Reported Statements

B1 · IntermediateReported Speech

"I'm tired," she said. → She said (that) she was tired.

What you'll learn

  • Reported speech removes quotation marks and often adds 'that'
  • 'Say' is followed directly by the reported clause; 'tell' needs a listener first
  • Pronouns and possessives shift to match the new point of view
  • The reporting verb's tense usually moves back one step (see Backshift of Tenses)

From direct speech to reported speech

Direct speech repeats someone's exact words in quotation marks. Reported speech (also called indirect speech) tells someone else what was said, without quoting it word for word. The quotation marks disappear, and 'that' is often added (though it can be left out in informal English).

"Direct: Anna said, "I'm tired.""
"Reported: Anna said (that) she was tired."

'Say' vs 'tell'

'Say' is followed directly by the reported clause, with no listener mentioned (or 'to' + listener). 'Tell' must be followed by the listener first, with no 'to'.

"He said (that) he was busy."
"He said to me (that) he was busy."
"He told me (that) he was busy."

Shifting pronouns and possessives

Reported speech is told from a different point of view than the original speaker's, so pronouns and possessives usually change to match — 'I' often becomes 'he' or 'she', 'my' becomes 'his' or 'her', and so on.

"Tom: "My sister lives in Paris." → Tom said his sister lived in Paris."

Real English

"She said (that) she loved the film."
"He told me (that) the meeting was cancelled."
"They said (that) they were leaving the next day."
"Maria said she couldn't come to the party."

Watch out

✗She said me that she was tired.
✓She told me that she was tired.

'Say' cannot be followed directly by a listener — use 'tell' instead, or 'said to me'.

✗She told that she was tired.
✓She said (that) she was tired.

'Tell' always needs a listener right after it — if there's no listener mentioned, use 'say' instead.

✗Tom said my sister lived in Paris.
✓Tom said his sister lived in Paris.

Shift the pronoun to match who is being talked about, not the original speaker's exact words.

Real life — Passing on a message

"Did Jack call?"

"Yeah, he said he'd finished his homework and asked if you could call him back."

"OK, thanks — did he say when?"

"He just said it wasn't urgent."

Practice

Exercise 1 · Choose the correct reported statement

Choose the correct reported statement for: Anna: 'I am tired.'

Exercise 2 · Choose the correctly reported sentence

Choose the correctly reported sentence.

Exercise 3 · Choose the correctly reported sentence

Choose the correctly reported sentence.

Exercise 4 · Choose the correctly reported sentence

Choose the correctly reported sentence for: Tom: 'My sister lives in Paris.'

Exercise 5 · Choose the correctly reported sentence

Choose the correctly reported sentence for: 'We are leaving tomorrow.'

Exercise 6 · Choose the correct verb

Choose the correct verb: 'She ___ me she was going to be late.'

Exercise 7 · Choose the correct verb

Choose the correct verb: 'He ___ (that) the meeting was cancelled.' (no listener mentioned)

Exercise 8 · Choose the correctly reported sentence

Choose the correctly reported sentence for: Maria: 'I can't come to the party.'

Exercise 9 · Report the statement

Report this statement: Jack: 'I have finished my homework.' → Jack said ___.

Exercise 10 · Report the statement, using 'told'

Report this statement, using 'told': Lena: 'I need your help.' → Lena ___.

Exercise 11 · Sort into groups

She told her mother the news.
She said the news to her mother.
He told us he was moving.
He said us he was moving.

0 / 4 sorted

Quick challenge

Five quick questions to check what stuck.

Question 1 / 5

Score: 0/0

Choose the correctly reported sentence for: 'I love this song.'

You learned

  • Reported speech drops quotation marks and often adds 'that'.
  • 'Say' has no listener directly after it; 'tell' always needs one.
  • Pronouns and possessives shift to match the new point of view.
  • The reporting verb's tense usually moves back one step.

Related grammar lessons

IntermediateReported Speech

Reported Questions

Learn how to report questions someone asked, using statement word order, 'if'/'whether', and backshifted tenses.

IntermediateReported Speech

Backshift of Tenses

Learn the full pattern for shifting tenses one step into the past when reporting speech from a past reporting verb.

IntermediateReported Speech

Changes in Time and Place Words

Learn how words like 'today', 'here', and 'this' shift to 'that day', 'there', and 'that' when reporting speech later or elsewhere.

Upper IntermediateReported Speech

Reported Commands and Requests

Learn how to report imperatives, commands, and polite requests using tell/ask + object + to-infinitive.

View all lessons in this category