Direct speech

Indirect speech Past simple She said it was cold. Past continuous She said she was teaching English online. Past perfect simple She said she had been on the web since 1999. Past perfect continuous She said she had been teaching English for seven years. Past perfect She said she had taught online yesterday. Past perfect continuous She said she had been teaching earlier. Past perfect NO CHANGE - She said the lesson had already started when he arrived. Past perfect continuous NO CHANGE - She said she'd already been teaching for five minutes.

Present simple She said, "It's cold."

Present continuous She said, "I'm teaching English online." Present perfect simple She said, "I've been on the web since 1999." Present perfect continuous She said, "I've been teaching English for seven years." Past simple She said, "I taught online yesterday." Past continuous She said, "I was teaching earlier." Past perfect She said, "The lesson had already started when he arrived." Past perfect continuous She said, "I'd already been teaching for five minutes."

Modal verb forms also sometimes change:

Direct speech will She said, "I'll teach English online tomorrow." Indirect speech would She said she would teach English online tomorrow. could She said she could teach English online. had to She said she had to have a computer to teach English online.

can She said, "I can teach English online."

must She said, "I must have a computer to teach English online."

shall She said, "What shall we learn today?" may She said, "May I open a new browser?"

should She asked what we should learn today. might She asked if she might open a new browser.

!Note - There is no change to; could, would, should, might and ought to.
Direct speech "I might go to the cinema", he said. Indirect speech He said he might go to the cinema.

You can use the present tense in reported speech if you want to say that something is still true i.e. my name has always been and will always be Lynne so:Direct speech Indirect speech

She said her name was Lynne.

"My name is Lynne", she said.

or She said her name is Lynne.

You can also use the present tense if you are talking about a future event.
Direct speech (exact quote) "Next week's lesson is on reported speech ", she said. Indirect speech (not exact)

She said next week's lesson is on reported speech.

Time change

If the reported sentence contains an expression of time, you must change it to fit in with the time of reporting. For example we need to change words like here and yesterday if they have different meanings at the time and place of reporting.
Today + 24 hours - Indirect speech She said yesterday's lesson was on presentations.

"Today's lesson is on presentations."

Expressions of time if reported on a different day this (evening) today these (days) now (a week) ago last weekend here next (week) tomorrow that (evening) yesterday ... those (days) then (a week) before the weekend before last / the previous weekend there the following (week) the next/following day

In addition if you report something that someone said in a different place to where you heard it you must change the place (here) to the place (there). For example:At work "How long have you worked here?" At home She asked me how long I'd worked there.

Pronoun change

In reported speech, the pronoun often changes. For example:

Me "I teach English online." You She said she teaches English online.

Reporting Verbs

Said, told and asked are the most common verbs used in indirect speech. We use asked to report questions:For example: I asked Lynne what time the lesson started. We use told with an object. For example: Lynne told me she felt tired. !Note - Here me is the object. We usually use said without an object. For example: Lynne said she was going to teach online. If said is used with an object we must include to ; For example: Lynne said to me that she'd never been to China. !Note - We usually use told. For example: Lynne told me that she'd never been to China. There are many other verbs we can use apart from said, told and asked. These include:accused, admitted, advised, alleged, agreed, apologised, begged, boasted, complained, denied, explained, implied, invited, offered, ordered, promised, replied, suggested and thought.

Using them properly can make what you say much more interesting and informative. For example: He asked me to come to the party:He invited me to the party. He begged me to come to the party. He ordered me to come to the party.

He advised me to come to the party. He suggested I should come to the party.

Use of 'That' in reported speech

In reported speech, the word that is often used. For example: He told me that he lived in Greenwich. However, that is optional. For example: He told me he lived in Greenwich. !Note - That is never used in questions, instead we often use if. For example: He asked me if I would come to the party.

Reported Speech - Indirect Speech

By Kenneth Beare, About.com
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Indirect Speech (also referred to as 'reported speech') refers to a sentence reporting what someone has said. It is almost always used in spoken English.
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If the reporting verb (i.e. said) is in the past, the reported clause will be in a past form. This form is usually one step back into the past from the original.

For example:
He said the test was difficult. She said she watched TV every day. Jack said he came to school every day. If simple present, present perfect or the future is used in the reporting verb (i.e. says) the tense is retained.
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For example:
He says the test is difficult. She has said that she watches TV every day. Jack will say that he comes to school every day. If reporting a general truth the present tense will be retained.
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For example:The teacher said that phrasal verbs are very important. Changing Pronouns and Time Signifiers When changing from direct speech to indirect speech, it is often necessary to change the pronouns to match the subject of the sentence. For example:
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She said, "I want to bring my children." BECOMES She said she wanted to bring her children. Jack said, "My wife went with me to the show." BECOMES Jack said his wife had gone with him to the show.

It is also important to change time words (signifiers) when referring to present, past or future time to match the moment of speaking. For example:
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She said, "I want to bring my children tomorrow." BECOMES She said she wanted to bring her children the next day. Jack said, "My wife went with me to the show yesterday." BECOMES Jack said his wife had gone with him to the show the day before.

Indirect Questions

When reporting questions, it is especially important to pay attention to sentence order. When reporting yes/ no questions connect the reported question using 'if'. When reporting questions using question words (why, where, when, etc.) use the question word. For example:
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She asked, "Do you want to come with me?" BECOMES She asked me if I wanted to come with her. Dave asked, "Where did you go last weekend?" BECOMES Dave asked me where I had gone the previous weekend. He asked, "Why are you studying English?" BECOMES She asked me why I was studying English.

The following chart includes sentences changed from quoted speech to reported speech using a past form. NoteSimple past, present perfect, and past perfect allchange to past perfect in the reported form. Check your understanding with this reported speech quiz: Reported Speech Transformations Quiz Advanced Reporting Verbs
He said, "I live in Paris." He said, "I am cooking dinner." He said, "I have visted London twice." He said, "I went to New York last week." He said, "I had already eaten." He said, "I am going to find a new job." He said, "I will give Jack a call." He said he lived in Paris. He said he was cooking dinner. He said he had visited London twice. He said he had gone to New York the week before. He said he had already eaten. He said he was going to find a new job. He said he would give Jack a call.

Basic Grammar

Direct Speech In direct speech, the original speaker's exact words are given and are indicated by quotation marks. "I don't know what to do," said Dean.

In some grammar books, said Dean is referred to as a reporting clause. "I don't know what to do," is referred to as the reported clause.
Indirect Speech In indirect speech, the exact meaning of the speaker's words is given, but the exact words are not directly quoted. Dean said that he didn't know what to do.

To convert direct speech into indirect speech:

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If the main verb is past tense, present tense verbs in the that clause must also be changed to past tense. Dean said that he didn't know what to do. First and second person pronouns must be changed to third person pronouns. Dean said that he didn't know what to do.

(The that can often be left out: Dean said he didn't know what to do.)
Indirect Questions The same rules apply to indirect questions as to indirect statements. The difference is that a wh clause is used instead of a that clause.

Direct question:
"Did Marama's horse win a prize?" Owen asked.

Indirect questions:
Owen asked whether (or if) Marama's horse had won a prize.

Direct question:
"Why won't you marry me?" asked Donald.

Indirect question:
Donald asked her why she wouldn't marry him.

In telling a story or recounting events, a speaker using direct speech has all the resources of intonation to produce a lively account. Because indirect speech is always speech reported by someone else, the account is more reserved and restrained.
"What shall we do?" asked Bev. "Don't worry, Bev," said Duncan, "I've got a plan."

Bev asked Duncan what they should do. He told her not to worry and that he had a plan.

The ability to change direct speech into indirect speech is a useful skill for those engaged in taking the minutes of a meeting or reporting on events. Direct speech:
"First of all, I would like to thank everybody who helped with the fair. The results were very good, and we will now be able to buy two more computers."

Indirect speech:
The principal said that he would like to thank everybody who had helped with the fair. He announced that the results were very good and that the school would now be able to buy two more computers.