Summary of Understanding Reported Speech
Understanding Reported Speech: A Student's SEO Guide
Introduction
Reported speech (also called indirect speech) is how we tell someone what another person said without quoting their exact words. Instead of repeating the speaker's exact phrasing, we convey the meaning and often change tense, pronouns, and time expressions to fit the new context.
Definition: Reported speech is a way of reporting another person's words by transforming the original utterance (direct speech) into an indirect form that fits the reporting context.
Why reported speech matters
- It is used constantly in academic writing, journalism, everyday conversation, and formal reports.
- It allows summarising conversations and preserving meaning while adapting grammar and perspective.
Core components of reported speech
- Reporting verb (said, told, asked, warned, etc.)
- Changes in tense (often move one step back)
- Changes in pronouns (to match speaker/listener)
- Changes in time/place words (today → that day)
Definition: A reporting verb is the verb used to introduce reported speech, for example, said, told, asked, warned, invited, advised.
Rule 1: Move the tense one step back
When the reporting verb is in the past, you normally shift the tense in the original (direct) speech one step back.
| Direct speech tense | Reported speech tense |
|---|---|
| Present Simple | Past Simple |
| Present Continuous | Past Continuous |
| Present Perfect | Past Perfect |
| Past Simple | Past Perfect |
| Will | Would |
| Can | Could |
| May | Might |
Examples:
- Direct: “I work in Prague.” → Reported: He said that he worked in Prague.
- Direct: “I am studying.” → Reported: She said that she was studying.
- Direct: “I have finished my homework.” → Reported: He said that he had finished his homework.
- Direct: “I will call you.” → Reported: She said that she would call me.
Practical tip
If the reporting verb is in the present (e.g., "She says"), you do not need to change the tense: "She says, 'I am tired.'" → "She says that she is tired."
Rule 2: Pronouns change
Change pronouns to match who is reporting and who is referred to.
- I → he / she (or I, if the original speaker is still speaking)
- my → his / her
- me → him / her
- we → they
- our → their
- us → them
Example:
- Direct: “I love pizza,” Tom said. Reported: Tom said that he loved pizza.
Definition: Pronoun adjustment means replacing original pronouns with ones appropriate to the reporter’s perspective.
Rule 3: Time and place words often change
Adjust adverbs of time and place so they are correct for the reporting moment.
| Direct | Reported |
|---|---|
| now | then |
| today | that day |
| tomorrow | the next day / the following day |
| yesterday | the day before |
| next week | the following week |
| last week | the previous week |
| ago | before |
Example:
- Direct: “I will see you tomorrow.” → Reported: He said that he would see me the next day.
SAY vs TELL
- say + something (no indirect object or include a clause):
- Correct: He said that he was tired.
- Incorrect: He said me that...
- tell + person (must include a person as object):
- Correct: He told me that he was tired. / She told us that she was busy.
- Incorrect: He told that...
Common reporting verbs and how they change structure
- ask: changes a question into a reported question (often removes question word order)
- Direct: “Where do you live?” → Reported: She asked me where I lived.
- tell: reports commands or information
- Direct: “Be careful.” → Reported: She told me to be careful.
- warn: negative imperative becomes "not to" + infinitive
- Direct: “Don’t touch the wire.” → Reported: She warned me not to touch the wire.
- invite: often uses "to" + infinitive or "to come" structure
- Direct: “Come to my party.” →
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Reported Speech Guide
Klíčové pojmy: Move tense one step back when the reporting verb is past, If reporting verb is present, tense usually stays the same, Change pronouns to match the reporter’s perspective, Change time expressions: today → that day, tomorrow → the next day, Say + something; tell + person (use object with tell), Use reporting verbs accurately: ask, tell, warn, invite, advise, Imperatives become 'to' infinitives or 'not to' for negatives, Reported questions use statement word order and lose the question mark, Can → could, will → would, may → might in reported speech, Past Simple in direct speech often becomes Past Perfect in reported speech, When in doubt use the step-by-step formula: tense → shift, pronouns → change, time → adjust, Practice by converting direct quotes from articles or interviews, Check context: if reporting verb is present, skip tense change (repeat if necessary), Choose reporting verb that reflects the function (question, order, warning, invitation)