English grammar
Reported speech 📕
We use reported speech (indirect speech) to tell someone what another person said.
Direct: Anna said, "I am tired."
Reported: Anna said (that) she was tired.
The tense usually moves one step back
| Direct speech | Reported speech |
| "I am tired." | She said she was tired. |
| "I work here." | He said he worked there. |
| "I am working." | She said she was working. |
| "I saw him." | He said he had seen him. |
| "I will call." | She said she would call. |
| "I can help." | He said he could help. |
Change pronouns and words for time and place
| Direct | Reported |
| now | then |
| today | that day |
| tomorrow | the next day |
| here | there |
Say or tell?
Tell needs a person. Say does not.
✓ She told me that she was tired.
✓ She said that she was tired.
✗ She said me that she was tired.
Reported questions
Use if or the question word, and normal word order:
"Where do you live?" → He asked me where I lived.
"Are you tired?" → She asked if I was tired.
✗ He asked where did I live.