Reported Speech Simplified — Learn English the Easy Way (Pre-Intermediate)
- Nov 6, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 5
What Is Reported Speech?
When we tell someone what another person said without using quotation marks, we use reported speech (also called indirect speech).
✅ Direct Speech:
Mia said, “I love learning English.”
✅ Reported Speech:
Mia said (that) she loved learning English.
✨ Notice how we changed the verb “love” → “loved”? That’s because we usually shift the tense one step back in reported speech.
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Related post:
🧩 Story Practice: “The Mysterious Letter” ✉️ (Intermediate)
🧭 When Do We Use Reported Speech?
We use it when we want to:
✅ Tell a story about something someone said.
✅ Report a conversation.
✅ Share information from a message or interview.
✅ Talk about past news or experiences.
Example:
Tom told me he was starting a new job.
📚 How to Change Direct to Reported Speech
🗣️ 1. Change the Tense (One Step Back)
Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
“I am tired.” | She said she was tired. |
“I saw him yesterday.” | She said she had seen him the day before. |
“I will call you.” | She said she would call me. |
Related post
🕓 2. Change Pronouns & Time Words
Direct | Reported |
I → | he / she |
my → | his / her |
today → | that day |
yesterday → | the day before |
tomorrow → | the next day |
now → | then |
this → | that |
Related post
📢 3. Choose the Correct Reporting Verb
We don’t only use say — we also use:
👉 tell, ask, explain, promise, advise, warn, suggest
Examples:
She told me to study harder.
He asked where I was going.
They suggested visiting Italy.
Story: Lily and the Lost Letter - Reported Speech Simplified
Lily worked in a small seaside café.
One quiet morning, she was cleaning the tables when she saw an old envelope under a chair.
On the front, it said: “For Someone Who Cares.”
Lily showed it to her boss.
Her boss said, “I saw a woman reading a letter here yesterday.”
Lily asked, “Did she leave it behind?”
Her boss replied, “I’m not sure.”
Later, Lily spoke to the cleaner.
The cleaner said, “I didn’t see any letter. I only found a piece of paper near the window.”
That evening, Lily told her friend Anna about it.
Anna said, “Maybe the letter has a secret message.”
When Lily opened the envelope, it was empty — except for a small note that said, “Thank you for caring.”
🧠 Grammar Focus — Reported Speech Examples
Her boss said he had seen a woman reading a letter the day before.
Lily asked if the woman had left it behind.
The cleaner said she hadn’t seen any letter.
Anna said the letter might have a secret message.
🪶 Comprehension Check
Where did Lily find the letter? ________________________________
What did her boss say about the woman? _________________________
What did the cleaner say? ________________________________
What was inside the envelope? ________________________________
✨ Reflect & Write
Write 3–4 sentences about what you think the note meant.
Use reported speech in at least two sentences.
Example:
Lily said the letter made her feel happy.
Anna said it was like a thank-you note from a stranger.
✏️__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
✏️ Comment your answers below! ⬇️
📥 Download the printable worksheet to practise changing direct speech into reported speech. 👉 Reported Speech Simplified
🧠 Quick Grammar Tip
If the reporting verb is in the present, we don’t change the tense.
Example:✅ She says, “I’m happy.” → She says she’s happy.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
🚫 Don’t forget to change time words:
❌ She said she met me yesterday.
✅ She said she had met me the day before.
🚫 Don’t use “say” with a person:
❌ She said me the truth.
✅ She told me the truth.
🚫 Don’t always change the tense if the fact is still true:
✅ She said the Earth is round.
🪶 Mini Practice Zone
Change the sentences below into reported speech.
“I’m cooking dinner,” said Emma.
__________________________________
“Where did you buy this dress?” asked Lily.
__________________________________
“Don’t forget to call me,” said Tom.
__________________________________
“I will travel to Japan next year,” said Nina.
__________________________________
🔑Answer
Emma said she was cooking dinner.
Lily asked where I had bought that dress.
Tom told me not to forget to call him.
Nina said she would travel to Japan the following year.
💡 Quick Recap
✔ We use reported speech to tell what someone said.
✔ We often change tenses, pronouns, and time words.
✔ Use the correct reporting verb (say, tell, ask, etc.).
✔ Don’t forget — no quotation marks in reported speech!
We hope you enjoyed Reported Speech (Simplified) version.
❓ FAQ: Reported Speech Made Simple
💬 What is reported speech in English?
Reported speech (also called indirect speech) is when we tell someone what another person said without using quotation marks.
👉 Example:
Direct: “I found a letter,” Lily said.
Reported: Lily said she had found a letter.
🔄 Do we always change the tense in reported speech?
Not always. We usually change the tense when the reporting verb is in the past.
👉 Example:
“I am tired.” → She said she was tired.
💡 But if the information is still true, we can keep the tense:
“The café opens at 8.” → He said the café opens at 8.
🧠 Why do tenses change in reported speech?
Tenses change because we are talking about something that was said in the past.This is called backshifting.
👉 Example:
is → was
have → had
will → would
👤 Do pronouns change in reported speech?
Yes! Pronouns change depending on who is speaking.
👉 Example:
“I love this café,” Anna said.
→ Anna said she loved that café.
🕓 What happens to time words like “today” or “yesterday”?
Time expressions usually change to match the new time context.
👉 Examples:
today → that day
yesterday → the day before
tomorrow → the next day
now → then
❓ How do we report questions?
We use ask + if/whether for yes/no questions, and remove the question form.
👉 Example:
“Did she leave it?” → Lily asked if she had left it.
For WH-questions:
“Where is the letter?” → She asked where the letter was.
⚡ How do we report commands or requests?
We use:
👉 told + object + to + verb
👉 told + object + not to + verb
👉 Examples:
“Sit down.” → She told me to sit down.
“Don’t touch it.” → She told me not to touch it.
🧩 What are common mistakes in reported speech?
🚫 Forgetting to change the tense
🚫 Using “say” instead of “tell” with a person
🚫 Not changing time expressions
🚫 Keeping the question word order
👉 Example mistake:
❌ She asked where is the café.
✅ She asked where the café was.
🎥 Watch the Lesson Video
Title: The Mysterious Letter – Learn Reported Speech Through Story
🎧 Listen, read, and practise changing sentences from direct to reported speech!
👉 Next, check out these guides:
YouTube Playlist:
🎥 Related Videos: YouTube Channel Playlist
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