Reported Speech
01 · Quick explanation
Reported speech tells what someone said without quoting them: "I am tired" → She said (that) she was tired.
02 · Full explanation
After a past reporting verb (said, told, asked), the tense usually moves one step back: Present Simple → Past Simple, Present Continuous → Past Continuous, Present Perfect / Past Simple → Past Perfect, will → would, can → could. Pronouns and time words also change (today → that day, tomorrow → the next day). Say + (that); tell + person. Reported questions use statement word order and if/whether for yes/no questions. Commands use tell/ask + person + (not) to + verb.
03 · Formula
04 · Affirmative
+ Subject + said (that) / told + person (that) + backshifted clause
- "I like pizza." → He said he liked pizza.
- "I will call you." → She told me she would call me.
05 · Negative
− He told me not to + V
- "Don't be late." → The teacher told us not to be late.
06 · Question
? She asked (me) + if / wh-word + subject + verb
- "Where do you live?" → He asked me where I lived.
- "Are you ready?" → She asked if I was ready.
07 · Examples
EN"I am busy." → She said she was busy.
KZОл бос емес екенін айтты.
RUОна сказала, что занята.
EN"We have finished." → They said they had finished.
KZОлар аяқтағанын айтты.
RUОни сказали, что закончили.
EN"I will help you." → He told me he would help me.
KZОл маған көмектесетінін айтты.
RUОн сказал мне, что поможет.
EN"Do you like tea?" → She asked me if I liked tea.
KZОл менен шай ұната ма деп сұрады.
RUОна спросила, люблю ли я чай.
EN"Close the door." → Mum told me to close the door.
KZАнам маған есікті жабуды айтты.
RUМама попросила меня закрыть дверь.
08 · Signal words
09 · Common mistakes
✗ He said me that he was tired.
✓ He told me that he was tired.
Say has no person after it; use tell + person.
✗ She asked me where did I live.
✓ She asked me where I lived.
Reported questions: statement word order, no did.
✗ He told me don't touch it.
✓ He told me not to touch it.
Reported commands: tell + person + not to + verb.
10 · Compare with similar grammar
Direct vs Reported Speech
Direct speech repeats the exact words in quotation marks; reported speech retells them with changed tenses and pronouns.
She said, "I can swim."
She said she could swim.
He asked, "Is it late?"
He asked if it was late.
11 · Interactive exercises
Answer each task and press Check. Type answers in English.
0 / 10 · 0 checked
1. Choose the correct answer:
"I am tired." → She said she ___ tired.
2. Choose the correct answer:
"I will come." → He said he ___ come.
3. Choose the correct answer:
He asked me where I ___.
4. Choose the correct answer:
She ___ me that she was leaving.
5. Fill in the gap:
"I can swim." → Ali said he ___ swim.
6. Fill in the gap:
"Don't shout." → The teacher told us ___ shout.
7. Fill in the gap:
"Are you hungry?" → Mum asked ___ I was hungry.
8. Fill in the gap:
"We have seen the film." → They said they ___ the film.
9. Correct the sentence:
She said me she was happy.
10. Correct the sentence:
He asked me what was my name.
12 · Mini test
Question 1 / 5
Which sentence is correct?
13 · Practice
Choose a skill to practise this topic.