Reported Speech

There are two ways to report someone else’s speech:
  1. Direct Speech - Repeat the exact words spoken

    Jack in Dullsville on Sunday: "I don't like this city. I'm moving to Shanghai tomorrow."

  2. Indirect or Reported Speech - Report the words spoken as part of our sentence

    Jean in Brightcity on Tuesday: Jack said that he didn't like the city (Dullsville), and he was moving to Shanghai the next day.

Since the speech is reported by another person in another place and time, several changes are necessary.

In the above example, there is a change in ...
  1. pronoun - In the reported speech, Jack is no longer the speaker. To reflect the change of speaker, I is changed to he.

    When direct speech is changed to reported speech, always be alert as to who is the speaker/writer who is reporting the speech to whom.

    For example, Jack to Cheryl: "I love you." [ Jean overhearing ]

    • Cheryl to Jean: Jack said that he loves me.

    • Jean to Mary (in Cheryl's presence): Jack said that he loves her.

    • Jean to Cheryl: Jack said that he loves you.

    • Jack to Cheryl (a few minutes later): A few minutes ago I said that I love you.


  2. place - In reporting Jack's speech, Jean does use this city because she is not there; instead she should use the city or the actual name of the city, Dullsville.

    However, there is no pattern for change of place. Any change must reflect the place of reporting in relation to the place where the original words were spoken (see above).

    • Jean in Dullsville on Tuesday:

      Jack said that he didn't like this city, and he was moving to Shanghai the next day.

    • Jean in Shanghai on Tuesday:

      Jack said that he didn't like Dullsville, and he was moving here the next day.


  3. time - As the time of Jean's reporting is after Jack's moving, tomorrow is changed to the next day.

    When direct speech is changed to reported speech (and the reporting verb is in the past tense), time references are changed. Here are some common changes.

    Direct Speech Reported Speech
    now then / right away / at that time
    yesterday the day before / the previous day
    today that day
    tomorrow the next day / the following day
    last night the night before / the previous night
    last week the week before / the previous week
    a week ago a week before
    this week that week
    next week the following week
    in two days two days from then



  4. tense - A change in time often requires a change in tense to reflect the time of reporting in relation to the time of the original words spoken.

    After past reporting verbs, the verbs of the original speech are usually "moved back" in time; in other words, the tense of the reported speech is made "more past" compared to the original speech. For example,

    Direct Speech Reported Speech
    Simple present
    "I'm sick."    		 Simple past
    He said that he was sick.
    Present continuous
    "I'm going to Australia."    		 Past continuous
    He said that he was going to Australia.
    Present perfect
    "I've completed my assignment."    		 Past perfect
    He said that he had completed his assignment.
    Simple past
    "I bought a new computer."    		 Past perfect
    He said that he had bought a new computer.
    Past continuous
    "We were living in China."    		 Past perfect continuous
    They said that they had been living in China.
    Past perfect
    "Jean had just walked two miles."    		 No change - Past perfect
    He said that Jean had just walked two miles.
    can / may [ possibility ] could
    may [ permission ] might
    shall [ ask for advice ] should
    will / shall [ future ] would
    could, might, should, would No change - could, might, should, would
    must had to


    Do NOT change the tense if ...

    1. the reporting verb is in the present tense = the situation being reported has not changed

      DIRECT: "My mother isn't feeling well."
      REPORTED: He says that his mother isn't feeling well.

    2. the original statement was about something that is still/always true or is a habitual action

      DIRECT: "I'm a teacher."
      REPORTED: He said that he is a teacher.

      DIRECT: "I always drink coffee."
      REPORTED: He said that he always drink coffee.

    3. the original statement about the future is still future at the time of reporting

      DIRECT: "An earthquake will hit the city next year."
      REPORTED: He predicted that an earthquake will hit the city next year.

      However, if you (the one reporting) do not agree with what was said ...
      REPORTED: He predicted that an earthquake would hit the city next year.