Introduction

In real conversations, we often need to repeat what someone said, but not word for word. We report it. When the original message is negative, we must keep the negative meaning while adjusting grammar: pronouns, time expressions, and sometimes the verb tense. In this unit, you will learn how to report negative statements clearly and accurately, so your listener understands exactly what was not true, not possible, or not allowed.

Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives
By the end of this unit, you will be able to: report negative statements using said and told; apply common tense changes after a past reporting verb; keep negatives correct with not, never, and negative pronouns; and adjust pronouns and time/place expressions to match the new context.

1) What reported speech is (and why negatives matter)

Reported speech is a way to communicate someone’s words without using quotation marks. With negative statements, the key is simple: the negative meaning must stay negative. However, English often changes the grammar around it, especially when the reporting verb is in the past.

Direct speech: “I don’t like this film.”
Reported speech: She said (that) she didn’t like that film.

Direct speech: “We can’t come tomorrow.”
Reported speech: They said (that) they couldn’t come the next day.

2) Reporting verbs:saidvstold(negative statements)

For statements, we commonly use said and told. The negative stays in the reported clause.

said + (that) + clause
Example: “I’m not hungry.” → He said (that) he wasn’t hungry.

told + object + (that) + clause
Example: “I’m not hungry.” → He told me (that) he wasn’t hungry.

Warning
Do not use an object directly after said: “He said me…” is incorrect. Use told: “He told me…”.

3) Tense changes with negative forms (backshift)

When the reporting verb is in the past (e.g., said, told), English often moves the tense one step back. The negative word (not) remains, but the verb form changes.

Important concept
Backshift changes the tense, not the meaning. “Don’t” often becomes “didn’t,” “can’t” becomes “couldn’t,” and “won’t” becomes “wouldn’t,” but the message stays negative.

Present simple → Past simple
“I don’t understand.” → She said (that) she didn’t understand.

Present continuous → Past continuous
“I’m not working today.” → He said (that) he wasn’t working that day.

Past simple → Past perfect (often, but not always necessary)
“I didn’t see her.” → He said (that) he hadn’t seen her.

Will → Would
“I won’t call you.” → She said (that) she wouldn’t call me.

Can → Could
“I can’t swim.” → He said (that) he couldn’t swim.

Must → Had to / Must (depending on meaning)
“I mustn’t park here.” → The officer said (that) I mustn’t park there. (prohibition still true)
“I mustn’t be late.” → She said (that) she didn’t have to be late. (This is usually NOT the intended meaning; see note below.)

4) Keeping the negative meaning:not,never, and negative pronouns

Negative statements are not only made with not. You can also report never and negative pronouns like nobody, nothing, nowhere. These words usually stay negative in reported speech.

Never
“I never eat meat.” → She said (that) she never ate meat.

Nobody / No one
“Nobody called me.” → He said (that) nobody had called him.

Nothing
“I saw nothing.” → She said (that) she had seen nothing.

Nowhere
“We’re going nowhere.” → They said (that) they were going nowhere.

5) Pronouns, time, and place: small changes that protect meaning

When you report a negative statement, you often need to change pronouns and references to time and place, because the speaker and situation are different.

Pronouns
“I don’t know your brother.” → She said (that) she didn’t know my brother.

Time expressions
“Not today.” → He said (that) it wasn’t that day.
“We aren’t meeting tomorrow.” → They said (that) they weren’t meeting the next day.

Place expressions
“I can’t work here.” → She said (that) she couldn’t work there.

6) When you may NOT need backshift

Backshift is common, but it is not always required. If the information is still true now, speakers sometimes keep the original tense for clarity.

“I don’t like coffee.” (a general preference)
He said (that) he doesn’t like coffee. (still true now) / He said (that) he didn’t like coffee. (also possible, more “reported”)

Practice

Practice section
Change each direct negative statement into reported speech. Use said or told as indicated, and make any necessary changes to tense, pronouns, time, and place.