Reported Speech – Direct vs. Indirect

📘 Rule Summary

Reported speech (or indirect speech) is used when you report what someone else said, instead of quoting their exact words. Direct speech uses quotation marks. Indirect speech uses reporting verbs and may involve changes in tense, pronouns, time words, and structure.

📝 Examples

Direct: She said, “I am tired.”

Indirect: She said that she was tired.

📖 Explanation

🧠 Day 21: Reported Speech – Speak for Others Correctly

🗣️ Mastering reported speech helps you sound professional, accurate, and confident when describing conversations or giving summaries.

🌱 Level 1 – Beginner (A1–A2): Understanding the Basics

🔹 What is Reported Speech?

Type	Example	Meaning
Direct Speech	He said, “I love books.”	Quoting exact words
Indirect Speech	He said that he loved books.	Reporting what someone said (not exact)

✅ Direct = exact words inside quotes
✅ Indirect = meaning + grammar changes

🔹 Basic Formula

Direct:
Subject + said + “quotation.”

She said, “I am happy.”

Indirect:
Subject + said (that) + reported clause

She said (that) she was happy.

“that” is optional in informal use.

🌿 Level 2 – Intermediate (B1–B2): Tense & Word Changes

🔁 Tense Shift (Backshifting)

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
“I eat pizza.”	She said (that) she ate pizza.
“I am reading.”	She said she was reading.
“I have finished.”	She said she had finished.
“I will come.”	She said she would come.
“I can drive.”	She said she could drive.
“I may go.”	She said she might go.
“I must study.”	She said she had to study.

🧠 If the reporting verb is in past tense, shift the verb one step back in time.

🕰️ Time and Place Changes

Direct Word	Indirect Word
today	that day
tomorrow	the next day / the following day
yesterday	the previous day
now	then
here	there
this	that
these	those

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” → He said he would see me the next day.

🙋‍♂️ Pronoun Changes

“I love you.” → He said he loved me.
“We are coming.” → They said they were coming.

🧠 Change pronouns according to who is speaking and being spoken to.

📘 Mini Story – A Phone Call

Direct Speech:

John said, “I am going to the store now.”
Mary replied, “Buy some eggs, please!”
John added, “I’ll be back by 6.”

Indirect Speech:

John said he was going to the store then.
Mary asked him to buy some eggs.
John said he would be back by 6.

🌳 Level 3 – Advanced (C1–C2): Questions, Requests, Commands, and Exceptions

❓ Reporting Questions

Yes/No Questions: Direct: “Are you coming?”
Indirect: She asked if I was coming.
Wh- Questions: Direct: “Where do you live?”
Indirect: He asked me where I lived.

🧠 In reported questions:

❌ No question marks
❌ No do/does/did
✅ Use if/whether (yes/no)
✅ Keep question word (what, where, when, etc.)

🛠️ Reporting Commands or Requests

Direct	Indirect
“Close the door.”	He told me to close the door.
“Please wait.”	She asked me to wait.

Structure:
ask/tell/order + object + to-infinitive

🗯️ Reporting Negative Commands

“Don’t be late.” → She told me not to be late.

🧨 Reporting Mixed Tenses (No Backshift)

No change in tense when:

Reporting verb is in present/future She says, “I need help.”
→ She says she needs help.
Quoted speech is a universal truth He said, “Water boils at 100°C.”
→ He said water boils at 100°C.

🎯 Common Errors in Reported Speech

❌ Incorrect	✅ Correct	Why
She said she is tired.	She said she was tired.	Backshift error
He said me to wait.	He told me to wait.	“tell” needs object
She asked that I help her.	She asked me to help her.	Wrong structure
He said he will come.	He said he would come.	Tense shift missing
Where are you? → He asked where are you.	He asked where I was.	No question word order

🔁 Practice Drill

Convert to reported speech:

She said, “I like ice cream.”
→ She said that she liked ice cream.
They asked, “Can you help us?”
→ They asked if I could help them.
“Where do you live?” he asked.
→ He asked where I lived.
John said, “I will be late.”
→ John said that he would be late.
“Don’t forget your keys,” she said.
→ She told me not to forget my keys.