Reported Speech – Simplified Notes
Reported Speech is used to tell what someone said without using their exact words.
There are two types of speech:
1. Direct Speech -
The speaker’s exact words are written inside quotation marks (“ ”).
Example:
👉 He said, “I am tired.”
2. Reported (Indirect) Speech-
The exact words are not used. Quotation marks are not used.
Example:
👉 He said that he was tired.
Important Rules (Easy Way)
When the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tense of the sentence usually changes.
1. am / is → was
2. are → were
3. has / have → had
4. will → would
Past
1. was/were - had been
Example:
Direct: She said, “I like coffee.”
Reported: She said that she liked coffee.
Pronouns change according to the subject.
I → he / she
we → they
my → his / her
Example:
Direct: He said, “I will help you.”
Reported: He said that he would help me.
Words related to time and place also change.
now → then
today → that day
tomorrow → the next day
yesterday → the previous day
here → there
Example:
Direct: She said, “I will come tomorrow.”
Reported: She said that she would come the next day.
Do not use a question mark.
- Use if / whether for yes–no questions.
Example:
Direct: He asked, “Are you ready?”
Reported: He asked if I was ready.
Reported Commands & Requests
Use to + verb.
ordered / told → for commands
requested / asked → for polite requests
Example:
Direct: The teacher said, “Sit down.”
Reported: The teacher told the students to sit down.
