hat is reported speech?

Reported speech is when we talk about what somebody else said for example:
Direct Speech: Ive been to London three times.
Reported Speech: She said shed been to London three times.
We often use reported speech when talking about a conversation that happened in the
past. There are some changes to the verbs with reported speech; read the table to find out
how each verb tense changes:
REPORTED
DIRECT SPEECH

SPEECH

EXAMPLE
I want to go home.

Simple present

Simple past

Present
continuous

She said she wanted to go home.

Im reading a good book.

Past continuous

She said she was reading a good book.

I ate pasta for dinner last night.

Simple past

Past perfect

She said shed eaten pasta for dinner last night.

Ive just finished cleaning my room.
She said shed just finished cleaning her room.My
mother has never been to Japan.

Present perfect

Past perfect

She said her mother had never been to Japan.

I can meet with you next Monday.
She said she could meet with me next Monday.
Sorry, I cant talk now. Im at work.
She said she couldnt talk at the moment

Can / cant

Could / couldnt

because she was at work.

Ill pick him up at the airport.
She said shed pick him up at the airport.
I wont tell anybody your secret.

Will / wont

Would / wouldnt

She said she wouldnt tell anybody my secret.

Be careful: said and told have a small difference.

After told, we need to include a person:

She said she wanted to go home.

She told me she wanted to go home.

She told John that she wanted to go home.

She told she wanted to go home.

She said me that she wanted to go home.

requests, orders, and questions.

DIRECT

REPORTED

SPEECH

SPEECH

EXAMPLE
Please make 10 copies of this report.
She asked me to make 10 copies of the report.
Go to the bank.

Requests/order

Asked (me/him/her) to

Told (me/him/her) to

He told me to go to the bank.

Are you coming to the party?

He asked if I was coming to the party.
Has John seen the new movie?

Yes/no

Asked if

questions

Wanted to know if

She asked if John had seen the new movie.

When was the company founded?

She asked when the company was founded.
What kind of car do you drive?

Asked
Other questions

Wanted to know

He wanted to know what kind of car I drive.

1. REQUESTS/ORDERS

Asked me to is used for requests.

Told me to is stronger; it is used for orders/commands.

The main verb stays in the infinitive:

She asked me to make copies.
He told me to go to the bank.

2. YES/NO QUESTIONS

Asked if and wanted to know if are equal.

The main verb changes according to the rules for reported statements:
Did you turn off the TV? (past simple)
She asked if I had turned off the TV (past perfect)

We dont use the auxiliary verbs do/does/did in the reported question.

3. OTHER QUESTIONS

Asked and wanted to know are equal.

We dont use the auxiliary verb do or does in the reported question:

Where does he work?
She wanted to know where he works.

In questions with the verb to be, the word order changes in the reported question:
Where were you born? (Question word + [to be] + subject)
He asked where I was born (Question word + subject + [to be])
He asked where was I born

Reporting Verbs In English

In previous lessons, youve learned how to do reported speech and

reportedquestions/commands now here are some verbs you can use to do the reporting!
Pay special attention to the grammatical structure of how each one is used, and make sure
to avoid the common errors.

COMMON REPORTING VERBS

SAY + (THAT)
Using the word that is optional after say:

Bob said he was happy.

Bob said that he was happy.

Avoid this common error: Bob said me that he was happy.
TELL + SOMEONE + (THAT)
After the word tell, we must always have a person:

Jane told me she had worked late.

Jane told me that she had worked late.

TELL + SOMEONE + (NOT) + TO
We use tell someone to for giving an order/command:

My mom told me to clean my room.

My dad told me not to play with fire.

ASK + SOMEONE + IF/WHETHER
ASK + SOMEONE + QUESTION WORD
We use ask someone if/whether for yes/no questions:

They asked the teacher if there was any homework.

They asked the teacher whether there was any homework.

For all other questions, use this structure:

He asked me what time it was.

She asked us how to get to the train station.

They asked the police officer why the road was closed.
Avoid this common error: They asked to the police officer

ASK + SOMEONE + (NOT) + TO

We use ask someone to for requesting action from the other person:

She asked me to close the door.

She asked me not to leave the door open.

REPORTING VERBS FOR ADVICE

RECOMMEND + ING / RECOMMEND + THAT

I recommend staying in this hotel.

I recommend that you stay in this hotel.

SUGGEST + ING / SUGGEST + THAT

He suggested taking an early train.

He suggested that I take an early train.

Avoid this common error: He suggested me to take an early train.

WARN + SOMEONE + ABOUT

WARN + SOMEONE + NOT + TO
We warn people about potentially dangerous things:

They warned us about the high prices in San Francisco.

They warned us not to move to San Francisco.

ADVISE + SOMEONE + (NOT) + TO
We use the verb advise for giving advice. Advise is pronounced with a Z sound, and
advice is pronouned with an S sound.

She advised me to start the assignment early.

She advised me not to wait until the last minute.

ENCOURAGE + SOMEONE + TO
We usually use the word encourage for suggesting positive things.

My parents encouraged me to take swimming lessons.

REPORTING VERBS FOR ARGUMENTS & STRONG FEELINGS

ADMIT + THAT
If you admit something, it means you acknowledge a mistake or an unpleasant fact.

He admitted that hed stolen the money.

ARGUE + THAT / ARGUE + ABOUT
The word argue can mean to try to persuade other people that your opinion is correct
as in the first example or it can mean to have an angry verbal conflict as in the second
example.

The lawyer argued that his client didnt know he was breaking the law.

My parents are arguing about where to spend our family vacation.

AGREE + THAT

The boss agreed that we should invest more in employee training.

Avoid this common error: Im agree. The correct sentence is I agree (more common) or
Im in agreement (more formal).

CLAIM + (THAT)
We use the verb claim to describe things we state are true but other people might
doubt that we are telling the truth.

She claimed that shed locked the door.

She claimed shed locked the door.

COMPLAIN + THAT / COMPLAIN + ABOUT
The verb complain means to say something negative because you are
annoyed/disappointed about it.

We complained that the hotel room was too hot.

We complained about the temperature in the hotel room.

DENY + THAT
If you deny something, it means you say it is NOT true.

He denied that he was responsible.

INSIST + THAT / INSIST + ON
The verb insist means to strongly say something is true, or strongly say you will do
something, despite other people trying to contradict you.

I insisted that I was innocent.

She insisted on paying for my drink.

SWEAR + THAT / SWEAR + TO
The verb swear means to say something with extremely strong certainty.

He swore that hed left his wallet on the table.

He swore to get revenge.

THREATEN + TO
The verb threaten means to say you will do something bad to another person.

The manager threatened to fire me.

REPORTING VERBS FOR STATEMENTS:

EXPLAIN + THAT
EXPLAIN + NOUN + TO SOMEONE
EXPLAIN + QUESTION WORD

The receptionist explained that the doctor was out to lunch.

Can you explain this math problem to me?

He explained how hed built his own house.

Avoid this common error: She explained me / I explained him we never have a
person immediately after the verb explain.

STATE + THAT

The politician stated that he was in favor of immigration.

REPLY + THAT
When I asked her about the project, she replied that she didnt know anything.
Avoid this common error: She replied me that we never have a person immediately
after the verb reply

MENTION + THAT
The verb mention means to say something quickly, or to say something that is not so
important to the main topic.

He mentioned that hed put gas in the car.

ANNOUNCE + THAT

The teacher announced that everyone had passed the test.

REPORTING VERBS FOR GIVING ORDERS:

COMMAND + SOMEONE + TO

The officer commanded the soldier to clean the room.

DEMAND + THAT
DEMAND + NOUN

My sister demanded that I give her an answer.

My sister demanded an answer.

FORBID + SOMEONE + TO
The verb forbid means to prohibit someone from doing something.

We forbade our kids to use the computer without supervision.

OTHER REPORTING VERBS:

BOAST + THAT
The verb boast means to arrogantly say good things about yourself or your
accomplishments.

He boasted that he always got the best grades in the class.

PROPOSE + THAT
The verb propose can be used for making suggestions. It is a little more formal.

She proposed that we take a ten-minute break.

REVEAL + THAT
When we reveal something, we say something that was previously a secret, or
information that is sensitive or not very well-known.

In the interview, he revealed that he struggled with self-esteem.

GUARANTEE + THAT
If you guarantee that something is the case, it means you promise that it is true.

We guarantee that our products are made from high-quality materials.

PROMISE + (THAT) / PROMISE + TO

You promised that youd help me.

You promised youd help me.

You promised to help me.

BEG + SOMEONE + TO/FOR

Im begging you to reconsider.

Im begging you for another chance.

REMIND + SOMEONE + TO/THAT

She reminded me to go to the bank.

She reminded me that the bank is closed on Sundays.

Avoid this common error: She remembered me to go

REPORTED SPEECH (PART 1) QUIZ

Question 1
Maria: "I saw them leave the meeting early."

A Maria said she sees them leave the meeting early.

B Maria said she was seeing them leave the meeting early.
C Maria said she'd seen them leave the meeting early.
Question 2
Lisa: "I've forgotten your name."

A Lisa said she'd forgotten my name.

B

Lisa said she wouldn't forget my name.

C Lisa said she's forgetting my name.

Question 3
Kevin: "I'm not hungry."

A He said me he wasn't hungry.

B He told me he wasn't hungry.
C He told me he hasn't been hungry.
Question 4
Bill (yesterday): "I won't work late today."

A Bill said he shouldn't work late yesterday.

B Bill said he couldn't work late yesterday.
C Bill said he wouldn't work late yesterday.
Question 5
Sharon: "I can give you a ride."

A Sharon said she could give me a ride.

B Sharon said she has given me a ride.
C Sharon said she is giving me a ride.
Question 6
James: "My sister is coming over this afternoon."

A James said his sister had come over in the afternoon.

B

James said his sister was coming over in the afternoon.

C James said his sister came over in the afternoon.

Question 7
Tom: "I'm thinking about buying a new computer."

A Tom told me he was thinking about buying a new computer.

B Tom told he was thinking about buying a new computer.
C Tom said he had thought about buying a new computer.
Question 8
Pat: "Joe has already left."

A Pat said that Joe had already left.

B Pat told Joe that I had already left.
C Pat told me that Joe was already leaving.
Question 9
Jerry, "I'll help you!"

A Jerry said I would help him.

B Jerry said he won't help me.
C Jerry said he would help me.
Question 10
Susan: "I'm not taking any English classes this semester."

A Susan said she wouldn't take any English classes this semester.
B

Susan said she wasn't taking any English classes this semester.

C Susan said she hasn't taken any English classes this semester.
Once you are finished, click the button below. Any items you have not completed will be marked
incorrect.

REPORTED SPEECH (PART 2) QUIZ

Question 1
"Where does your family usually go on vacation?"

A .He asked if my family usually goes on vacation.

B He asked where does my family usually go on vacation.
C He asked where my family usually goes on vacation
Question 2
"Have you met my sister?"

A She wanted to know if I'd met her sister.

B She wanted to know if I will meet her sister.

C She told me to meet her sister.
Question 3
"Look up these words in the dictionary."

A The teacher asked us if we'd looked up the words in the dictionary.

B The teacher told us to look up the words in the dictionary.
C The teacher wanted to know how to look up the words in the dictionary.
Question 4
"How much does it cost to rent a car?"

A He told me he wanted to rent a car.

B He wanted to know how much it costs to rent a car.
C He asked if it costs money to rent a car.
Question 5
"Will you help me?"

A She asked if I would help her.

B She asked if she would help me.
C She asked if you would help her.
Question 6
"Please don't walk on the grass."

A He asked us not to walk on the grass.

B

He asked us if we'd walked on the grass.

C He asked if he could walk on the grass.

Question 7
"What time is it?"

A My friend told me what time it was.

B My friend wanted to know what time is it.
C My friend asked me what time it was.
Question 8
"Can you swim?"

A He asked me if I'd swim.

B He asked me to swim.
C He asked if I could swim.
Question 9
"Finish the report by tomorrow, or else you're fired."

A My boss told me he'd finished the report for the next day, or else I was fired.
B My boss told me to finish the report by the next day, or else I'd be fired.
C My boss told me to finish the report by the next day, or else you are fired.
Question 10
"What's her last name?"

A He asked what her last name was.

B

He asked what was her last name.

C He asked if she had a last name.

Once you are finished, click the button below. Any items you have not completed will be marked
incorrect.