Reported Speech | Intermediate English for IELTS

Intermediate English for IELTS: Reported Speech

Reported speech, also called indirect speech, is a key grammar topic for intermediate English learners. It helps you report what another person said, asked, suggested, promised, or explained without repeating their exact words.

This lesson gives you a full, practical guide to reported speech for IELTS. You will learn how to change tenses, pronouns, time expressions, questions, commands, and reporting verbs. You will also see how reported speech supports stronger IELTS Speaking and Writing answers.

This topic connects naturally with Parts of Speech, Sentence Structure Basics, Subject-Verb Agreement, Pronouns for IELTS, Prepositions in English, Articles in English, Basic Adjectives, Basic Adverbs, Present Simple Tense, Present Continuous Tense, Past Simple Tense, Present Perfect Tense, Past Continuous Tense, Future Forms in English, Past Perfect Tense, Modal Verbs, Comparatives and Superlatives, Gerunds and Infinitives, and Passive Voice.

What is reported speech?

Reported speech is the way we tell someone what another person said without repeating the exact words.

Compare these two forms:

• Direct speech: She said, “I am tired.”
• Reported speech: She said that she was tired.

In direct speech, we repeat the speaker’s exact words. In reported speech, we change the structure to fit the new context.

Reported speech is very common in real life, especially when we share news, explain conversations, describe past events, or report what someone told us.

Why reported speech matters for IELTS

Reported speech is useful in all four IELTS skills.

In IELTS Speaking, it helps you describe conversations naturally.

Examples:

• My teacher told me that I needed more practice.
• My friend said he was moving to another city.
• The examiner asked what I liked about my hometown.

In IELTS Writing Task 2, reported speech can help you present opinions or viewpoints.

Examples:

• Many experts believe that education should be free.
• The government stated that new measures would be introduced.
• Some people argued that technology has improved daily life.

In IELTS Writing Task 1, it may appear in letters, summaries, or situations where information is communicated indirectly.

In IELTS Listening and Reading, reported speech helps you understand dialogue, instructions, and paraphrased ideas.

Direct speech and reported speech

Direct speech

Direct speech repeats the exact words spoken by someone.

Examples:

• She said, “I will call you later.”
• He asked, “Where are you going?”
• They told us, “Do not enter.”

Reported speech

Reported speech gives the meaning, not the exact words.

Examples:

• She said that she would call me later.
• He asked where I was going.
• They told us not to enter.

This lesson becomes much easier when you already understand Sentence Structure Basics and Parts of Speech, because reported speech changes the form of the full clause.

The basic structure of reported speech

A common reported speech pattern is:

reporting verb + that + reported clause

Examples:

• He said that he was busy.
• She told me that she had finished the work.
• They explained that the train was delayed.

The word that is often optional in spoken English.

Examples:

• He said he was busy.
• She told me she had finished the work.

Reporting verbs

The most common reporting verbs are say, tell, and ask, but many others are useful too.

Say

Use say when the person receiving the message is not mentioned, or when the structure allows it.

Examples:

• She said that she was late.
• He said he liked the idea.

Tell

Use tell when you mention the listener or receiver.

Examples:

• She told me that she was late.
• He told us that the meeting had started.

Ask

Use ask for questions.

Examples:

• She asked if I was ready.
• He asked me where I lived.

Other useful reporting verbs

Examples:

• admit
• explain
• promise
• suggest
• warn
• advise
• complain
• mention
• offer
• refuse
• recommend

Examples:

• He admitted that he had made a mistake.
• She suggested going early.
• They warned us not to touch the equipment.
• My teacher advised me to practise every day.

These reporting verbs connect well with Gerunds and Infinitives because some reporting verbs are followed by -ing forms and others by infinitives.

Tense changes in reported speech

When the reporting verb is in the past, English often changes the tense in the reported clause.

Present simple → past simple

Direct speech:

• “I live in Ankara,” she said.

Reported speech:

• She said that she lived in Ankara.

Present continuous → past continuous

Direct speech:

• “I am studying,” he said.

Reported speech:

• He said that he was studying.

Past simple → past perfect

Direct speech:

• “I visited London,” she said.

Reported speech:

• She said that she had visited London.

Present perfect → past perfect

Direct speech:

• “I have finished my homework,” he said.

Reported speech:

• He said that he had finished his homework.

Will → would

Direct speech:

• “I will help you,” she said.

Reported speech:

• She said that she would help me.

Can → could

Direct speech:

• “I can swim,” he said.

Reported speech:

• He said that he could swim.

May → might

Direct speech:

• “It may rain,” she said.

Reported speech:

• She said that it might rain.

Must → had to / must

Direct speech:

• “I must leave now,” he said.

Reported speech:

• He said that he had to leave then.

Sometimes must stays the same when it expresses deduction or a strong conclusion, but had to is usually used for obligation in reported speech.

This area is closely related to Future Forms in English and Modal Verbs.

Pronoun changes in reported speech

Pronouns often change to match the new speaker and listener.

Examples:

• “I am tired,” she said. → She said that she was tired.
• “We will help you,” they said. → They said that they would help me.
• “My brother is here,” he said. → He said that his brother was there.

This is why Pronouns for IELTS is a very important support lesson.

Time and place words in reported speech

Time expressions often change in reported speech.

Common changes

• now → then / at that time
• today → that day
• yesterday → the day before / the previous day
• tomorrow → the next day / the following day
• ago → before
• last week → the week before / the previous week
• next week → the following week
• this → that
• these → those
• here → there

Examples:

• “I am busy now,” she said. → She said that she was busy then.
• “I saw him yesterday,” he said. → He said that he had seen him the day before.
• “We will travel tomorrow,” they said. → They said that they would travel the next day.

This also connects with Prepositions in English because time and place expressions must still fit the sentence naturally.

Reported statements

Reported statements are the most common type.

Examples:

• “I am happy with my score,” she said. → She said that she was happy with her score.
• “We have already started,” they said. → They said that they had already started.
• “The train is late,” he said. → He said that the train was late.

Reported statements are very useful when you describe what people told you in speaking or writing.

Reported questions

Reported questions are different from direct questions because the word order changes to normal statement order.

Yes/no questions

Use if or whether.

Examples:

• “Are you ready?” he asked. → He asked if I was ready.
• “Did she call you?” they asked. → They asked whether she had called me.

Wh-questions

Use the question word and statement order.

Examples:

• “Where do you live?” she asked. → She asked where I lived.
• “Why are you late?” he asked. → He asked why I was late.
• “What time will the lesson start?” they asked. → They asked what time the lesson would start.

A very important rule: do not keep question word order in reported questions.

Incorrect:

• He asked where did I go.

Correct:

• He asked where I went.

This lesson is easier if you already know Present Simple Tense, Past Simple Tense, and Present Continuous Tense, because reported questions often need tense backshift.

Reported commands and requests

Commands and requests usually use tell or ask + object + to + base verb.

Examples:

• “Sit down,” the teacher said. → The teacher told us to sit down.
• “Please help me,” she said. → She asked me to help her.
• “Do not touch that,” he said. → He told us not to touch that.

Patterns:

• tell someone to do something
• ask someone to do something
• tell someone not to do something
• ask someone not to do something

This structure connects naturally with Gerunds and Infinitives because the infinitive is central here.

Reported suggestions and advice

Suggestions often use suggest, recommend, or advise.

Examples:

• “Let’s start early,” he said. → He suggested starting early.
• “You should revise daily,” she said. → She advised me to revise daily.
• “I recommend taking notes,” the teacher said. → The teacher recommended taking notes.

Backshift: when tenses change and when they do not

Tense changes are common, but they do not always happen.

Tenses usually shift back

Examples:

• am/is/are → was/were
• do/does → did
• have/has → had
• will → would

Tenses may stay the same when the statement is still true

Examples:

• She said that water boils at 100°C.
• He said that London is the capital of the UK.
• The teacher said that the earth goes around the sun.

These are facts or general truths, so the tense may remain the same.

When the reporting verb is in the present

If the reporting verb is present, the original tense often does not need to change.

Examples:

• She says that she is tired.
• He tells me that he likes IELTS.

This connects with Present Simple Tense and Present Perfect Tense, because the timing of the reporting verb affects the whole sentence.

Reported speech in IELTS Speaking

In IELTS Speaking, reported speech can make your answers more natural and detailed.

Examples:

• My friend told me that I was improving.
• My teacher said I needed to speak more clearly.
• She asked me where I had studied English before.
• My parents advised me to apply early.

These patterns are especially useful when you tell stories, describe advice, or explain conversations.

Reported speech in IELTS Writing

Reported speech can support a formal tone in IELTS Writing when you refer to opinions, research, or responses.

Examples:

• Many researchers believe that regular practice improves fluency.
• The report stated that student performance had increased.
• Several participants said that online learning was convenient.
• The survey showed that most learners wanted more speaking practice.

Passive structures are also common in academic writing, so this topic works well with Passive Voice.

Common mistakes to avoid

1) Keeping direct question word order

Incorrect:

• He asked where was I going.

Correct:

• He asked where I was going.

2) Forgetting to change pronouns

Incorrect:

• She said that I was tired.
  when the speaker was talking about herself.

Correct:

• She said that she was tired.

3) Forgetting tense backshift

Incorrect:

• He said that he is busy.

Correct:

• He said that he was busy.

4) Using “say” with an object

Incorrect:

• She said me that she was late.

Correct:

• She told me that she was late.

5) Using “to” after ask in questions

Incorrect:

• He asked to me where I lived.

Correct:

• He asked me where I lived.

6) Using statement form in reported questions

Incorrect:

• She asked if was I ready.

Correct:

• She asked if I was ready.

7) Forgetting the infinitive in commands

Incorrect:

• He told me go home.

Correct:

• He told me to go home.

8) Using the wrong time expression

Incorrect:

• She said she would come tomorrow.

Correct:

• She said she would come the next day.

Reported speech with articles, nouns, and adverbs

Reported speech often includes article choices, noun reference, and time or manner adverbs.

Examples:

• He said that he wanted a new laptop.
• She told me that the lesson was difficult.
• The manager said the meeting would start soon.
• They explained that the bus was arriving early.

This makes Articles in English, Common Nouns and Proper Nouns, and Basic Adverbs useful companion lessons.

Practice section

Exercise 1: Change the sentences into reported speech

1. “I am very tired,” she said.
2. “We have finished the project,” they said.
3. “I will call you tomorrow,” he said.
4. “Where do you live?” she asked.
5. “Please close the door,” the teacher said.

Exercise 2: Complete the reported speech sentences

1. She said that she __________ (be) busy.
2. He told me that he __________ (finish) his homework.
3. They asked if I __________ (want) any help.
4. My father told me __________ (study) harder.
5. The police said that the car __________ (steal) the night before.

Exercise 3: Choose the correct sentence

1. a) She asked where did I go.
   b) She asked where I went.
2. a) He told me to wait outside.
   b) He told me wait outside.
3. a) They said that they are tired.
   b) They said that they were tired.
4. a) My teacher advised me to practise more.
   b) My teacher advised me practising more.
5. a) She said she would come the next day.
   b) She said she will come tomorrow.

Answer key

Exercise 1

1. She said that she was very tired.
2. They said that they had finished the project.
3. He said that he would call me the next day.
4. She asked where I lived.
5. The teacher told us to close the door.

Exercise 2

1. was
2. had finished
3. wanted
4. to study
5. had been stolen

Exercise 3

1. b) She asked where I went.
2. a) He told me to wait outside.
3. b) They said that they were tired.
4. a) My teacher advised me to practise more.
5. a) She said she would come the next day.

Top Study Tips for IELTS Students

• Learn reported speech in chunks, not as isolated rules.
• Practise changing statements, questions, and commands separately.
• Pay close attention to pronouns and time expressions.
• Use reported speech naturally in Speaking when describing what other people said.
• Use it carefully in Writing so your style stays clear and formal.
• Review Subject-Verb Agreement and Sentence Structure Basics to keep your grammar accurate when clauses become longer.

FAQs About Reported Speech

1. What is reported speech?

Reported speech is a way to tell someone what another person said without repeating the exact words.

2. What is the difference between direct speech and reported speech?

Direct speech repeats the exact words. Reported speech changes the words and structure to fit the new sentence.

3. Do I always need to change the tense in reported speech?

No. Tense usually changes when the reporting verb is in the past, but it may stay the same for facts, general truths, or present reporting verbs.

4. What happens to questions in reported speech?

Reported questions use statement word order. Yes/no questions use if or whether, and wh-questions keep the question word.

5. Which reporting verb should I use: say or tell?

Use say when the listener is not mentioned. Use tell when the listener is mentioned.

6. How do I report commands and requests?

Use tell/ask + object + to + base verb.

7. What happens to pronouns in reported speech?

Pronouns usually change to match the new speaker, listener, and context.

8. Is reported speech important for IELTS?

Yes. It helps in Speaking, Writing, Listening, and Reading, especially when you report opinions, instructions, or conversations.

9. Can I omit “that” in reported speech?

Yes. In many sentences, especially informal ones, that can be left out.

10. What is the best way to practise reported speech?

Start with short direct sentences, change them into reported speech, and practise statements, questions, commands, and suggestions separately.

Reported Speech in English for IELTS

Reported speech helps you communicate ideas more naturally and accurately. It is an essential intermediate grammar topic because it combines tense changes, pronouns, questions, commands, and reporting verbs in one structure.

For the strongest IELTS progress, study this lesson together with Present Perfect Tense, Past Perfect Tense, Modal Verbs, and Passive Voice. When these grammar areas work together, your English becomes more flexible, formal, and precise.