Reported speech
Say, tell and shifting tenses when reporting.
The rules
- Reporting past speech shifts the tense back: "I am tired" → "she was tired".
- "Tell" + person ("told me"); "say" + no person ("said that…").
- Past simple shifts to past perfect in reported speech: "saw" → "had seen".
- Reported questions use statement order, no "do": "asked me where I lived".
- "Will" shifts to "would" in reported speech.
- Reported commands: "told + person + (not) to + verb": "told me not to touch".
- Yes/no questions are reported with "if" or "whether".
Examples
- She said she was tired.
- He told me the meeting was cancelled.
- They said they had seen the film the night before.
- She asked me where I lived.
- He said he would call later.
- She told me not to touch it.
- He asked if I could help him move house.
Quick check
Pick an answer to see the rule behind it.
1.She said she _____ tired.
2.Which sentence is correct?
3.They said they _____ the film the night before.
4.She asked me where _____.
5.Direct: "Don't touch it!", Which report is correct?