Introduction

In real life, we often repeat what other people said: we tell a colleague what the manager announced, we explain a friend’s message, or we summarise a conversation. Reported speech helps you do this clearly and accurately. In this unit, you will learn how to report statements by changing the verb tense (backshift) and adjusting pronouns, time expressions, and place words so the meaning stays correct.

Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives
By the end of this unit, you will be able to: report statements using “said (that)” and “told + object (that)”; apply backshift in common tenses; change pronouns and possessives correctly; and update time and place expressions (now, today, here, etc.) when needed.

1) What is reported speech?

Reported speech (also called indirect speech) is used when we report what someone said without using their exact words. We often introduce it with said (that) or told + object (that).

Direct speech: “I’m tired.”
Reported speech: She said (that) she was tired.

Important concept
In reported speech, we focus on the message, not the exact quotation marks or the speaker’s original sentence.

2) Said vs told

Said does not usually take a person directly after it.
She said (that) she was late.

Told normally needs an object (the listener).
She told me (that) she was late.

Common patterns:
He said that… / He said…
He told me that… / He told us…

3) Backshift: changing tenses when reporting

When the reporting verb is in the past (e.g., said, told), we often move the original tense one step back in time. This is called backshift.

Warning
Backshift is common, but it is not always necessary. If the information is still true or the situation has not changed, we can keep the original tense: “The Earth is round.” He said the Earth is round.

4) Pronouns and possessives: changing perspective

When you report, you usually change pronouns because the speaker changes. Imagine you are “moving” the sentence from the original speaker’s point of view to yours.

Direct speech: “I forgot my keys,” Maria said.
Reported speech: Maria said (that) she had forgotten her keys.

Direct speech: “We will send you our decision,” they told me.
Reported speech: They told me (that) they would send me their decision.

5) Time and place expressions: updating the context

Words like today, tomorrow, and here depend on the moment and place of speaking. When you report later or from a different place, you often need to change them.

Direct speech: “I’m meeting Paul tomorrow here,” she said.
Reported speech: She said (that) she was meeting Paul the next day there.

6) A short narrative example

Yesterday, I spoke to a new student after class. She looked a little nervous, but she smiled and said, “I don’t understand reported speech.” I listened carefully and told her that it was normal at first. She said, “I have a test next week.” I replied that she would improve quickly if she practised a little every day. Later, I wrote in my notes that she had been worried, but she had also been motivated.

Practice

Practice section
Rewrite each sentence in reported speech. Use backshift and change pronouns/time/place expressions when necessary.