Reported speech tells what someone said without using their exact words. Usually the tense moves one step back (am becomes was, will becomes would), pronouns and time words change, and questions use statement order: She asked where I lived. Use tell with a person and say without one.
Direct speech and reported speech
In direct speech you repeat the exact words, with quotation marks: She said, I am studying law. In reported speech you tell the idea from your own point of view, with no quotation marks: She said that she was studying law.
You use reported speech in Speaking Part 2 when you tell a story about a conversation, and in Writing and Reading when you report what experts, studies or governments say.
- He said, I live in Leeds. · direct
- He said that he lived in Leeds. · reported
Tense changes (backshift)
When the reporting verb is in the past (said, told, asked), the tense usually moves one step back in time. This is called backshift. Here are the changes you meet most often:
- present simple becomes past simple: I work becomes she worked.
- present continuous becomes past continuous: I am working becomes she was working.
- past simple becomes past perfect: I worked becomes she had worked.
- present perfect becomes past perfect: I have worked becomes she had worked.
- will becomes would, can becomes could, may becomes might, must becomes had to.
When you do not need backshift
If the reporting verb is in the present (she says, the report says) or if the statement is still true, the tense can stay the same: The report says that sea levels are rising. Many learners keep the original tense for general facts: My teacher told me that water boils at one hundred degrees.
However, using backshift is always safe in exam English. If you are unsure, move the tense back.
Pronouns, time words and place words
Pronouns change to fit the new speaker: He said, I like my job becomes He said that he liked his job. Time and place words also change when the time or place of reporting is different:
- now becomes then; today becomes that day; tomorrow becomes the next day.
- yesterday becomes the day before; last week becomes the week before.
- here becomes there; this becomes that.
Say and tell
Tell is always followed by a person: She told me that the exam was easy. Say is not followed directly by a person: She said that the exam was easy. If you want to add a person after say, use to: She said to me that the exam was easy.
Other useful reporting verbs are explain, suggest, admit, warn, advise and claim. In academic writing, claim and suggest are especially useful: The study claims that...; The author suggests that...
Reported questions and commands
In reported questions, use statement word order with no do and no question mark: She asked, Where do you live? becomes She asked where I lived. For yes/no questions use if or whether: He asked if I was ready.
For commands and requests, use told or asked + person + to + base verb: The teacher told us to submit the essay. For a negative command, put not before to: He told me not to be late.
Reporting verbs and their patterns
Many reporting verbs do more than say what happened: they show the speaker's purpose. Each one has its own pattern, so learn the pattern with the verb.
- verb + that clause: explain, claim, admit, argue, suggest. The report claims that traffic is falling.
- verb + -ing: admit, deny, suggest. He denied taking the money. She suggested leaving early.
- verb + to + base verb: promise, offer, refuse, agree. They refused to pay.
- verb + person + to + base verb: advise, warn, remind, invite. The doctor advised him to rest.
- warn + person + not to: She warned us not to touch the equipment.
A four-step check
Here is a short checklist for every reported sentence. First, find the reporting verb and decide whether the tense must move back. Second, change the pronouns so that they match the new speaker. Third, change any time or place words. Fourth, check the word order if the original was a question. Going through the four steps one by one makes reported speech much less confusing, and with practice you will do it without thinking in a Speaking Part 2 story.
Common mistakes
Look out for these in your own speaking and writing:
- She asked me where did I work. Say: She asked me where I worked.
- He said me that he was busy. Say: He told me that he was busy.
- She told that the meeting was cancelled. Say: She told us that the meeting was cancelled, or She said that the meeting was cancelled.
- He asked me do I like coffee. Say: He asked me if I liked coffee.
Who finds this hard?
- Japanese speakers: Japanese does not shift the tense inside a report, so you may keep the original tense. In English, move the tense back after a past reporting verb.
- Chinese speakers: Chinese verbs do not change tense, so backshift is new. Practise changing am to was and will to would after said.
- Spanish speakers: Spanish also shifts tenses, so the idea is familiar. The main trouble is say and tell: Spanish decir covers both, so you may write said me instead of told me.
IELTS tip
In Speaking Part 2, a short piece of reported speech makes a story vivid: My manager told me that I would get the job. In Writing, use reporting verbs like claim, suggest and argue to show other people's views instead of repeating the word said.
Frequently asked questions
What is reported speech?
It is a way to tell what someone said without using their exact words. The tenses, pronouns and time words usually change.
Do I always have to change the tense?
Not always. You can keep the tense when the reporting verb is in the present or when the statement is still true. Changing the tense after a past reporting verb is always correct.
What is the difference between say and tell?
Tell is followed by a person (told me). Say is not (said that). Use say to + person if you need to name the listener.
How do I report a question?
Use statement word order with no do or question mark: She asked where I lived. Use if or whether for yes/no questions.
Sources
- Swan, M. (2016). Practical English Usage, 4th edition. Oxford University Press.
- Carter, R. and McCarthy, M. (2006). Cambridge Grammar of English. Cambridge University Press.