Indirect speech usually starts with the reporting clause and then moves into the reported clause. The normal pattern is subject + reporting verb + object + reported clause. In She told me she was tired, she is the subject, told is the reporting verb, me is the object, and she was tired is the reported clause. The reported clause follows the reporting clause directly, unlike Direct Speech, where quoted words can stand alone after a colon or comma.

Use say when the listener does not need to be named: He said that he was busy. Use tell when the listener is mentioned after the verb: He told me that he was busy. The clause introduced by that reports the statement. In everyday English, said often appears with a that-clause, and told always takes an object before the clause.

In informal English, speakers often leave out that after say and tell: She said she was late. He told me he could not come. The meaning stays the same, and the reported clause still follows the reporting verb. That is more likely to stay in careful writing, in long sentences, or when the speaker wants to make the sentence easier to follow.

omit thatkeep thatomit that

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Speakers often leave out that in everyday conversation after reporting verbsSpeakers also often leave out that in casual speech and writingSpeakers may keep that more often to make the report sound clear and careful

Informal use of that in reporting

Region	Variant	Definition	Example
British English	omit that	Speakers often leave out that in everyday conversation after reporting verbs.	She said she was leaving early.
American English	omit that	Speakers also often leave out that in casual speech and writing.	He said he would call later.
Indian English	keep that	Speakers may keep that more often to make the report sound clear and careful.	They said that the meeting was moved.

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When a statement is reported after a past reporting verb, the tense usually moves one step back. Present simple becomes past simple: I am hungry becomes He said he was hungry. Present continuous becomes past continuous: We are leaving becomes They said they were leaving. Will becomes would: I will call you becomes She said she would call me. This pattern is the standard shape of reported statements in English.

Negatives stay negative in indirect speech, even when the wording changes. I do not know becomes He said he did not know. I cannot help you becomes She said she could not help me. The negative word stays with the verb in the reported clause, so the meaning does not change from positive to negative or from negative to positive. The reporting verb only introduces the statement; it does not change the polarity of the idea.

Questions change shape in indirect speech. Yes-no questions use if or whether: Are you ready? becomes She asked if I was ready. Wh-questions keep the original question word: Where are you going? becomes He asked where I was going. The word order becomes statement order, not question order, so the subject comes before the verb. Compare this with Direct Speech, where the question keeps inversion and a question mark.

Commands and instructions use tell or ask plus an object and to + infinitive. Sit down becomes The teacher told us to sit down. Please wait here becomes He asked me to wait here. The reported form keeps the action, but it no longer sounds like a direct order. Tell usually reports a stronger instruction, while ask softens it.

Polite requests are commonly reported with ask + object + to + infinitive. Please send me the file becomes She asked him to send her the file. Could you open the window? becomes He asked me to open the window. The structure shows that the original speaker wanted someone to do something, but it keeps the report polite and neutral.

Time, place, and pronouns often change to match the new viewpoint in indirect speech. Today becomes that day, tomorrow becomes the next day, here becomes there, and this often becomes that. Pronouns also shift: I may become he, she, or they; my may become his, her, or their. The changes depend on who is speaking and who is being reported. In She said she would meet him there the next day, every word points away from the original moment and place.

English speakers do not use indirect speech in exactly the same way everywhere. In some regions and informal styles, the original tense can stay longer, especially when the reported event still feels true: He said he is tired or She said the train arrives at six. In more formal writing, the past reporting verb usually triggers backshifting. Speakers also use said before a direct quote for emphasis, as in He said, “I am leaving now.” That keeps the exact words visible, which is different from full indirect speech.

keep the original tensesaid before a direct quotesaid before a direct quote

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Writers often use said before a direct quote in stories and news to keep the focus on the wordsSpeakers may keep the original tense longer in informal reporting when the meaning is still clearSpeakers often use said before a direct quote to introduce spoken words clearly

Regional and register choices in reporting

Region	Variant	Definition	Example
British English	said before a direct quote	Speakers often use said before a direct quote to introduce spoken words clearly.	She said, Welcome home.
American English	said before a direct quote	Writers often use said before a direct quote in stories and news to keep the focus on the words.	He said, I can explain.
Australian English	keep the original tense	Speakers may keep the original tense longer in informal reporting when the meaning is still clear.	She said she is coming later.

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