Reported Speech

Reported speech is when tell what someone else said.[1]https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/reported-speech.html

Direct vs. Indirect Speech

There are two ways to use reported speech.

Direct speech: “I am a teacher,” Fred said.

Indirect speech: Fred said that he was a teacher.

Depending on the original tense, we must change the tense in the indirect reported speech. This is called a backshift.

reported speech

Present Simple

When using reported speech, we must backshift from the present simple to past simple.

For example:

  • I work a lot. → He said that he travelled a lot.
  • Susie is a teacher. → Susie said that she was a teacher.
  • We are sick. → They said that they were sick.

Present Continuous

For the present continuous, we must backshift to the past continuous.

For example:

  • They are talking very loudly. → She told me that they were talking very loudly.
  • We are singing. → She said that we were singing.
  • I am studying for the test. → He said that I was studying for the test.

Present Perfect

For the present perfect, we must change to the past perfect.

For example:

  • She has hurt her arm. → She said that she had hurt her arm.
  • I have studied for the test. → He said that he had studied for the test.
  • We have lived in the house for a long time. → They said that they had lived in the house for a long time.

Past Simple

For the past simple, we must change to the past perfect simple.

For example:

  • We lived in Paris for 2 years. → They said that they had lived in Paris for 2 years.

Past Continuous

For the past continuous, we must change to the past perfect continuous.

For example:

  • It was snowing all day. → The weatherman said that it had been snowing all day.
  • We were working hard yesterday. → They said that they had been working hard yesterday.
  • Susie was studying last night. → She said that she had been studying last night.

Past Perfect

The past perfect does not change when using reported speech.

Example Exercises

Change the following sentences into the reported speech.

 13%

Question 1 of 8

1. It was raining yesterday. → He said that it ____________ yesterday.

Question 1 of 8

Question 2 of 8

2. Mark is an Engineer. → Mark said that he ____________ an engineer.

Question 2 of 8

Question 3 of 8

3. I have studied Spanish for 5 years. → He said that he ____________ Spanish for 5 years.

Question 3 of 8

Question 4 of 8

4. We ate dinner at 8 pm. → They said that they ____________ at 8 pm.

Question 4 of 8

Question 5 of 8

5. I am having a party next week. → Frank said ____________ a party next week.

Question 5 of 8

Question 6 of 8

6. She lived in Los Angeles. → She said that she ____________ in Los Angeles.

Question 6 of 8

Question 7 of 8

7. We have eaten breakfast already. → They said that ____________ already.

Question 7 of 8

Question 8 of 8

8. I live in New York City. → Susie said that she ____________ in New York City.

Question 8 of 8