GRAMMAR: Reported Speech

What is reported speech?

Reported speech is the form in which one can convey a message said by oneself or someone else,
mostly in the past. It can also be said to be the third person view of what someone has said. In
this form of speech, you need not use quotation marks as you are not quoting the exact words
spoken by the speaker, but just conveying the message.

Rules to be followed when using reported speech

Reported speech is a little different from direct speech. As it has been discussed already, reported
speech is used to tell what someone said and does not use the exact words of the speaker. Take a
look at the following rules so that you can make use of reported speech effectively.

 The first thing you have to keep in mind is that you need not use any quotation marks as
you are not using the exact words of the speaker.
 You can use the following formula to construct a sentence in the reported speech.
Subject said that (report whatever the speaker said)

 You can use verbs like said, asked, requested, ordered, complained, exclaimed, screamed,
told, etc. If you are just reporting a declarative sentence, you can use verbs like told, said,
etc. followed by ‘that’ and end the sentence with a full stop. When you are reporting
interrogative sentences, you can use the verbs – enquired, inquired, asked, etc. and
remove the question mark. In case you are reporting imperative sentences, you can use
verbs like requested, commanded, pleaded, ordered, etc. If you are reporting exclamatory
sentences, you can use the verb exclaimed and remove the exclamation mark.
 Remember that the structure of the sentences also changes accordingly.
 Furthermore, keep in mind that the sentence structure, tense, pronouns, modal verbs,
some specific adverbs of place and adverbs of time change when a sentence is
transformed into indirect/reported speech.

Transforming direct speech into reported speech

As discussed earlier, when transforming a sentence from direct speech into reported speech, you
will have to change the pronouns, tense and adverbs of time and place used by the speaker. Let
us look at the following tables to see how they work.

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Table 1 – Change of Pronouns
Direct Speech Reported Speech

I He, she

Me Him, her

We They

Us Them

You He, she, they

You Him, her, them

My His, her

Mine His, hers

Our Their

Ours Theirs

Your His, her, their

Yours His, hers, theirs

Table 2 – change of adverbs of place and adverbs of time

Direct Speech Reported Speech

This That

These Those

Adverbs of Place

Here There

Adverbs of Time

Now Then

Today That day

Tomorrow The next day / The following day

Yesterday The previous day

Tonight That night

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Last week The week before

Next week The week after

Last month The previous month

Next month The following month

Last year The previous year

Next year The following year

Ago Before

Thus So

Table 3 – Change of Tense

Direct Speech Reported Speech

Simple Present Simple Past

Example: Preethi said, “I cook pasta.” Example: Preethi said that she cooked pasta.

Present Continuous Past Continuous

Example: Preethi said, “I am cooking pasta.” Example: Preethi said that she was cooking pasta.

Present Perfect Past Perfect

Example: Preethi said, “I have cooked pasta.” Example: Preethi said that she had cooked pasta.

Present Perfect Past Perfect Continuous

Example: Preethi said, “I have been cooking Example: Preethi said that she had been cooking
pasta.” pasta.

Simple Past Past Perfect

Example: Preethi said, “I cooked pasta.” Example: Preethi said that she had cooked pasta.

Past Continuous Past Perfect Continuous

Example: Preethi said, “I was cooking pasta.” Example: Preethi said that she had been cooking
pasta.

Past Perfect Past Perfect (No change)

Example: Preethi said, “I had cooked pasta.” Example: Preethi said that she had cooked pasta.

Past Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous (No change)

Example: Preethi said, “I had been cooking Example: Preethi said that she had been cooking

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 pasta.” pasta.

Table 4 – change of modal verbs

Direct Speech Reported Speech

Will Would

May Might

Can Could

Shall Should

Has/Have Had

Tips to practice reported speech

Here are some tips you can follow to become a pro in using reported speech.

 Select a play, a drama or a short story with dialogues and try transforming the sentences
in direct speech into reported speech.
 Write about an incident or speak about a day in your life using reported speech.
 Develop a story by following prompts or on your own using reported speech.

Examples of reported speech

Given below are a few examples to show you how reported speech can be written. Check them
out.

 Santana said that she would be auditioning for the lead role in Funny Girl.
 Blaine requested us to help him with the algebraic equations.
 Karishma asked me if I knew where her car keys were.
 The judges announced that the Warblers were the winners of the annual acapella
competition.
 Binsha assured that she would reach Bangalore by 8 p.m.
 Kumar said that he had gone to the doctor the previous day.
 Lakshmi asked Teena if she would accompany her to the railway station.
 Jibin told me that he would help me out after lunch.
 The police ordered everyone to leave from the bus stop immediately.
 Rahul said that he was drawing a caricature.

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Check your understanding of reported speech
Transform the following sentences into reported speech by making the necessary changes.
1. Rachel said, “I have an interview tomorrow.”
2. Mahesh said, “What is he doing?”
3. Sherly said, “My daughter is playing the lead role in the skit.”
4. Dinesh said, “It is a wonderful movie!”
5. Suresh said, “My son is getting married next month.”
6. Preetha said, “Can you please help me with the invitations?”
7. Anna said, “I look forward to meeting you.”
8. The teacher said, “Make sure you complete the homework before tomorrow.”
9. Sylvester said, “I am not going to cry anymore.”
10. Jade said, “My sister is moving to Los Angeles.”

Now, find out if you have answered all of them correctly.

1. Rachel said that she had an interview the next day.
2. Mahesh asked what he was doing.
3. Sherly said that her daughter was playing the lead role in the skit.
4. Dinesh exclaimed that it was a wonderful movie.
5. Suresh said that his son was getting married the following month.
6. Preetha asked if I could help her with the invitations.
7. Anna said that she looked forward to meeting me.
8. The teacher told us to make sure we completed the homework before the next day.
9. Sylvester said that he was not going to cry anymore.
10. Jade said that his sister was moving to Los Angeles.

Give some more examples of reported speech.

Given below are a few examples to show you how reported speech can be written.

 Santana said that she would be auditioning for the lead role in Funny Girl.
 Blaine requested us to help him with the algebraic equations.
 Karishma asked me if I knew where her car keys were.
 The police ordered everyone to leave from the bus stop immediately.
 Lakshmi asked Teena if she would accompany her to the railway station.

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ect Speech? - Learn the Meaning, Definition, Rules and Usage with Examples
In English grammar, the term ‘speech’ refers to the process of communicating or expressing
one’s thoughts. It is an exchange of ideas or even a conversation. There are two ways in which
you can report speech – direct speech and indirect speech. Direct speech is used to report or
rather repeat the words spoken by the speaker or writer in the way it is told by the speaker,
whereas indirect speech is the way in which you convey what someone said to another person,
not necessarily using the exact words of the speaker.

Rules to be followed when using direct speech

Like every other grammar topic, there are rules to be followed when using direct speech. Let us
look at each one of them to know how direct speech can be used accurately and effectively.

 The first point that you have to remember is that direct speech is the repetition of the exact words
of the speaker and so you do not have a choice to add or remove words to and from what is said.
 For the same reason, these words spoken by the speaker have to be enclosed within quotation
marks or speech marks.
 When using direct speech, you can follow the formula given below.

Name of the speaker says/said, “Exact words of the speaker.”

 You can also use words like replied, asked, screamed, etc. to state what the speaker said
according to the emotion in which it is being spoken.
 Immediately after one of the above-mentioned verbs, add a comma followed by open quotation
marks, the words of the speaker (capitalise the first letter of the first word) followed by a period,
question mark or exclamation mark and the close quotation marks.
 Also, make sure you close the quotation marks after the punctuation mark (full stop/question
mark/exclamation mark).
 Finally, keep in mind that you cannot change the words, or paraphrase what has been said by the
speaker when you are using direct speech.

Tips to practice direct speech

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You can become an expert in using direct speech if you practise well. Here are some ways you
can do it.

 Try reading short stories and converting it into a dialogue. Change the lines of every character
into direct speech.
 Write a story on your own. Use direct speech to convey all the dialogues.
 Narrate or write about an incident or a day in your life using direct speech.

Examples of direct speech

Now that you know the rules to be followed, take a look at the following examples to have a
better idea of how it is done.

 Devi said, “I am teaching French for first year and second year college students.”
 Freeda asked her brother, “Can you pick me up on your way home?”
 “My friends are finally coming home this weekend”, said Sheena.
 The students replied, “We are ready!”
 Gayatri siad, “My father has been working as a doctor for ten years. “
 “What are you going to do with the broken mirror?”, asked Mridula.
 Carol said, “I have planned to wear a grey dress for the prom.”
 The teacher says, “You have to make your submissions before 8 a.m. on Monday.”
 The little boy said excitedly, “That was wonderful!”
 Maduri said, sitting on the sofa, “I am really happy I finally took time to come see you.”

Test your understanding of direct speech

Rearrange the following sentences to form direct speech and punctuate them appropriately.
1. vishal / my / is / in / brother / participating / race / said / the / running
2. asked / i / devi / like / maths / problems / solving / free time/ your / in / do / you
3. friends / said / wearing / we / my / are / red / for / dresses / wedding / the / reception
4. responded / teacher / nobody / when / have / completed / the / you / project / many / of / how /
asked / the
5. reach / says / tonight / bangalore / he / will / i
6. guest / the / danced / children / the / chief / said / beautifully
7. mom / Finn’s / they / all / said / singing / favourite / are / songs / his
8. Bellas / susan / are / the / said / live / performing / world / the / acapella / at / raiser / curtain
9. love / father / said / i / my / you
10. sing / asked / you / with / maria / her / me / will

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Now, if you finished rearranging the sentences, check if you have done it correctly from the
answers given below.
1. Vishal said, “My brother is participating in the running race.”
2. I asked Devi, “Do you like solving maths problems in your freetime?”
3. My friends said, “We are wearing red dresses for the wedding reception.”
4. Nobody responded when the teacher asked, “How many of you have completed the project?”
5. He says, “I will reach Bangalore tonight.”
6. The chief guest said, “The children danced beautifully.”
7. Finn’s mom said, “They are singing all his favourite songs.”
8. “The Bellas are performing live at the World Acapella Curtain Raiser”, said Susan.
9. My father said, “I love you.”
10. Maria asked, “Will you sing with me?”

What is the formula of direct speech?

When using direct speech, you can follow the formula given below.
Name of the speaker says/said, “Exact words of the speaker.”

How do you punctuate the sentence when using direct speech?

Immediately after the phrase mentioning who said the particular sentence, add a comma followed
by open quotation marks, the words of the speaker (capitalize the first letter of the first word)
followed by a period, question mark or exclamation mark and the close quotation marks.

Give some examples of direct speech.

Here are a few examples of direct speech that you can refer to.

 The teacher says, “You have to make your submissions before 8 a.m. on Monday.”
 The little boy said excitedly, “That was wonderful!”
 Maduri said, sitting on the sofa, “I am really happy I finally took time to come see you.”
 Devi said, “I am teaching French for first year and second year college students.”
 Freeda asked her brother, “Can you pick me up on your way home?”

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