Reported speech or indirect speech is the form of speech used to convey what was said by someone at some point of time. This article will help you with all that you need to know about reported speech, its meaning, definition, how and when to use them along with examples. Furthermore, try out the practice questions given to check how far you have understood the topic.
Table of Contents
- What Is Reported Speech?
- Definition of Reported Speech
- Rules to be Followed When Using Reported Speech
- Transforming Direct Speech into Reported Speech
- Table 1 – Change of Pronouns
- Table 2 – Change of Adverbs of Place and Adverbs of Time
- Table 3 – Change of Tense
- Table 4 – Change of Modal Verbs
- Tips to Practise Reported Speech
- Examples of Reported Speech
- Check Your Understanding of Reported Speech
- Frequently Asked Questions on Reported Speech in English
What Is Reported Speech?
Reported speech is the form in which one can convey a message said by oneself or someone else, mostly in the past. It can also be said to be the third person view of what someone has said. In this form of speech, you need not use quotation marks as you are not quoting the exact words spoken by the speaker, but just conveying the message.
Now, take a look at the following dictionary definitions for a clearer idea of what it is.
Definition of Reported Speech
Reported speech, according to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, is defined as “a report of what somebody has said that does not use their exact words.” The Collins Dictionary defines reported speech as “speech which tells you what someone said, but does not use the person’s actual words.” According to the Cambridge Dictionary, reported speech is defined as “the act of reporting something that was said, but not using exactly the same words.” The Macmillan Dictionary defines reported speech as “the words that you use to report what someone else has said.”
Rules to be Followed When Using Reported Speech
Reported speech is a little different from direct speech. As it has been discussed already, reported speech is used to tell what someone said and does not use the exact words of the speaker. Take a look at the following rules so that you can make use of reported speech effectively.
- The first thing you have to keep in mind is that you need not use any quotation marks as you are not using the exact words of the speaker.
- You can use the following formula to construct a sentence in the reported speech.
| Subject said that (report whatever the speaker said) |
- You can use verbs like said, asked, requested, ordered, complained, exclaimed, screamed, told, etc. If you are just reporting a declarative sentence, you can use verbs like told, said, etc. followed by ‘that’ and end the sentence with a full stop. When you are reporting interrogative sentences, you can use the verbs – enquired, inquired, asked, etc. and remove the question mark. In case you are reporting imperative sentences, you can use verbs like requested, commanded, pleaded, ordered, etc. If you are reporting exclamatory sentences, you can use the verb exclaimed and remove the exclamation mark. Remember that the structure of the sentences also changes accordingly.
- Furthermore, keep in mind that the sentence structure, tense, pronouns, modal verbs, some specific adverbs of place and adverbs of time change when a sentence is transformed into indirect/reported speech.
Transforming Direct Speech into Reported Speech
As discussed earlier, when transforming a sentence from direct speech into reported speech, you will have to change the pronouns, tense and adverbs of time and place used by the speaker. Let us look at the following tables to see how they work.
Table 1 – Change of Pronouns
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
| I | He, she |
| Me | Him, her |
| We | They |
| Us | Them |
| You | He, she, they |
| You | Him, her, them |
| My | His, her |
| Mine | His, hers |
| Our | Their |
| Ours | Theirs |
| Your | His, her, their |
| Yours | His, hers, theirs |
Table 2 – Change of Adverbs of Place and Adverbs of Time
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
| This | That |
| These | Those |
| Adverbs of Place | |
| Here | There |
| Adverbs of Time | |
| Now | Then |
| Today | That day |
| Tomorrow | The next day / The following day |
| Yesterday | The previous day |
| Tonight | That night |
| Last week | The week before |
| Next week | The week after |
| Last month | The previous month |
| Next month | The following month |
| Last year | The previous year |
| Next year | The following year |
| Ago | Before |
| Thus | So |
Table 3 – Change of Tense
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
| Simple Present Example: Preethi said, “I cook pasta.” | Simple Past Example: Preethi said that she cooked pasta. |
| Present Continuous Example: Preethi said, “I am cooking pasta.” | Past Continuous Example: Preethi said that she was cooking pasta. |
| Present Perfect Example: Preethi said, “I have cooked pasta.” | Past Perfect Example: Preethi said that she had cooked pasta. |
| Present Perfect Example: Preethi said, “I have been cooking pasta.” | Past Perfect Continuous Example: Preethi said that she had been cooking pasta. |
| Simple Past Example: Preethi said, “I cooked pasta.” | Past Perfect Example: Preethi said that she had cooked pasta. |
| Past Continuous Example: Preethi said, “I was cooking pasta.” | Past Perfect Continuous Example: Preethi said that she had been cooking pasta. |
| Past Perfect Example: Preethi said, “I had cooked pasta.” | Past Perfect (No change) Example: Preethi said that she had cooked pasta. |
| Past Perfect Continuous Example: Preethi said, “I had been cooking pasta.” | Past Perfect Continuous (No change) Example: Preethi said that she had been cooking pasta. |
Table 4 – Change of Modal Verbs
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
| Will | Would |
| May | Might |
| Can | Could |
| Shall | Should |
| Has/Have | Had |
Tips to Practise Reported Speech
Here are some tips you can follow to become a pro in using reported speech.
- Select a play, a drama or a short story with dialogues and try transforming the sentences in direct speech into reported speech.
- Write about an incident or speak about a day in your life using reported speech.
- Develop a story by following prompts or on your own using reported speech.
Examples of Reported Speech
Given below are a few examples to show you how reported speech can be written. Check them out.
- Santana said that she would be auditioning for the lead role in Funny Girl.
- Blaine requested us to help him with the algebraic equations.
- Karishma asked me if I knew where her car keys were.
- The judges announced that the Warblers were the winners of the annual acapella competition.
- Binsha assured that she would reach Bangalore by 8 p.m.
- Kumar said that he had gone to the doctor the previous day.
- Lakshmi asked Teena if she would accompany her to the railway station.
- Jibin told me that he would help me out after lunch.
- The police ordered everyone to leave from the bus stop immediately.
- Rahul said that he was drawing a caricature.
Check Your Understanding of Reported Speech
Transform the following sentences into reported speech by making the necessary changes.
1. Rachel said, “I have an interview tomorrow.”
2. Mahesh said, “What is he doing?”
3. Sherly said, “My daughter is playing the lead role in the skit.”
4. Dinesh said, “It is a wonderful movie!”
5. Suresh said, “My son is getting married next month.”
6. Preetha said, “Can you please help me with the invitations?”
7. Anna said, “I look forward to meeting you.”
8. The teacher said, “Make sure you complete the homework before tomorrow.”
9. Sylvester said, “I am not going to cry anymore.”
10. Jade said, “My sister is moving to Los Angeles.”
Now, find out if you have answered all of them correctly.
1. Rachel said that she had an interview the next day.
2. Mahesh asked what he was doing.
3. Sherly said that her daughter was playing the lead role in the skit.
4. Dinesh exclaimed that it was a wonderful movie.
5. Suresh said that his son was getting married the following month.
6. Preetha asked if I could help her with the invitations.
7. Anna said that she looked forward to meeting me.
8. The teacher told us to make sure we completed the homework before the next day.
9. Sylvester said that he was not going to cry anymore.
10. Jade said that his sister was moving to Los Angeles.
Frequently Asked Questions on Reported Speech in English
What is reported speech?
Reported speech is the form in which one can convey a message said by oneself or someone else, mostly in the past. It can also be said to be the third person view of what someone has said. In this form of speech, you need not use quotation marks as you are not quoting the exact words spoken by the speaker, but just conveying the message.
What is the definition of reported speech?
Reported speech, according to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, is defined as “a report of what somebody has said that does not use their exact words.” The Collins Dictionary defines reported speech as “speech which tells you what someone said, but does not use the person’s actual words.” According to the Cambridge Dictionary, reported speech is defined as “the act of reporting something that was said, but not using exactly the same words.” The Macmillan Dictionary defines reported speech as “the words that you use to report what someone else has said.”
What is the formula of reported speech?
You can use the following formula to construct a sentence in the reported speech.
Subject said that (report whatever the speaker said)
Give some examples of reported speech.
Given below are a few examples to show you how reported speech can be written.
- Santana said that she would be auditioning for the lead role in Funny Girl.
- Blaine requested us to help him with the algebraic equations.
- Karishma asked me if I knew where her car keys were.
- The police ordered everyone to leave from the bus stop immediately.
- Lakshmi asked Teena if she would accompany her to the railway station.
FAQs
What is reported speech rules and examples? ›
There are two main types of reported speech: direct speech and indirect speech. Direct speech repeats the exact words the person used, or how we remember their words: Barbara said, “I didn't realise it was midnight.” In indirect speech, the original speaker's words are changed.
What is reported speech answer? ›Reported speech is when we tell someone what another person said. To do this, we can use direct speech or indirect speech. direct speech: 'I work in a bank,' said Daniel. indirect speech: Daniel said that he worked in a bank.
What are the 4 types of reported speech? ›The reported speech can be Assertive/Declarative, Imperative, Interrogative, and Exclamatory.
What are the rules to change a sentence to reported speech? ›Normally, the tense in reported speech is one tense back in time from the tense in direct speech: She said, "I am tired." = She said that she was tired. She said that she always drank coffee. "I am reading a book", he explained.
What are the 5 rules of indirect speech? ›| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| Present continuous (Subject +is/am/are+V1 +ing+ Object) | Past Continuous (Subject +was/were+V1 +ing+ Object) |
| Present perfect (Subject + has/have+V3+Object) | Past perfect (Subject+had+V3+Object) |
| Past simple (Subject+V2+Object) | Past perfect (Subject+had+V3+Object) |
- Get rid of the quotation marks and comma, and insert 'that' after the word 'said'
- Backshift the verb (make it more past)
- Change the point-of-view words (certain pronouns, determiners, and adverbs) to fit the new context.
When we tell someone what another person said, we often use the verbs say, tell or ask. These are called 'reporting verbs'.
How do you use the word reported speech in a sentence? ›Reported Speech = 'Tomie said (that) she was tired. ' In reported speech we need to use the past tense form of the verb. In direct speech the present tense is used.
How do you identify reported speech? ›Reported speech always has two clauses. The words that are spoken are put in a reported clause. There is also a main clause that contains a reporting verb. The main clause with the reporting verb usually comes before the reported clause.
What is reported speech in short? ›Reported speech is the form in which one can convey a message said by oneself or someone else, mostly in the past. It can also be said to be the third person view of what someone has said.
What is reported speech yes or no questions? ›
When we report a Yes/No question, we use whether or if. Direct: Suma said to me, 'Are you interested in this offer? ' Indirect: Suma asked me if I was interested in that offer.
What are 4 things that you need to change in reported speech? ›...
The 4 Things you NEED to Change in Reported Speech
- Verbs & Time Tenses. Review the following time tense changes and examples: ...
- Modals. ...
- Pronouns. ...
- Time Words.
The pattern is verb + indirect object + to-clause. The indirect object is the person spoken to. Other verbs used to report orders and requests in this way are: command, order, warn, ask, advise, invite, beg, teach, & forbid.
What are the basic rules of direct and indirect speech? ›Direct: She said, 'I am happy'. Indirect: She said (that) she was happy. In indirect speech, tenses do not change if the words used within the quotes ('') talk of a habitual action or universal truth.
What is the general rule in writing reported speech? ›Reported speech puts the speaker's words or ideas into a sentence without quotation marks. Noun clauses are usually used. In reported speech, the reader does not assume that the words are the speaker's exact words; often, they are a paraphrase of the speaker's words.
What are the three rules when changing direct speech to indirect speech? ›- Remove comma and inverted commas.
- Put "that" between the reporting and reported speeches.(it is optional to put "that" between the reporting and reported speech)
- Change the 1st letter of reported speech into small letter except for "I"
| Tenses | Tenses Rule |
|---|---|
| Past Continuous tense | Subject + was + V1 + ing + Object (Singular) Subject + were + V1 + ing + Object (Plural) |
| Past perfect continuous tense | Subject + had been + V1 + ing + Object |
| Present Simple tense | Subject + V1 + s/es + Object (Singular) Subject + V1 + Object (Plural) |
Speech is opened with speech marks. Each line of speech starts with a capital. The line of speech ends with a comma, exclamation mark or question mark. A reporting clause is used at the end (said Jane, shouted Paul, replied Mum).
How do you know if speech is direct or indirect? ›- Using direct speech. Using direct speech means repeating the spoken phrase or word exactly as it was said. ...
- Using indirect speech. Indirect or reported speech is used to describe speech that happened in the past, where you are recounting something that was said to you before. ...
- Your turn.
- Rules for reporting speech. ...
- The first rule is to choose a reporting verb and tense. ...
- The second rule is to change the perspective, or point of view. ...
- Next, choose whether to include "that or "if." ...
- The fourth rule is to "backshift" the tense. ...
- Reporting on questions. ...
- Reporting speech with modals.
Why is reported speech difficult? ›
Regmi (2009) investigated the main reason of difficulty in the reported speech is related to the change of the tense in the reported speech in English. It is because students come from a variety of different backgrounds.
What are some examples of reporting verbs? ›- Observes.
- Describes.
- Discusses.
- Reports.
- Outlines.
- Remarks.
- States.
- Goes on to say that.
A reported question is when we tell someone what another person asked. To do this, we can use direct speech or indirect speech. direct speech: 'Do you like working in sales?' he asked.
What is the difference between reported speech and reported verb? ›Reporting verbs are verbs that serve to report what someone else has said. Reporting verbs are different than the reported speech in that they are used to paraphrase what someone has said. Reported speech is used when reporting exactly what someone has said. To do this, use 'say' and 'tell'.
How do you write a speech format example? ›Speech writing Example – Respected Principal, teachers, and my dear friends! Today, I (the name is given in the question) stand before you all to speak on the topic “(given in the question)”. OR you could start with a quote related to the topic and then go with the salutations and introduction. 1.
Can you explain me reported speech? ›Reported speech is speech which tells you what someone said, but does not use the person's actual words: for example, 'They said you didn't like it', 'I asked her what her plans were', and ' Citizens complained about the smoke'.
Which tense do not change in reported speech? ›You never change the time tenses in reported speech when the reporting verb (say, tell) is in the simple present tense. This commonly happens in news reports or when reporting information that is often said or repeated.
What is the main function of reported speech? ›We use reported speech when we want to tell someone what someone said. We usually use a reporting verb (e.g. say, tell, ask, etc.) and then change the tense of what was actually said in direct speech.
What are the 10 examples of direct and indirect speech? ›| 1 | Direct | She says, “I am ill.” |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Direct | I need help with my work. |
| Indirect | George said “I need help with my homework.” | |
| 11 | Direct | I was walking along the Street. |
| Indirect | He said he had been walking along the Street. |
A reported command is an order to do something with rarely a chance of refusal. Requests, unlike commands, are quite a polite way to ask someone to do something with a choice of refusing. Reporting verbs for the orders and commands are: Order, shout, implore, ask, forbid, threaten, purpose, command, tell, insist.
What are the two basic rules for direct and indirect speech? ›
The following rules should be followed while converting an indirect speech to direct speech: Use the reporting verb such as (say, said to) in its correct tense. Put a comma before the statement and the first letter of the statement should be in capital letter.
What is the rule of parts of speech? ›There are eight parts of speech in the English language: noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection. The part of speech indicates how the word functions in meaning as well as grammatically within the sentence.
How do you solve reported speech? ›...
using suggestions in reported speech
- 'My brothers are taller than me. ...
- 'I will see you soon. ...
- 'I have a cold. ...
- 'I know the way. ...
- 'He lost his phone. ...
- 'Do you want a coffee?
- Quotation marks are removed from direct speech.
- After the word "said", "that" then follows, e.g. Mary said that she was going to the store.
- Verbs take the past tense.
- Each new character's speech starts on a new line.
- Speech is opened with speech marks.
- Each line of speech starts with a capital.
- The line of speech ends with a comma, exclamation mark or question mark.
- A reporting clause is used at the end (said Jane, shouted Paul, replied Mum).
When using indirect or reported speech, the form changes. Usually indirect speech is introduced by the verb said, as in I said, Bill said, or they said. Using the verb say in this tense, indicates that something was said in the past. In these cases, the main verb in the reported sentence is put in the past.