Reported Speech
We use reported speech to say what someone said without repeating their exact words. We usually change the pronouns, the time/place words and often move the tense one step back when the reporting verb is in the past.
Compare:
- She:"I work here."
Reported speech: She said that she worked there.
→ I changes to she, and work moves back in time to worked. -
He: "I will help you tomorrow."
Reported speech: He said that he would help me the next day.
→ will changes to would, and tomorrow changes to the next day.
Common tense/verbs changes
| Tense/verb change | Direct speech | Reported speech |
|---|---|---|
| Present simple → past simple | "I work in London." | She said that she worked in London. |
| Present continuous → past continuous | "I am studying now." | He said that he was studying then. |
| Past simple → past perfect | "I bought a new phone." | She said that she had bought a new phone. |
| Present perfect → past perfect | "I have finished my homework." | He said that he had finished his homework. |
| Past continuous → past perfect continuous | "I was waiting for you." | She said that she had been waiting for me. |
| Will → would | "I will call you." | He said that he would call me. |
| Can → could | "I can swim." | She said that she could swim. |
| May → might | "I may come later." | He said that he might come later. |
| Must → had to | "I must leave now." | She said that she had to leave then. |
Past perfect usually stays the same:
- "I had already left." → He said that he had already left.
Modal verbs that are already past in meaning, such as could, would, might, should and could/should/might have + past participle, usually do not change:
- “I could have done it.” → He said that he could have done it.
Requests, instructions and orders
For instructions, requests and orders, we use:
→ tell / ask / order + person + to + verb
-
"Close the door."
→ She told me to close the door. -
"Please help me."
→ He asked me to help him. -
"Leave the building immediately."
→ The officer ordered them to leave the building immediately.
For negative instructions:
→ tell / ask + person + not to + verb
-
"Don't touch it."
→ She told me not to touch it.
Time and place changes
- now → then
- today → that day
- tomorrow → the next day
- yesterday → the day before
- here → there
-
"I am working here today."
→ She said that she was working there that day.
We do not always change the tense when:
- the reporting verb is in the present:
She says that she works in London. - the information is still true:
"The Earth is round." → He said that the Earth is round.
Quick reference
-
Tense backshift → often move the tense back:
"I work here." → She said that she worked there. -
Change pronouns and time/place words:
"I will call you tomorrow." → He said that he would call me the next day. -
Use:
tell / ask + person + to + verb for instructions:
"Help me." → She asked me to help her.
