change the sentences into reported speech using the correct tense

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Direct & Indirect Speech

Reported Speech Tenses

Reported speech tenses will change from that of the direct speech in most cases.

This is known as backshifting in reported speech , with the basic rule that a tense is shifted back to its past tense form.

This is because we are usually talking about something in the past.

You can also watch a video of this lesson:

change the sentences into reported speech using the correct tense

Backshifting in Reported Speech

Here are some examples of backshifting, with tenses going back from present to past:

Reported Speech Tenses Change Chart

Below is a reported speech tense change chart with the rules for backshifting for each tense and for modal verbs.

You will see reported speech does not go back a tense if it is already in the past perfect (there is no further back it can go), and some modal verbs also do not change.

If you are tested on this, though, these are the changes you need to make.

Exceptions to the rules

This is a useful starting point. However, it is a simplification as we may not always decide or need to shift the tense back.

For instance, if the circumstances we are reporting on have not changed since they were directly said, then the tense would not need to be changed. For example:

Direct Speech

I am happy
(present simple)

Reported Speech

She said she is happy

So if we want to convey that the situation is still true then we may keep the tense the same.

Alternatively, the tense could even forward shift. An example would be in relation to a film or book. In this case, the person may use the past tense to say that the film was good, but the present or past tense could be used when you convey that to someone else:

Direct Speech:

The film was really good!
(past simple)

Reported Speech:

He said that the film was very good!
(past simple) Or
He said that the film is very good!

As you can see, either reported speech tenses would be ok if you wanted to pass the information on to somebody else. The person said the film was good, and it is still good (it hasn't gone away).

So there are some general rules for reported speech tense changes but it can depend on the context. There may be no need to change it or you may be able to choose either tense.

Click the ' reported speech: practice forming indirect speech ' link below to practice changing tenses.

More on Reported Speech:

Direct and Indirect Speech: The differences explained

Direct and indirect speech are different because in direct speech the exact words said are spoken, but in indirect or reported speech, we are reporting what was said, usually using the past tense.

Reported Speech Quiz - Practice forming indirect speech

This reported speech quiz gives you the chance to practice converting direct speech to reported speech, also known as indirect speech. This involves backshifting with the tenses.

Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech

In these examples of direct and indirect speech you are given a sentence in direct speech which is then connected to indirect speech.

Reported Speech Imperatives: Reporting commands in indirect speech

Reported speech imperatives, also known as reported commands, follow a slightly different structure to normal indirect speech. We use imperatives to give orders, advice, or make requests.

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Tense Changes in Reported Speech: Rules, Examples, and Usage

Visual guide to tense changes in reported speech, featuring examples and rules for mastering English grammar.

Understanding Tense Changes in Reported Speech

Introduction: mastering tense changes in reported speech.

When we need to convey what someone else has said without quoting them directly, we use reported speech (also known as indirect speech). This often involves altering the original tense of the verbs used in the sentence. Understanding how to change tenses in reported speech correctly is crucial for effective communication, particularly when recounting past conversations or narrating events.

In reported speech, tense changes occur to reflect the shift in time from when the statement was made to when it is being reported. For instance, statements made in the present tense are usually reported in the past tense. This transformation helps to align the time frame of the original statement with the context in which it is being reported.

By the end of this lesson, you will understand the rules for changing tenses in reported speech, learn the various shifts from direct to reported speech, and gain practical examples that demonstrate these changes. This knowledge will enhance your English grammar skills, improve your written and spoken communication, and boost your confidence when relaying information accurately.

Useful Vocabulary for Tense Changes in Reported Speech

Here is a comprehensive guide to how different tenses change from direct to reported speech. Each section includes definitions, explanations, and examples to help you master the nuances of tense changes in reported speech.

Tense Changes in Reported Speech: Detailed Examples

Direct : She said, "I like coffee." Reported : She said (that) she liked coffee.
Direct : Tom said, "I play football every Saturday." Reported : Tom said (that) he played football every Saturday.
Direct : They said, "We live in London." Reported : They said (that) they lived in London.
Direct : He said, "She works hard." Reported : He said (that) she worked hard.
Direct : Mary said, "I study English every day." Reported : Mary said (that) she studied English every day.
Direct : She said, "I am reading a book." Reported : She said (that) she was reading a book.
Direct : John said, "They are watching TV." Reported : John said (that) they were watching TV.
Direct : He said, "We are going to the cinema." Reported : He said (that) they were going to the cinema.
Direct : They said, "The children are playing in the garden." Reported : They said (that) the children were playing in the garden.
Direct : The teacher said, "I am marking your tests now." Reported : The teacher said (that) she was marking our tests.
Direct : He said, "I have finished my work." Reported : He said (that) he had finished his work.
Direct : They said, "We have seen that movie." Reported : They said (that) they had seen that movie.
Direct : She said, "I have never been to Paris." Reported : She said (that) she had never been to Paris.
Direct : He said, "I have lost my keys." Reported : He said (that) he had lost his keys.
Direct : Alice said, "I have already eaten breakfast." Reported : Alice said (that) she had already eaten breakfast.
Direct : She said, "I met him yesterday." Reported : She said (that) she had met him the day before.
Direct : They said, "We visited the museum last week." Reported : They said (that) they had visited the museum the previous week.
Direct : He said, "I saw the movie last night." Reported : He said (that) he had seen the movie the previous night.
Direct : John said, "I broke the vase." Reported : John said (that) he had broken the vase.
Direct : The manager said, "I called you on Monday." Reported : The manager said (that) he had called me on Monday.
Direct : He said, "I will call you tomorrow." Reported : He said (that) he would call me the next day.
Direct : They said, "We will travel to Spain next year." Reported : They said (that) they would travel to Spain the following year.
Direct : She said, "I will help you." Reported : She said (that) she would help me.
Direct : Tom said, "I will fix the car." Reported : Tom said (that) he would fix the car.
Direct : The doctor said, "I will see you next week." Reported : The doctor said (that) he would see me the next week.
Direct : She said, "I can speak three languages." Reported : She said (that) she could speak three languages.
Direct : They said, "We can finish the project by Monday." Reported : They said (that) they could finish the project by Monday.
Direct : He said, "I can swim across the river." Reported : He said (that) he could swim across the river.
Direct : John said, "I can solve this problem." Reported : John said (that) he could solve the problem.
Direct : She said, "I can bake a cake." Reported : She said (that) she could bake a cake.
Direct : She said, "I may go to the party." Reported : She said (that) she might go to the party.
Direct : He said, "We may be late." Reported : He said (that) they might be late.
Direct : They said, "It may snow tomorrow." Reported : They said (that) it might snow the next day.
Direct : She said, "I may visit my grandmother." Reported : She said (that) she might visit her grandmother.
Direct : The coach said, "The match may be cancelled." Reported : The coach said (that) the match might be cancelled.
Direct : She said, "I must leave early." Reported : She said (that) she had to leave early.
Direct : They said, "We must finish this today." Reported : They said (that) they had to finish it that day.
Direct : He said, "You must listen carefully." Reported : He said (that) I had to listen carefully.
Direct : She said, "I must complete the report." Reported : She said (that) she had to complete the report.
Direct : The manager said, "You must follow the instructions." Reported : The manager said (that) we had to follow the instructions.
Direct : He said, "I have to work late tonight." Reported : He said (that) he had to work late that night.
Direct : They said, "We have to clean the house." Reported : They said (that) they had to clean the house.
Direct : She said, "I have to attend the meeting." Reported : She said (that) she had to attend the meeting.
Direct : John said, "I have to finish this by Friday." Reported : John said (that) he had to finish it by Friday.
Direct : The supervisor said, "We have to improve our performance." Reported : The supervisor said (that) we had to improve our performance.

Lesson Summary: Tense Changes in Reported Speech

In this comprehensive lesson, we have explored how to convert various tenses from direct to reported speech. By mastering these tense changes, learners will be able to accurately report conversations, narratives, and past events.

Key Phrases Learnt:

Learners have encountered key tense changes such as moving from "present simple" to "past simple," "will" to "would," and "must" to "had to." These changes are essential for ensuring that reported speech is accurate and grammatically correct.

Practice Exercises:

Encourage learners to practise converting direct speech to reported speech by using daily conversations, creating dialogues, and writing journal entries. Recording your sentences and reviewing the tense shifts can also help reinforce learning.

Tips for Remembering:

Break down tense changes into smaller steps, use flashcards with examples of tense shifts, and practice regularly. Associating tense changes with real-life scenarios can make it easier to recall the rules.

Further Lessons:

Explore more grammar lessons and resources on learningenglishfree.co.uk to deepen your understanding of English grammar, including tense usage, reported speech, and more.

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What is Reported Speech and how to use it? with Examples

Published by

Olivia Drake

Reported speech and indirect speech are two terms that refer to the same concept, which is the act of expressing what someone else has said.

On this page:

Reported speech is different from direct speech because it does not use the speaker’s exact words. Instead, the reporting verb is used to introduce the reported speech, and the tense and pronouns are changed to reflect the shift in perspective. There are two main types of reported speech: statements and questions.

1. Reported Statements: In reported statements, the reporting verb is usually “said.” The tense in the reported speech changes from the present simple to the past simple, and any pronouns referring to the speaker or listener are changed to reflect the shift in perspective. For example, “I am going to the store,” becomes “He said that he was going to the store.”

2. Reported Questions: In reported questions, the reporting verb is usually “asked.” The tense in the reported speech changes from the present simple to the past simple, and the word order changes from a question to a statement. For example, “What time is it?” becomes “She asked what time it was.”

It’s important to note that the tense shift in reported speech depends on the context and the time of the reported speech. Here are a few more examples:

Direct speech: “I will call you later.”Reported speech: He said that he would call me later.
Direct speech: “Did you finish your homework?”Reported speech: She asked if I had finished my homework.
Direct speech: “I love pizza.”Reported speech: They said that they loved pizza.

When do we use reported speech?

Reported speech is used to report what someone else has said, thought, or written. It is often used in situations where you want to relate what someone else has said without quoting them directly.

Reported speech can be used in a variety of contexts, such as in news reports, academic writing, and everyday conversation. Some common situations where reported speech is used include:

News reports: Journalists often use reported speech to quote what someone said in an interview or press conference.

Business and professional communication: In professional settings, reported speech can be used to summarize what was discussed in a meeting or to report feedback from a customer.

Conversational English: In everyday conversations, reported speech is used to relate what someone else said. For example, “She told me that she was running late.”

Narration: In written narratives or storytelling, reported speech can be used to convey what a character said or thought.

How to make reported speech?

1. Change the pronouns and adverbs of time and place: In reported speech, you need to change the pronouns, adverbs of time and place to reflect the new speaker or point of view. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “I’m going to the store now,” she said. Reported speech: She said she was going to the store then.

In this example, the pronoun “I” is changed to “she” and the adverb “now” is changed to “then.”

2. Change the tense: In reported speech, you usually need to change the tense of the verb to reflect the change from direct to indirect speech. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “I will meet you at the park tomorrow,” he said. Reported speech: He said he would meet me at the park the next day.

In this example, the present tense “will” is changed to the past tense “would.”

3. Change reporting verbs: In reported speech, you can use different reporting verbs such as “say,” “tell,” “ask,” or “inquire” depending on the context of the speech. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “Did you finish your homework?” she asked. Reported speech: She asked if I had finished my homework.

In this example, the reporting verb “asked” is changed to “said” and “did” is changed to “had.”

Overall, when making reported speech, it’s important to pay attention to the verb tense and the changes in pronouns, adverbs, and reporting verbs to convey the original speaker’s message accurately.

How do I change the pronouns and adverbs in reported speech?

1. Changing Pronouns: In reported speech, the pronouns in the original statement must be changed to reflect the perspective of the new speaker. Generally, the first person pronouns (I, me, my, mine, we, us, our, ours) are changed according to the subject of the reporting verb, while the second and third person pronouns (you, your, yours, he, him, his, she, her, hers, it, its, they, them, their, theirs) are changed according to the object of the reporting verb. For example:

Direct speech: “I love chocolate.” Reported speech: She said she loved chocolate.

Direct speech: “You should study harder.” Reported speech: He advised me to study harder.

Direct speech: “She is reading a book.” Reported speech: They noticed that she was reading a book.

2. Changing Adverbs: In reported speech, the adverbs and adverbial phrases that indicate time or place may need to be changed to reflect the perspective of the new speaker. For example:

Direct speech: “I’m going to the cinema tonight.” Reported speech: She said she was going to the cinema that night.

Direct speech: “He is here.” Reported speech: She said he was there.

Note that the adverb “now” usually changes to “then” or is omitted altogether in reported speech, depending on the context.

It’s important to keep in mind that the changes made to pronouns and adverbs in reported speech depend on the context and the perspective of the new speaker. With practice, you can become more comfortable with making these changes in reported speech.

How do I change the tense in reported speech?

In reported speech, the tense of the reported verb usually changes to reflect the change from direct to indirect speech. Here are some guidelines on how to change the tense in reported speech:

Present simple in direct speech changes to past simple in reported speech. For example: Direct speech: “I like pizza.” Reported speech: She said she liked pizza.

Present continuous in direct speech changes to past continuous in reported speech. For example: Direct speech: “I am studying for my exam.” Reported speech: He said he was studying for his exam.

Present perfect in direct speech changes to past perfect in reported speech. For example: Direct speech: “I have finished my work.” Reported speech: She said she had finished her work.

Past simple in direct speech changes to past perfect in reported speech. For example: Direct speech: “I visited my grandparents last weekend.” Reported speech: She said she had visited her grandparents the previous weekend.

Will in direct speech changes to would in reported speech. For example: Direct speech: “I will help you with your project.” Reported speech: He said he would help me with my project.

Can in direct speech changes to could in reported speech. For example: Direct speech: “I can speak French.” Reported speech: She said she could speak French.

Remember that the tense changes in reported speech depend on the tense of the verb in the direct speech, and the tense you use in reported speech should match the time frame of the new speaker’s perspective. With practice, you can become more comfortable with changing the tense in reported speech.

Do I always need to use a reporting verb in reported speech?

No, you do not always need to use a reporting verb in reported speech. However, using a reporting verb can help to clarify who is speaking and add more context to the reported speech.

In some cases, the reported speech can be introduced by phrases such as “I heard that” or “It seems that” without using a reporting verb. For example:

Direct speech: “I’m going to the cinema tonight.” Reported speech with a reporting verb: She said she was going to the cinema tonight. Reported speech without a reporting verb: It seems that she’s going to the cinema tonight.

However, it’s important to note that using a reporting verb can help to make the reported speech more formal and accurate. When using reported speech in academic writing or journalism, it’s generally recommended to use a reporting verb to make the reporting more clear and credible.

Some common reporting verbs include say, tell, explain, ask, suggest, and advise. For example:

Direct speech: “I think we should invest in renewable energy.” Reported speech with a reporting verb: She suggested that they invest in renewable energy.

Overall, while using a reporting verb is not always required, it can be helpful to make the reported speech more clear and accurate

How to use reported speech to report questions and commands?

1. Reporting Questions: When reporting questions, you need to use an introductory phrase such as “asked” or “wondered” followed by the question word (if applicable), subject, and verb. You also need to change the word order to make it a statement. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “What time is the meeting?” Reported speech: She asked what time the meeting was.

Note that the question mark is not used in reported speech.

2. Reporting Commands: When reporting commands, you need to use an introductory phrase such as “ordered” or “told” followed by the person, to + infinitive, and any additional information. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “Clean your room!” Reported speech: She ordered me to clean my room.

Note that the exclamation mark is not used in reported speech.

In both cases, the tense of the reported verb should be changed accordingly. For example, present simple changes to past simple, and future changes to conditional. Here are some examples:

Direct speech: “Will you go to the party with me?”Reported speech: She asked if I would go to the party with her. Direct speech: “Please bring me a glass of water.”Reported speech: She requested that I bring her a glass of water.

Remember that when using reported speech to report questions and commands, the introductory phrases and verb tenses are important to convey the intended meaning accurately.

How to make questions in reported speech?

To make questions in reported speech, you need to use an introductory phrase such as “asked” or “wondered” followed by the question word (if applicable), subject, and verb. You also need to change the word order to make it a statement. Here are the steps to make questions in reported speech:

Identify the reporting verb: The first step is to identify the reporting verb in the sentence. Common reporting verbs used to report questions include “asked,” “inquired,” “wondered,” and “wanted to know.”

Change the tense and pronouns: Next, you need to change the tense and pronouns in the sentence to reflect the shift from direct to reported speech. The tense of the verb is usually shifted back one tense (e.g. from present simple to past simple) in reported speech. The pronouns should also be changed as necessary to reflect the shift in perspective from the original speaker to the reporting speaker.

Use an appropriate question word: If the original question contained a question word (e.g. who, what, where, when, why, how), you should use the same question word in the reported question. If the original question did not contain a question word, you can use “if” or “whether” to introduce the reported question.

Change the word order: In reported speech, the word order of the question changes from the inverted form to a normal statement form. The subject usually comes before the verb, unless the original question started with a question word.

Here are some examples of reported questions:

Direct speech: “Did you finish your homework?”Reported speech: He wanted to know if I had finished my homework. Direct speech: “Where are you going?”Reported speech: She wondered where I was going.

Remember that when making questions in reported speech, the introductory phrases and verb tenses are important to convey the intended meaning accurately.

Here you can find more examples of direct and indirect questions

What is the difference between reported speech an indirect speech?

In reported or indirect speech, you are retelling or reporting what someone said using your own words. The tense of the reported speech is usually shifted back one tense from the tense used in the original statement. For example, if someone said, “I am going to the store,” in reported speech you would say, “He/she said that he/she was going to the store.”

The main difference between reported speech and indirect speech is that reported speech usually refers to spoken language, while indirect speech can refer to both spoken and written language. Additionally, indirect speech is a broader term that includes reported speech as well as other ways of expressing what someone else has said, such as paraphrasing or summarizing.

Examples of direct speech to reported

Direct speech: “I am hungry,” she said. Reported speech: She said she was hungry.
Direct speech: “Can you pass the salt, please?” he asked. Reported speech: He asked her to pass the salt.
Direct speech: “I will meet you at the cinema,” he said. Reported speech: He said he would meet her at the cinema.
Direct speech: “I have been working on this project for hours,” she said. Reported speech: She said she had been working on the project for hours.
Direct speech: “What time does the train leave?” he asked. Reported speech: He asked what time the train left.
Direct speech: “I love playing the piano,” she said. Reported speech: She said she loved playing the piano.
Direct speech: “I am going to the grocery store,” he said. Reported speech: He said he was going to the grocery store.
Direct speech: “Did you finish your homework?” the teacher asked. Reported speech: The teacher asked if he had finished his homework.
Direct speech: “I want to go to the beach,” she said. Reported speech: She said she wanted to go to the beach.
Direct speech: “Do you need help with that?” he asked. Reported speech: He asked if she needed help with that.
Direct speech: “I can’t come to the party,” he said. Reported speech: He said he couldn’t come to the party.
Direct speech: “Please don’t leave me,” she said. Reported speech: She begged him not to leave her.
Direct speech: “I have never been to London before,” he said. Reported speech: He said he had never been to London before.
Direct speech: “Where did you put my phone?” she asked. Reported speech: She asked where she had put her phone.
Direct speech: “I’m sorry for being late,” he said. Reported speech: He apologized for being late.
Direct speech: “I need some help with this math problem,” she said. Reported speech: She said she needed some help with the math problem.
Direct speech: “I am going to study abroad next year,” he said. Reported speech: He said he was going to study abroad the following year.
Direct speech: “Can you give me a ride to the airport?” she asked. Reported speech: She asked him to give her a ride to the airport.
Direct speech: “I don’t know how to fix this,” he said. Reported speech: He said he didn’t know how to fix it.
Direct speech: “I hate it when it rains,” she said. Reported speech: She said she hated it when it rained.

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