English — Grammar: Reported Speech — Statements, Questions, and Commands — 2nd Year Secondary

Reported Speech (Indirect Speech): Statements, Questions, and Commands

Reported speech (also called indirect speech) is used to report what someone said without quoting their exact words. It requires changes in pronouns, tense, time expressions, and sometimes word order.

I. Introduction

When we report someone’s words, we have two options:

• Direct speech: He said, “I am tired.”
• Reported speech: He said that he was tired.

II. Tense Changes (Backshift)

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
Present Simple: “I eat”	Past Simple: He said he ate
Present Continuous: “I am eating”	Past Continuous: He said he was eating
Present Perfect: “I have eaten”	Past Perfect: He said he had eaten
Past Simple: “I ate”	Past Perfect: He said he had eaten
Will: “I will eat”	Would: He said he would eat
Can: “I can eat”	Could: He said he could eat
Must: “I must eat”	Had to: He said he had to eat

III. Time and Place Changes

• now → then / at that moment
• today → that day
• yesterday → the day before / the previous day
• tomorrow → the next day / the following day
• here → there
• this → that
• last week → the week before / the previous week
• next week → the following week

IV. Reporting Statements

Use “say” or “tell” + that clause:

• Direct: “I love learning English,” she said.
• Reported: She said (that) she loved learning English.

V. Reporting Questions

Yes/No questions: Use “if” or “whether”:

• Direct: “Do you like coffee?” he asked.
• Reported: He asked if/whether I liked coffee.

Wh- questions: Keep the question word:

• Direct: “Where do you live?” she asked.
• Reported: She asked where I lived.

VI. Reporting Commands and Requests

Use “tell/ask/order” + object + infinitive:

• Direct: “Close the door,” he said.
• Reported: He told me to close the door.
• Direct: “Don’t stay up late,” she said.
• Reported: She told me not to stay up late.

VII. Exercises

Exercise 1: Change these sentences to reported speech:

1. “I am studying for the exam,” said Ahmed.
2. “We will visit Paris next summer,” they said.
3. “Have you ever been to London?” she asked.
4. “Don’t forget your keys!” my mother said.

Exercise 2: Correct the mistakes:

1. He told that he is happy.
2. She asked me where do I live.
3. They said me to come early.

For more grammar lessons, check out Future Continuous and Future Perfect and Shakespeare’s Tragedies.