Reported speech is used to tell what someone said without using their exact words.
Example
Direct Speech: She said, “I am tired.”
Reported Speech: She said that she was tired.
STEP 1 – REMOVE QUOTATION MARKS
In reported speech, quotation marks (“ ”) are removed.
Example
Direct: He said, “I am happy.”
Reported: He said that he was happy.
STEP 2 – USE “THAT”
After the reporting verb (said/told), we usually use that.
Example
Direct: She said, “I like tea.”
Reported: She said that she liked tea.
STEP 3 – CHANGE THE TENSE
If the reporting verb is in the past tense, the verb in the sentence usually changes.
Present → Past
am / is → was
are → were
have / has → had
will → would
can → could
Examples
Direct: He said, “I am busy.”
Reported: He said that he was busy.
Direct: She said, “I will come.”
Reported: She said that she would come.
Direct: They said, “We have finished.”
Reported: They said that they had finished.
STEP 4 – CHANGE THE PRONOUNS
Pronouns change according to the speaker and the listener.
Examples
Direct: She said, “I am tired.”
Reported: She said that she was tired.
Direct: He said to me, “You are late.”
Reported: He told me that I was late.
STEP 5 – CHANGE TIME WORDS
Some time and place words also change.
now → then
today → that day
tomorrow → the next day
yesterday → the previous day
here → there
Example
Direct: He said, “I will come tomorrow.”
Reported: He said that he would come the next day.
STEP 6 – REPORTING YES / NO QUESTIONS
Use asked + if / whether.
Example
Direct: He said, “Are you ready?”
Reported: He asked if I was ready.
STEP 7 – REPORTING WH- QUESTIONS
Keep the WH word (what, where, when, why, how).
Example
Direct: She said, “Where do you live?”
Reported: She asked where I lived.
Direct: He said, “What are you doing?”
Reported: He asked what I was doing.
STEP 8 – REPORTING COMMANDS AND REQUESTS
Use told / asked + to + verb
Examples
Direct: He said, “Open the door.”
Reported: He told me to open the door.
Direct: She said, “Please help me.”
Reported: She asked me to help her.
SUMMARY
Remove quotation marks
Use that after said/told
Change the tense
Change the pronouns
Change time words
Questions → asked + if / whether or WH word
Commands → told / asked + to + verb
REPORTED SPEECH – EXAMPLES
SIMPLE EXAMPLES
Direct: She said, “I am happy.”
Reported: She said that she was happy.
Direct: He said, “I like football.”
Reported: He said that he liked football.
Direct: They said, “We are ready.”
Reported: They said that they were ready.
Direct: She said, “I will come tomorrow.”
Reported: She said that she would come the next day.
Direct: He said, “I have finished my homework.”
Reported: He said that he had finished his homework.
YES / NO QUESTION EXAMPLES
Direct: He said, “Are you busy?”
Reported: He asked if I was busy.
Direct: She said, “Do you like tea?”
Reported: She asked if I liked tea.
Direct: He said, “Did you finish the work?”
Reported: He asked if I had finished the work.
WH QUESTION EXAMPLES
Direct: She said, “Where do you live?”
Reported: She asked where I lived.
Direct: He said, “Why are you late?”
Reported: He asked why I was late.
Direct: She said, “What are you doing?”
Reported: She asked what I was doing.
COMMAND / REQUEST EXAMPLES
Direct: He said, “Open the door.”
Reported: He told me to open the door.
Direct: She said, “Close the window.”
Reported: She told me to close the window.
Direct: He said, “Please help me.”
Reported: He asked me to help him.
DIFFICULT EXAMPLES
Direct: She said, “I am reading a novel now.”
Reported: She said that she was reading a novel then.
Direct: He said, “We will complete the project tomorrow.”
Reported: He said that they would complete the project the next day.
Direct: She said, “I have been working here for five years.”
Reported: She said that she had been working there for five years.
Direct: He said to me, “You can solve this problem.”
Reported: He told me that I could solve that problem.
Direct: The teacher said, “Students must finish the work today.”
Reported: The teacher said that the students had to finish the work that day.