Reported Speech
English 8
Index
What is Reported Speech?
INTRODUCTION
Difference between Direct and Reported Speech
Practice
Video
Introduction to the topic
When we talk about what somebody said or thoughts, we can use direct speech or reported speech:
Direct speech: He said, 'Idon't want to talk to you'. Reported speech: He said 'he didn't want to talk to me'.
INDEX
01
What is Reported Speech?
How to report what others say.
What is Reported Speech?
Reported speech is when we tell what another person said, without using their exact words (unlike direct speech).
EXAMPLE Direct speech: She said, "I'm tired". Reported speech: She said (that) she was tired.
Why is it important?
Helps us communicate information naturally. Common in conversations, news, reports and storytelling.
REPORTED QUESTIONS
OTHER CHANGES
When you report a Wh-question, put the subject before the verb. Don't use the auxiliary do/does/did. "Where are you from?" - She asked me where I was from. "Why did she say that?" - He asked me why she had said that. For yes/no questions, use if/whether. Whether is more formal than if. 'Are you going to help?' - We asked them if they were going to help.
When we report speech, we usually need to change the pronouns (e.g, I, he) and possessives (e.g, my), depending on who is talking to whom. Time and place words may also need to change: 'I want you to give this message to your boss tonight.' She said she wanted me to give a/the message to my boss that night.
INDEX
02
Difference between Direct and Reported Speech
Difference between Direct and Reported Speech
REPORTED SPEECH: No quotation marks, and gramatical changes are made (verb tenses, pronouns, time/place, expressions).
DIRECT SPEECH: Use quotation marks and repeat the exact words.
Difference between Direct and Reported Speech
DIRECT SPEECH:
REPORTED SPEECH:
'I don't want to talk to you.' 'I'm planning to resign.' 'I've already told you.' I saw you break it.' 'I'm going to cook tonight.' 'I'll see you soon.' 'I can't hear you.' 'You may be right.'
He said he didn't want to talk to me. She said she was planning to resign. He said he had already told me. I told him I had seen him break it. You said you were going to cook tonight. He said he would see me soon. She said she couldn't hear me. He said I might be right.
TIP
You don't need to change the tense when you want to show that the speaker's words are still true now:I told you yesterday that I don't want to talk to you. (= I still don't want to talk to you today.)
INDEX
VIDEO
INDEX
PRACTICE
INDEX
Reported Speech
María del Rosario Al
Created on August 10, 2025
This presentation will help you to reinforce your knowdelege about this topic. (B1+)
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Transcript
Reported Speech
English 8
Index
What is Reported Speech?
INTRODUCTION
Difference between Direct and Reported Speech
Practice
Video
Introduction to the topic
When we talk about what somebody said or thoughts, we can use direct speech or reported speech:
Direct speech: He said, 'Idon't want to talk to you'. Reported speech: He said 'he didn't want to talk to me'.
INDEX
01
What is Reported Speech?
How to report what others say.
What is Reported Speech?
Reported speech is when we tell what another person said, without using their exact words (unlike direct speech).
EXAMPLE Direct speech: She said, "I'm tired". Reported speech: She said (that) she was tired.
Why is it important?
Helps us communicate information naturally. Common in conversations, news, reports and storytelling.
REPORTED QUESTIONS
OTHER CHANGES
When you report a Wh-question, put the subject before the verb. Don't use the auxiliary do/does/did. "Where are you from?" - She asked me where I was from. "Why did she say that?" - He asked me why she had said that. For yes/no questions, use if/whether. Whether is more formal than if. 'Are you going to help?' - We asked them if they were going to help.
When we report speech, we usually need to change the pronouns (e.g, I, he) and possessives (e.g, my), depending on who is talking to whom. Time and place words may also need to change: 'I want you to give this message to your boss tonight.' She said she wanted me to give a/the message to my boss that night.
INDEX
02
Difference between Direct and Reported Speech
Difference between Direct and Reported Speech
REPORTED SPEECH: No quotation marks, and gramatical changes are made (verb tenses, pronouns, time/place, expressions).
DIRECT SPEECH: Use quotation marks and repeat the exact words.
Difference between Direct and Reported Speech
DIRECT SPEECH:
REPORTED SPEECH:
'I don't want to talk to you.' 'I'm planning to resign.' 'I've already told you.' I saw you break it.' 'I'm going to cook tonight.' 'I'll see you soon.' 'I can't hear you.' 'You may be right.'
He said he didn't want to talk to me. She said she was planning to resign. He said he had already told me. I told him I had seen him break it. You said you were going to cook tonight. He said he would see me soon. She said she couldn't hear me. He said I might be right.
TIP
You don't need to change the tense when you want to show that the speaker's words are still true now:I told you yesterday that I don't want to talk to you. (= I still don't want to talk to you today.)
INDEX
VIDEO
INDEX
PRACTICE
INDEX