Grammar Study:

Reported
Speech
 We use the Reported speech:

Bla bla
She told bla...
REPORTED me that
SPEECH bla bla
bla...
 Please, note that:
• Quotation marks are not used in reported
speech.

• Verb tenses, pronouns and some

“time” and “place” words may change
because the time, place and speaker
may be different.
• When we report a statement, we use
reported verbs such as say, tell,
explain, inform, answer, decide, etc.
often followed by that.
 • In reported –wh questions, we use
the wh- word + the subject + the
verb.
• We do not use the interrogative
form of the verb – do, does or did.
• As it is an indirect question no
question marks are used
• When we report requests, orders,
advice or warnings we use verbs
such as advice, ask, beg, tell, order,
etc, followed by an infinitive.
 Verb tense changes:
Direct speech Reported speech
Present simple Past simple
Past Simple Past Perfect
Present continuous Past continuous
Present perfect Past perfect
Present perfect Past perfect
continuous continuous
Future Conditional
 Place changes
Direct speech Reported speech
here there
This place That place
 Time changes
Direct speech Reported speech
now then
Today / tonight That day / that night
This morning That morning
yesterday The day before
Tomorrow The following day
Last month The month before
 Personal Pronouns changes
Direct speech Reported speech
I He, she
you I, she, he, we, they
we they
Me Him, her
You Him, her, us, them
Us them
 Possessive Pronouns changes
Direct speech Reported speech
my • His, her
your • My, his, her, our, their
our • their
mine His, hers
yours • Mine, his, hers, ours, theirs
ours Mine, his , hers,
ours, theirs,
 Direct Speech → Reported Speech

Can → Could
"I can stay here until   He said he could stay there
Sunday" until Sunday

May → Might
"I may go fishing next   He said that he might go
weekend" fishing next weekend

Will → Would
"I will stay here!"   He said that he would stay
there
Must → Had to
"I must work everyday"   He said he had to work
everyday
 REPORTED
Direct Speech
SPEECH
Reported Speech

I am ill She said she was ill.

They are studying Maths She said they were studying Maths.

She phoned me yesterday. She said that she had phoned the day
before.
Simon has come back from He said that Simon had come back
Paris. from Paris.
He is going to prepare She said that he was going to prepare
dinner. dinner.
You must finish before 9. He said that I had to finish before 9.

I will bring you a blanket. He said he would bring me a blanket.