Reported speech: How to say what someone said in English?

In English indirect speech, we change all pronouns and related words (possessive adjectives, demonstrative words) to reflect the context in which the speech is reported. For example:

In English indirect speech, we also change time expressions (e.g. that day, yesterday, soon, ...) to reflect the context in which the speech is reported. For example:

Here are some common ways to change time expressions if you are reporting a quote that was given a long time ago, or on a non-specific day. You will often see these in stories written in the past tense as well:

We also change the tense of the verb in reported speech to reflect the context in which the speech is reported. However, you will only need to change the tense if the situation has changed or might have changed since the original quote was given.

For example, imagine John, Mary, and Lisa are at a party together. John had a conversation with Mary first, then he talks to Lisa:

Here are the most common ways to change the tense in reported speech to show that a situation has changed or might have changed since the original quote:

In English, a statement can be reported using a direct quote or an indirect speech clause that begins with the word that (though the word that can sometimes be deleted).

We use two different types of verbs to report statements: those which require a recipient and those that do not.

1. Reporting verbs with a recipient:

   Reporting verbs in this group always specify the person who someone spoke to. The recipient is the object of the verb. Common verbs in this group include tell, inform, notify, make aware, or let know.

   reporting verbrecipient

   Tom told Mary, “I have a cold.”
   Tom told Mary (that) he had a cold.

   “Tom has a cold,” Mary informed me.
   Mary informed me that Tom has a cold.

2. Reporting verb without a recipient:

   These reporting verbs do not take an object and do not require a recipient. All verbs for thoughts, beliefs, and writing fall into this group, but most reporting verbs for speaking are part of this group as well, for example: say, yell, state, whisper, write, think, and more.

   reporting verb

   Tom told, “I can’t come to school today.”
   Tom said (that) he couldn't come to school.

   Tom thought, “I should start working on the assignment.”
   Tom thought (that) he should start working on the assignment.

   Tom wrote, “Mary is a liar.”
   Tom wrote that Mary was a liar.

   If you want to specify a recipient with a verb like this, you can usually do that by adding to + recipient, but usually it is better to just use another reporting verb.

   recipient

   Tom said to Julie, “I can’t come to school today.”

   Tom thought to himself that he should start working on the assignment.

In English, we use reporting verbs like ask, inquire, wonder, ponder, or want to know to report a question.

When you report a question directly, you can just use one of the reporting verbs above, and use a question mark at the end of the direct quote:

• Margot asked, “Are you coming?”
• Margot wondered, “Is he lying to me?”

Just like the reporting verbs we use for statements, the reporting verbs we use in questions can be used in different grammatical patterns. The three main patterns are:

1. Reporting verb + reported question:

   Most reporting verbs for questions can be used in this structure, including ask, wonder, ponder, want to know, and inquire.

   • He wanted to know if he needed to submit the paper that night.
   • She asked who she needed to talk to for an extension.
   • “What am I doing?” she wondered.

2. Reporting verb + object + reported question:

   The most commonly used reporting verb in this structure is ask. It is used when one person is asking another person an indirect question.

   object

   Mom asked me whether I was hungry.

   Mom asked me, “What do you want for dinner?”

3. Reporting verb + about / as to + indirect question:

   This structure is often used to express a more formal or detailed inquiry. Reporting verbs such as ask and inquire are typically used in this context.

   • He asked about whether she was hungry.
   • He inquired as to who she was.

There are several ways to report that someone gave an instruction, command, request, or advice. You can report a command using direct speech, for example:

However, it is more common to hear these types of speech reported using indirect speech. Here are four common structures and reporting verbs to use:

1. Reporting verb + object + infinitive with to:

   This structure is the most basic way to report a command. It is used with verbs like ask, advise, order, command, tell, instruct, and urge.

   reporting verbobjectinfinitive with 'to'

   Mom asked Dad to come home early that night.

   Mom told us to wait there till she returned.

   For negative commands, you can add not to the to infinitive.

   reporting verbobjectinfinitive with 'to'

   The coach advised us not to run in the swimming pool.

   Mom instructed us not to touch that hot stove.

2. Reporting verb + that + subject + bare infinitive:

   This structure for reporting a command is more formal. Common verbs used in this structure include ,ask request, demand, advise, order, command, bid, suggest, argue, propose, recommend, and insist.

   reporting verbsubjectbare infinitive

   He demanded that she leave.

   Teacher requests that students be on time for class.

   This structure is often used when the command was not spoken directly to the person who must follow it. For example, when a teacher makes a rule or a government makes a law.

3. say + infinitive with to:

   This is a very informal way to report a command. Usually the command is for both the person reporting the command and the person who the command is reported to.

   reporting verbinfinitive with 'to'

   Mom said to clean up our lunch.

   The speaker and the person being spoken to need to clean up.

4. bid + object + bare infinitive

   This structure is very uncommon in modern English, but you might hear it in poetry or old writing.

   reporting verbobjectbare infinitive

   He bade her stay a while.

Have a look at our chart of reporting verbs for indirect speech to see a few other ways to report commands, requests, or advice!

There are two main ways to indirectly report that someone asked for or demanded permission:

1. Reporting verb + infinitive with to:

   Common reporting verbs used with this structure include ask, request, demand, and beg.

   reporting verbinfinitive with 'to'

   She asked to use the restroom.

   They begged to stay up a little longer.

2. Reporting verb + (object) + if / whether + subject + can / could:

   In this structure, we use reporting verbs that generally report questions, like ask, inquire, or wonder. For example:

   reporting verbobjectsubject

   Sam will ask her boss if Martha can leave.

   They asked if they could bring their pets to the store.

   These are used to report polite requests.

In indirect speech, you don’t need to use words like please and they are often removed.

There are two main ways to indirectly report that someone made a suggestion. In general, we use reporting verbs like suggest, recommend, and propose in both structures:

1. Reporting verb + (that) + subject + bare infinitive

   This structure is used for a strong or confident suggestion.

   reporting verbsubjectbare infinitive

   He suggested (that) they attend.

   She recommended (that) he come early.

2. Reporting verb + (that) + subject + modal of possibility

   Use this structure for a hesitant or very polite suggestion.

   reporting verbobjectmodal of possibility

   He suggested (that) she might attend.

   She proposed (that) they could meet later.

There are a couple different ways to report that someone made a promise:

1. Promise+ (object) + infinitive with to:

   This is the most common way to report that someone made a promise about their own behavior.

   reporting verbobjectinfinitive with 'to'

   Sarah promised to finish the project on time.

   Sarah will finish the project.

   Sarah promised her friend to help with the project.

   Sarah will help with the project.

2. Promise / say + (that) + subject + will / would:

   You can use this structure to report that someone made a promise about their own behavior or about someone else’s behavior. For example:

   reporting verbsubject'will' / 'would'

   Sarah said / promised (that) she would finish the project on time.

   Sarah will do the project.

   Sarah said / promised (that) her friend would finish the project on time.

   Sarah’s friend will do the project.

3. Promise / assure / tell + object + that + subject + will / would:

   This structure is used when a promise is spoken to someone specific.

   reporting verbobjectsubject'will' / 'would'

   Sarah told her friend that she would help with the homework.