B1 English GrammarReported Speech
Report what others said using indirect speech. Learn the tense shifts, pronoun changes, and time expression adjustments needed for accurate reported speech.
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1Tense Shifts in Reported Speech
When reporting what someone said, we usually shift the tense back one step. Present becomes past, past becomes past perfect, will becomes would. This is called 'backshift' and happens because we're talking about something said in the past.
Tense Backshift
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| Present simple: 'I work' | Past simple: He said he worked |
| Present continuous: 'I'm working' | Past continuous: He said he was working |
| Past simple: 'I worked' | Past perfect: He said he had worked |
| Will: 'I will work' | Would: He said he would work |
| Can: 'I can help' | Could: He said he could help |
Examples
'I am tired.' → She said she was tired.
She said she was tired.
am → was
'I will call you.' → He said he would call me.
He said he would call me.
will → would
'I have finished.' → She said she had finished.
She said she had finished.
have → had
'I can swim.' → He said he could swim.
He said he could swim.
can → could
2Pronoun and Time Changes
Pronouns must change to reflect the new speaker and listener. Time expressions also change because 'now' in direct speech becomes 'then' when reported later. Place expressions may change too.
Time Expression Changes
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| now | then |
| today | that day |
| yesterday | the day before |
| tomorrow | the next day / the following day |
| here | there |
| this | that |
Examples
'I'll see you tomorrow.' → She said she would see me the next day.
She said she would see me the next day.
tomorrow → the next day
'I'm leaving now.' → He said he was leaving then.
He said he was leaving then.
now → then
'I came here yesterday.' → She said she had gone there the day before.
She said she had gone there the day before.
here/yesterday changed
'This is my book.' → He said that was his book.
He said that was his book.
this/my changed
3Say vs Tell
Use 'say' without a person directly after it: She said (that)... Use 'tell' with a person: She told me (that)... Both can be followed by 'that', but 'that' is often omitted in spoken English.
Say vs Tell
| Verb | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| say | say (that) + clause | She said she was happy. |
| tell | tell + person + (that) + clause | She told me she was happy. |
| say | say something to someone | She said hello to me. |
| tell | tell someone something | She told me the news. |
Examples
He said he was busy.
He said he was busy.
say + clause (no person)
He told me he was busy.
He told me he was busy.
tell + person + clause
She said that she would come.
She said that she would come.
say with optional 'that'
They told us the meeting was cancelled.
They told us the meeting was cancelled.
tell + us + clause
4Reported Questions
For reported questions, use normal word order (not question order). Use 'if' or 'whether' for yes/no questions. Use the original question word (what, where, when, etc.) for wh-questions. Don't use question marks.
Question Reporting
| Type | Direct | Reported |
|---|---|---|
| Yes/No | 'Are you ready?' | She asked if I was ready. |
| Wh-question | 'Where do you live?' | He asked where I lived. |
Examples
'Do you like coffee?' → She asked if I liked coffee.
She asked if I liked coffee.
yes/no → if/whether
'What time is it?' → He asked what time it was.
He asked what time it was.
wh-word kept, normal order
'Where did you go?' → She asked where I had gone.
She asked where I had gone.
went → had gone
'Will you help me?' → He asked whether I would help him.
He asked whether I would help him.
whether = if (formal)
Practice Exercises
5 exercises
'I am happy.' → She said she ___ happy.
'I will call you.' → He said he ___ call me.
'I'll see you tomorrow.' → She said she would see me ___.
Which is correct? Report: 'Do you like coffee?'
Which is correct?
See Real Examples in Stories
Now that you've practiced, see this grammar in context
“Anna hugged him and said she was proud of him for recognizing it.”
“Mr. Weber was pleased and said he would prepare the contract.”
“She told me that she had reviewed my request with the management team.”
“The manager asked if there was anything else she could do.”
“His manager Sarah later told him she was proud of his progress.”
Practice with B1 Stories
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