Reported speech table rules. It may help to transfer direct speech in. You do this to relay information provided by somebody else. : This worksheet will be a great help while teaching reported speech. Rules are organized into tables which are easy to use and even easier to explain. Reported speech changes somebody’s direct speech into indirect speech. Talking about what someone else has already said, also known as reported speech, involves a few special grammar rules in English. We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence: Direct speech: I like ice cream. The very important thing though is that, once we tell the question to someone else, it isn't a question any more. So we need to change the grammar to a normal positive sentence. ” Maya: “Greg said he was cooking dinner. In this article, we will provide a clear and comprehensive Reported Speech Tense Changing Chart, outlining how tenses shift when direct speech is converted into reported speech. What changed? I have never been on an aeroplane! never been on an aeroplane. You can do this while speaking or writing. The basic formula for reported speech is to add reporting words, change pronouns and possessives as needed, and shift the verb tense. I also included a worksheet at the end of the article so you can test your knowledge of the topic. What Does Reported Speech Mean? Reported speech is a term we use when telling someone what another person said. He told John (that) he was leaving. When we convert from direct speech to indirect speech, the tense of the sentence changes. Reported speech: She says (that) she likes ice cream. The tense changes are the same, and we keep the question word. ” So most often, the reported speech is going to be in the past tense, because the original statement, will now be in the past! as our reporting verbs. Indirect speech is normally used when conversation is reported verbally, though direct speech is sometimes here to give a more dramatic effect. that can usually be omitted after say and tell + object. (Click here for more about using 'say' and 'tell'. See the chart below to understand direct to indirect speech tense shift. By following this chart, you’ll be able to easily navigate through the different rules of tense changes and improve your ability to report speech accurately. Learn all about the definition, rules, and examples of reported speech as I go over everything. But it should be kept after other verbs: complain, explain, object, point out, protest etc. Below is a reported speech tense change chart with the rules for backshifting for each tense and for modal verbs. ) If this verb is in the present tense, it's easy. Jul 16, 2025 ยท This lesson covers key sections about reported speech, including what it is, examples, rules, and verb tense changes. There is no comma after say in indirect speech. Greg: “I am cooking dinner Maya. You will see reported speech does not go back a tense if it is already in the past perfect (there is no further back it can go), and some modal verbs also do not change. Direct speech and reported speech fully explained: all the rules and details, full with examples and illustrations. He said that (that) he was leaving. How can we make the reported speech here? In fact, it's not so different from reported statements. Learn about reported speech, its definition, rules, and how to use it effectively. You’ll also learn about modal verbs, changes in time and place, and different reporting verbs. Understand the transformation from direct speech to reported speech with examples and practice questions. zly qhzbcyo i0um exnixnu uagugfv xkp 7xgryd oc plivwm vzfg