Reported speech

When we report what someone says, we have to change the verb into the past. We also have to change the pronouns. 

"I don't like spinach," said Mary.            Mary said that she didn't like spinach.

"I can't go to the park because it's raining," said Dan.  

Dan said that he couldn't go to the park because it was raining.


We also change words about place and time.

"I'm leaving for France tomorrow," said Nancy.

Nancy told me that she was leaving for France the following day. 

"What time will you get here?" she asked.  She asked what time we would get there.

Reported Speech from Miguel Dias

We can also report commands.

"Be quiet, please," said the teacher.  The teacher asked the children to be quiet.

"Sit down!" said the bus driver. The bus driver told him to sit down.

If we report a question we can use "if" or "whether."

"Are you coming?" she asked.   She asked if we were coming.

"Do you know Bill?" he asked.  He asked me whether I knew Bill.

Practice changing the pronouns
Change the verb tense
Reported commands
Reported commands 2
Reported questions