Indirect Speech
Learn indirect speech in English and start reporting statements, questions, and commands clearly and accurately.
Indirect speech reports what someone said without using the exact original words. It often uses a reporting verb such as say, tell, ask, or reply. The speaker, time, and place may need to change so the meaning stays clear. When the reporting verb is in the past, the tense in the reported clause often moves back, but this does not happen in every case.
Different reporting verbs are used with different sentence types. Say is common for statements, tell is used with a person, ask is used for questions, and tell can also report commands. Reply and answer report responses.
| Word or Phrase | Definition |
|---|---|
| say | It reports a statement 💬 without naming the listener. |
| tell | It reports a statement or command 👉 and usually includes the listener. |
| ask | It reports a question ❓ or a request. |
| reply | It reports an answer 🔁 to what someone said. |
| answer | It reports a response ✅ to a question or message. |
To report a statement, use a reporting verb and a clause. That is possible after many reporting verbs, but it is often omitted in everyday English. Pronouns and possessives usually change to match the new speaker and listener.
| Rule |
|---|
| Use a reporting verb and a statement clause 🧩 to report information. |
| That can introduce the reported clause 📝, but English often leaves it out. |
| Change pronouns and possessives 👤 so they fit the new point of view. |
Reported questions do not use normal question word order. Yes or no questions usually begin with if or whether. Questions with who, what, where, when, why, or how keep the question word.
| Rule |
|---|
| Use statement word order 🔀 after the reporting verb in reported questions. |
| Use if or whether 🚪 to report yes or no questions. |
| Keep the original question word ❓ in wh questions. |
Commands and requests are usually reported with tell, ask, order, or advise plus an object and an infinitive. Negative commands use not before the infinitive. This pattern reports what someone wanted another person to do.
| Rule |
|---|
| Use a reporting verb, an object, and an infinitive 🛠️ to report a command or request. |
| Use ask for polite requests 🙏 and tell or order for stronger commands. |
| Put not before the infinitive 🚫 to report a negative command. |
When the reporting verb is in the past, the tense in reported speech often moves one step back. This is common when the speaker reports later and gives the words from a past point of view. However, many speakers keep the original tense when the situation is still true or when the time reference is still current.
| Verb | Form |
|---|---|
| present simple |  past simple |
| present continuous | past continuous |
| present perfect | past perfect |
| past simple | past perfect |
| will | would |
| can | could |
Backshift is often not used when the reported idea is still true, expresses a general truth, or is connected to the present time of reporting. Some speakers also avoid backshift in informal speech. Both forms can be possible, so the main goal is to keep the time meaning clear.
| Rule |
|---|
| Keep the original tense 🌍 when the statement expresses a general truth. |
| Keeping the original tense ✅ is common when the situation is still true now. |
| Either form can appear ⚖️ when the time meaning is still clear to the listener. |
Indirect speech often changes words that point to people, time, or place. Pronouns, possessives, and expressions such as today, tomorrow, here, and this may change to fit the new reporting situation. The change depends on when, where, and by whom the speech is reported.
| Word or Phrase | Definition |
|---|---|
| pronouns | They change 👥 to show the new speaker, listener, or person talked about. |
| possessives | They change 🔑 to match the correct owner in the reported version. |
| time expressions | They may change 🕒 when the report happens at a different time. |
| place expressions | They may change 📍 when the report happens in a different place. |
| demonstratives | Words such as this and these may change 👈 to match distance in the new context. |
You can now report statements, questions, and commands in indirect speech. You can choose reporting verbs that match the sentence type, change pronouns and reference words, and backshift tenses when the reporting context needs it. You can also keep the original tense when the meaning is still true or current and the time relation stays clear.