Reported speech (also called indirect speech) is how we tell someone what another person said without using their exact words. It is essential for academic writing, summarising sources, news reporting and business communication. It is also heavily tested in Cambridge B2 First and C1 Advanced exams, particularly in Use of English Part 4 key word transformations.
Tense Backshift
When reporting what someone said, tenses typically shift one step back in time because the original speech is now in the past. The key backshift pattern is:
- Present simple → Past simple: "I work here." → She said she worked there.
- Present continuous → Past continuous: "I am leaving." → He said he was leaving.
- Past simple → Past perfect: "I finished it." → She said she had finished it.
- Present perfect → Past perfect: "I have seen it." → He said he had seen it.
- Will → Would: "I will call." → She said she would call.
- Can → Could: "I can help." → He said he could help.
Say vs Tell
Say is used without a personal object (or with to + person): She said (to me) that she was tired. Tell always takes a personal object: She told me she was tired. A very common error is: She told that she was tired (missing the object) or She said me that… (adding an object without to).
Reporting Questions
Reported questions use statement word order (no inversion) and no question mark. Use whether/if for yes/no questions and the original question word for wh-questions.
- Direct: "Are you coming?" → Reported: She asked if I was coming.
- Direct: "Where do you live?" → Reported: He asked where I lived.
Time and Place Expression Changes
When reporting speech said at a different time or place, certain expressions change: now → then; today → that day; yesterday → the day before / the previous day; tomorrow → the next day / the following day; here → there; this → that; these → those; last week → the week before / the previous week; next week → the following week.
When Not to Backshift
Backshift is not obligatory when: (1) the reported speech is still true: She said water boils at 100°C. (general truth, no backshift needed). (2) The reporting verb is in the present: She says she is tired. (3) When reporting something said just moments ago and still relevant: He just said he is coming.
Practice Exercises
See also: Past Tenses Practice — understanding past tenses is essential for reported speech. And Modal Verbs for how modals backshift in reported speech.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is reported speech and how does it differ from direct speech?
Direct speech repeats someone's exact words inside quotation marks: She said, "I am tired." Reported (indirect) speech conveys the meaning without the exact words and without quotation marks: She said that she was tired. In reported speech, tenses usually shift back (backshift), pronouns and time expressions may change, and the word order of questions changes to statement word order.
What is tense backshift in reported speech?
Tense backshift means shifting the tense one step back into the past when reporting what someone said: present simple → past simple (I work → she said she worked); present continuous → past continuous (I am leaving → he said he was leaving); past simple → past perfect (I finished → she said she had finished); will → would; can → could; may → might; must → had to. Backshift occurs because the original speech is now in the past.
What is the difference between 'say' and 'tell' in reported speech?
'Say' is used without a personal object, or with 'to + person': She said that she was tired. She said to me that she was tired. 'Tell' always requires a personal object immediately after it: She told me that she was tired. Common errors: 'She told that she was tired' (missing object) and 'She said me that...' (object without 'to'). Remember: tell someone, say (to someone).
How do I report questions in indirect speech?
For yes/no questions, use if or whether and statement word order (no inversion, no question mark): "Are you coming?" → She asked if I was coming. For wh-questions, keep the question word and use statement word order: "Where do you live?" → He asked where I lived. A common mistake is keeping the inverted question order: He asked where did I live (incorrect) — the verb should come after the subject.
What time expressions change in reported speech?
Common changes: now → then; today → that day; yesterday → the day before/the previous day; tomorrow → the next day/the following day; this week → that week; last week → the week before/the previous week; next year → the following year; here → there; this → that; these → those. These changes apply when the speech was reported at a different time or place from the original statement.
Do I always have to backshift the tense in reported speech?
No. Backshift is not required when: (1) the statement is a general truth (She said water boils at 100 degrees — present simple stays); (2) the reporting verb is in the present (He says he is tired — no backshift needed); (3) the speech was said very recently and is still relevant; (4) the original tense was already the past perfect (you cannot go further back). Backshift is the default rule, but context and meaning can override it.
How do modal verbs change in reported speech?
Most modals backshift: will → would; can → could; may → might; shall → should; must → had to. Some modals do not change because they have no further back form: would, could, should, might, ought to stay the same. Example: "You should see a doctor" → He said I should see a doctor (no change). "I must go" → She said she had to go (must → had to in reported necessity).
What are reporting verbs other than 'say' and 'tell'?
Using a range of reporting verbs improves your writing: admit (He admitted that he was wrong), claim (She claimed to be an expert), deny (He denied stealing the money), explain (She explained that the process was complex), insist (He insisted on leaving), promise (She promised to call), refuse (He refused to apologise), suggest (She suggested going by train), warn (He warned us not to be late). Each verb has its own grammatical pattern.
How do I report commands and requests?
Commands and requests are reported using 'tell/ask/order + object + (not) to + infinitive': "Close the door" → She told me to close the door. "Please don't be late" → He asked us not to be late. "Leave immediately!" → The manager ordered them to leave immediately. The imperative form disappears in reported speech and is replaced by the to-infinitive structure.
How is reported speech tested in Cambridge B2 First and C1 Advanced?
In Cambridge B2 First, reported speech appears in Use of English Part 4 (key word transformations): you must convert a direct speech sentence to reported speech using a given key word (e.g. told, asked, said) within a two-to-five word limit. In C1 Advanced, the same structure appears with more complex reporting verb patterns. Reading texts also contain reported speech. Accurate tense backshift, correct reporting verb grammar and time expression changes are all tested.