Reported Speech

Reported speech lets you tell someone what another person said without using their exact words. At this level, you will learn how to handle more complex transformations, report commands and requests, and adjust time and place expressions.

What You'll Learn

• How to report commands, requests, and advice using the infinitive structure
• How to use "if" and "whether" to report yes/no questions
• How to change time and place expressions when converting direct speech to reported speech
• How to handle complex tense shifts including past perfect and modal verb changes

When to Use

1. Reporting a command or instruction: The teacher told us, "Close your books." becomes The teacher told us to close our books.
2. Reporting a request: She said, "Please help me carry these bags." becomes She asked me to help her carry the bags.
3. Reporting a yes/no question: He asked, "Did you finish your homework?" becomes He asked if I had finished my homework.
4. Reporting speech with time references: She said, "I will visit the museum tomorrow." becomes She said that she would visit the museum the next day.
5. Reporting speech with place references: He said, "I bought this book here." becomes He said that he had bought that book there.

How to Form

Reporting Commands, Requests, and Advice

When someone gives a command, makes a request, or offers advice, use the infinitive structure (to + verb) instead of tense backshift.

Reporting Yes/No Questions with "If" or "Whether"

When the original question has a yes/no answer, use "if" or "whether" to introduce the reported question. There is no question mark in reported speech.

Time and Place Expression Changes

When the reporting happens at a different time or place from the original speech, these expressions must change.

Example:

• Direct: She said, "I finished my project yesterday and I will present it here tomorrow."
• Reported: She said that she had finished her project the day before and she would present it there the next day.

Complex Tense Shifts

You already know that present tense shifts to past tense. At this level, learn these additional shifts.

Key Rules

1. Commands use the infinitive, not tense backshift: When reporting a command, use "told + person + to + verb". Do not backshift the tense. "Close the window" becomes "told me to close the window", not "told me that I closed the window."

2. Negative commands add "not" before "to": Place "not" before the infinitive. "Don't touch the paint" becomes "told them not to touch the paint." Never write "told them to don't touch."

3. "If" and "whether" introduce yes/no questions: Use "if" or "whether" when reporting a question that can be answered with yes or no. Both are correct, but "whether" is slightly more formal. "Are you free?" becomes "asked if/whether I was free."

4. Reported questions follow statement word order: After "if" or "whether", use subject-verb order, not question order. Write "She asked if I was ready" — not "She asked if was I ready."

5. Time and place words must change when context shifts: If you are reporting speech on a different day or in a different place, change words like "today" to "that day", "here" to "there", and "tomorrow" to "the next day."

6. Past perfect does not shift further: If the original speech is already in the past perfect tense ("I had left"), it stays as past perfect in reported speech. There is no further backshift.

7. Choose the right reporting verb: Use "told" for commands (requires an object — told someone), "asked" for questions and requests, "advised" for suggestions, and "ordered" for strong commands. Each verb carries a different tone.

Common Mistakes

Clue Words

Reporting verbs for commands and requests

told, asked, ordered, commanded, instructed, begged, urged, advised, warned, reminded

Words that signal yes/no questions

if, whether

Time and place words to watch for

today, tomorrow, yesterday, now, here, this, these, last, next, ago

Modal verbs that shift

will to would, can to could, may to might, must to had to, shall to should

Tip: When you see a sentence in direct speech, ask three questions: (1) Is it a statement, question, or command? (2) What tense changes are needed? (3) Do any time or place words need updating? Answering these three questions guides your transformation.

Practice Tips

1. Identify the sentence type first: Before transforming, decide whether the direct speech is a statement, a yes/no question, a wh-question, or a command/request. The sentence type determines which reporting structure to use.

2. Use the three-step method: Step 1 — Change the reporting verb and adjust pronouns. Step 2 — Shift the tense one step back. Step 3 — Update time and place expressions. Following these steps in order helps you avoid missing changes.

3. Check for "if/whether" triggers: If the original sentence starts with a verb (e.g., "Are you...", "Did she...", "Can they..."), it is a yes/no question and you need "if" or "whether" in the reported version.

4. Watch for commands disguised as requests: Sentences with "please" or polite forms like "Could you..." are requests, not questions. Report them using "asked + person + to + verb", not with "if" or "whether".

Quick Reference