Everything you need to use reported speech correctly: the formula, when to use it, signal words, common mistakes and exercises with answers.
Reported speech is used to relay what someone else said. Statements: S + said (that) + S + V (tense shifts back); Yes/no questions: S + asked + if/whether + S + V (tense shifts back); Wh- questions: S + asked + wh- + S + V (tense shifts back). Signal words: said / told, asked (if/whether/wh-), reported / announced, explained / mentioned, advised / suggested / ordered, promised / agreed / refused.
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Statements | S + said (that) + S + V (tense shifts back) said / told + someone | "I am tired." → She said (that) she was tired. 'said' stands alone, 'told' needs the person: She told me that... |
| Yes/no questions | S + asked + if/whether + S + V (tense shifts back) Change the question word order into statement order | "Are you happy?" → He asked if I was happy. A reported question does not end with a question mark |
| Wh- questions | S + asked + wh- + S + V (tense shifts back) Keep the question word (what, where, when, why, how...) | "Where do you live?" → She asked where I lived. Order: wh- + subject + verb, with no question inversion |
Change I→he/she, my→his/her, me→him/her to fit the context
Use told/asked/ordered + object + to + verb, or not to + verb
| Word | Example | Note |
|---|---|---|
| said | He said he was busy. | said + (that): no object needed |
| told | She told me she would come. | told + someone: an object is required |
| asked | He asked if I was ready. | Used for reported questions |
| advised | The doctor advised me to rest. | |
| ordered | He ordered them to stop. | ordered + object + to + verb, for commands |
Fill in the blank, then open the answer to check it.
Options: I was happy. · she has been happy. · she is happy. · she was happy.
she was happy.. Backshift: am → was, and I becomes she.
Options: do I like coffee. · if I like coffee? · if I liked coffee. · that I liked coffee.
if I liked coffee.. A yes/no question becomes asked if/whether + subject + verb, backshifted, with no question mark.
Options: where did I live. · where do I live. · where I live? · where I lived.
where I lived.. A wh- question becomes asked + wh- + subject + verb, backshifted, with no inversion.
Options: close the door. · closing the door. · that I close the door. · to close the door.
to close the door.. A command becomes told + object + to + verb.
Options: don't touch that. · not to touch that. · to don't touch that. · to not touch that.
not to touch that.. A negative command becomes told + object + not to + verb.
Options: finished · had finished · has finished · have finished
had finished. Backshift: have finished → had finished, present perfect to past perfect.
Options: can · could · might · was able
could. Backshift: can → could.
Options: asked · reported · said · told
told. 'told' takes an object (me); 'said' needs none: She said that...
Options: asked · said · talked · told
said. 'said' + that, with no object. NEVER: He said me that...
Options: had been · is · was · would be
was. Backshift: am → was.
Options: what time did the train leave. · what time does the train leave. · what time the train leaves? · what time the train left.
what time the train left.. Wh- question: asked + wh- + subject + verb, backshifted, with no inversion.
Options: help her. · helping her. · that I help her. · to help her.
to help her.. A polite request becomes asked + object + to + verb.
Quizzes, spaced repetition (SRS), listening and games · Free · No sign-up
Open the app →