Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)
If we report what another person has said, we usually do not use the speaker’s exact words (direct speech), but reported (indirect) speech. Therefore, you need to learn how to transform direct speech into reported speech. The structure is a little different depending on whether you want to transform a statement, question or request.
Statements
When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:
pronouns
present tense verbs (3rd person singular)
place and time expressions
tenses (backshift)
Type
Example

direct speech
“I speak English.”

reported speech (no backshift)
He says that he speaks English.

reported speech (backshift)
He said that he spoke English.

Questions
When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:
pronouns
present tense verbs (3rd person singular)
place and time expressions
tenses (backshift)
Also note that you have to:
transform the question into an indirect question
use the interrogative or if / whether
Type
Example

with interrogative
direct speech
“Why don’t you speak English?”


reported speech
He asked me why I didn’t speak English.

without interrogative
direct speech
“Do you speak English?”


reported speech
He asked me whether / if I spoke English.

Requests
When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:
pronouns
place and time expressions
Type
Example

direct speech
“Carol, speak English.“

reported speech
He told Carol to speak English.

Additional Information and Exeptions
Apart from the above mentioned basic rules, there are further aspects that you should keep in mind, for example:
main clauses connected with and / but
tense of the introductory clause
reported speech for difficult tenses
exeptions for backshift
requests with must, should, ought to and let’s

Exercise on Reported Speech

backshift and Place expressions
Imagine you want to repeat sentences that you heard two weeks ago in another place. Rewrite the sentences in reported speech. Change pronouns and expressions of time and place where necessary.
They said, "This is our book." → They said

She said, "I went to the cinema yesterday." → She said

He said, "I am writing a test tomorrow." → He said

You said, "I will do this for him." → You said

She said, "I am not hungry now." → She said

They said, "We have never been here before." → They said

They said, "We were in London last week." → They said

He said, "I will have finished this paper by tomorrow." → He said

He said, "They won`t sleep." → He said

She said, "It is very quiet here." → She said

Exercise on Reported Speech

Questions - Exercise 1
Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note the change of pronouns and tenses.
"Where is my umbrella?" she asked. → She asked

"How are you?" Martin asked us. → Martin asked us

He asked, "Do I have to do it?" → He asked

"Where have you been?" the mother asked her daughter. → The mother asked her daughter

"Which dress do you like best?" she asked her boyfriend. → She asked her boyfriend

"What are they doing?" she asked. → She wanted to know

"Are you going to the cinema?" he asked me. → He wanted to know

The teacher asked, "Who speaks English?" → The teacher wanted to know

"How do you know that?" she asked me. → She asked me

"Has Caron talked to Kevin?" my friend asked me. → My friend asked me
on Reported Speech

Exercise 3 – Requests (mixed)
Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note the change of pronouns in some sentences.
She said, "Go upstairs." → She told me

"Close the door behind you," he told me. → He told me

"Don`t be late," he advised us. → He advised us

"Stop staring at me," she said. → She told him

"Don`t be angry with me," he said. → He asked her

"Leave me alone," she said. → She told me

"Don`t drink and drive," she warned us. → She warned us

"John, stop smoking," she said. → She told John

"Don`t worry about us," they said. → They told her

"Meet me at the cinema." he said. →