her the document.

The reporting verb ask is especially useful when the original speaker is making a polite request rather than giving an order.

Reporting Negative Commands

Use not to before the base verb.

Examples:

Direct speech: “Don’t touch the equipment.”

Reported speech: The instructor told us not to touch the equipment.

Direct speech: “Don’t be late.”

Reported speech: She told him not to be late.

Direct speech: “Please don’t make noise.”

Reported speech: He asked them not to make noise.

Do not use don’t in the reported command structure.

Incorrect: She told me don’t be late.

Correct: She told me not to be late.

Reporting Suggestions and Advice

Suggestions and advice can be reported using different verbs and structures.

Using “Suggest”

One common structure is:

Suggest + verb-ing

Examples:

Direct speech: “Let’s take a break.”

Reported speech: She suggested taking a break.

Direct speech: “Why don’t we study together?”

Reported speech: He suggested studying together.

Another possible structure uses that followed by a clause:

• She suggested that we take a break.
• He suggested that we study together.

In this structure, the base form of the verb is common in formal English, particularly in American English. Other forms may also occur depending on the variety of English and context.

Avoid using suggest with an object followed directly by an infinitive in standard English.

Incorrect: She suggested me to take a break.

Better: She suggested taking a break.

Also correct: She suggested that I take a break.

Using “Advise”

The verb advise can be used with an object followed by an infinitive.

Examples:

Direct speech: “You should get more sleep.”

Reported speech: The doctor advised me to get more sleep.

Direct speech: “You should practise every day.”

Reported speech: The teacher advised us to practise every day.

You can also report advice using said that:

“She said that I should get more sleep.”

The best structure depends on whether you want to emphasise the advice itself or the person receiving it.

Common Reported Speech Mistakes

Reported speech can be challenging because several grammar elements may change at the same time. The following mistakes are especially common among English learners.

Incorrect Sentence	Correct Sentence	Explanation
She said me that she was tired.	She told me that she was tired.	Use tell with an object, or use say without one.
He said that he is busy.	He said that he was busy.	Backshift is common with a past reporting verb when the context supports it.
She asked where did I live.	She asked where I lived.	Reported questions use statement word order.
He told me don’t go.	He told me not to go.	Negative commands use not to + verb.
She suggested me to study.	She suggested studying.	Suggest is not normally followed by an object + infinitive.
He said that I will help him.	He said that he would help me.	Adjust the tense and pronouns to match the context.
She asked if was I ready.	She asked if I was ready.	Use statement word order after if or whether.
He told that he was ill.	He said that he was ill.	Tell normally requires an object.
She said that she will come tomorrow.	She said that she would come the next day.	Backshift and time changes may be needed when the reporting context has changed.
The teacher asked us that we understood.	The teacher asked us whether we understood.	Use if or whether for yes/no questions.

Some examples can have more than one correct version depending on the context. The corrections above show common standard forms when the reporting situation is different from the original speaking situation.

How Reported Speech Can Help With English Listening

Reported speech is primarily a grammar skill, but learning it can also support your ability to understand conversations.

When you listen to English, speakers may refer to what another person said, explain a previous conversation, or describe instructions they received. Recognising reporting verbs and common tense patterns can help you follow the sequence of events.

For example, you might hear:

“The receptionist said that the appointment had been moved to Friday.”

To understand this sentence, you need to recognise that the receptionist communicated the information earlier and that the appointment was changed before the speaker reported it.

Practise listening for expressions such as:

• He said that…
• She told me that…
• They asked whether…
• The teacher explained that…
• The manager wanted to know…
• I was told to…

These expressions help signal that the speaker is reporting information rather than describing an event directly.

For IELTS candidates, the broader benefit is improved grammar awareness and more accurate understanding of spoken English. Reported speech is not a separate question type in the IELTS Listening test, so learning it should complement—not replace—practice with the actual listening question formats.

Reported Speech Practice Exercises

Use the following exercises to test your understanding. Try to complete them without looking back at the rules.

Exercise 1: Change Direct Speech Into Reported Speech

Rewrite each sentence in reported speech.

1. She said, “I am very happy.”
2. Ahmed said, “I work in Doha.”
3. They said, “We have finished the project.”
4. Mary said, “I will call you tomorrow.”
5. He said, “I can swim very well.”
6. The teacher said, “The Earth revolves around the Sun.”
7. Sara asked me, “Where do you live?”
8. He asked, “Are you ready?”
9. The manager said to us, “Finish the report today.”
10. My mother said to me, “Don’t stay up late.”

Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Answer

1. She said that she _____ tired.
   • A. is
   • B. was
   • C. were
2. He asked me where I _____.
   • A. lived
   • B. did live
   • C. do lived
3. They told us _____ the instructions carefully.
   • A. read
   • B. to read
   • C. reading
4. She asked _____ I was available.
   • A. that
   • B. what
   • C. whether
5. He said that he _____ help me the following day.
   • A. will
   • B. would
   • C. can
6. The teacher suggested _____ a short break.
   • A. take
   • B. to take
   • C. taking
7. My friend told me that he _____ already eaten.
   • A. has
   • B. had
   • C. have
8. She asked me what I _____ doing.
   • A. was
   • B. did
   • C. am

Exercise 3: Correct the Mistakes

Rewrite each sentence correctly.

1. He said me that he was busy.
2. She asked where did I work.
3. The teacher told us don’t talk.
4. They said that they will arrive the next day.
5. She suggested me to join the course.
6. He asked if was I ready.

Answers and Explanations

Exercise 1

1. She said that she was very happy.
2. Ahmed said that he worked in Doha.
3. They said that they had finished the project.
4. Mary said that she would call me the next day.
5. He said that he could swim very well.
6. The teacher said that the Earth revolves around the Sun.
7. Sara asked me where I lived.
8. He asked if I was ready.
9. The manager told us to finish the report that day.
10. My mother told me not to stay up late.

In these answers, pronouns and time expressions have been adjusted to fit a typical reporting situation. The tense in sentence 6 remains in the present because it expresses a general scientific fact.

Exercise 2

1. B — was.
2. A — lived.
3. B — to read.
4. C — whether.
5. B — would.
6. C — taking.
7. B — had.
8. A — was.

Exercise 3

1. He told me that he was busy.
2. She asked where I worked.
3. The teacher told us not to talk.
4. They said that they would arrive the next day.
5. She suggested joining the course.
6. He asked if I was ready.

Remember that reported speech depends on context. Tense backshift, pronouns, and time expressions may change according to when the original statement was made and when it is reported.

Frequently Asked Questions About Reported Speech Rules

What are the basic rules of reported speech?

Reported speech communicates another person’s words without quoting them directly. The main rules involve choosing an appropriate reporting verb, changing pronouns when necessary, applying tense backshift when appropriate, and adjusting time or place expressions to fit the reporting context.

What is the difference between direct and indirect speech?

Direct speech repeats the speaker’s exact words and normally uses quotation marks. Indirect speech reports the message without repeating the exact words. For example, “She said, ‘I am tired’” becomes “She said that she was tired.”

Do tenses always change in reported speech?

No. Tenses commonly move back when the reporting verb is in the past, but this is not compulsory in every context. A tense may remain unchanged when the reporting verb is in the present or when the information is still true and relevant.

How do you report a question in English?

Use if or whether for yes/no questions and retain the question word for WH-questions. In both cases, use statement word order rather than direct-question word order. For example, “Where do you live?” becomes “She asked where I lived.”

What is the difference between “say” and “tell” in reported speech?

Use say to introduce a message, as in “He said that he was tired.” Use tell with a person as its object, as in “He told me that he was tired.”

How do you report commands and requests?

Use a reporting verb followed by an object and to + base verb. For negative commands, use not to + base verb. For example, “Close the door” becomes “She told me to close the door.”

Does reported speech help with IELTS Listening?

It can help you recognise how speakers refer to earlier conversations, instructions, and information. However, reported speech is a grammar topic rather than a separate IELTS Listening question type, so it should be studied alongside practice with the actual test format.

Improve Your English Grammar With IFI Qatar

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