GRAMMAR
What Is Reported Speech?
Reported speech (also called indirect speech) is used to tell someone what another person said without quoting their exact words.
Direct Speech: She said, “I am tired.” Reported Speech: She said that she was tired.
Basic Structure
Reporting verb + that + subject + changed verb tense
Example:
Direct: Tom said, “I work hard.”. Reported: Tom said that he worked hard.
Tense Changes (Backshift Rules)
When the reporting verb is in the past (said, told), the tense usually changes:
Examples:
Present Simple → Past Simple
“I like pizza.” → She said that she liked pizza.
Present Continuous → Past Continuous
“I am studying.” → He said that he was studying.
Past Simple → Past Perfect
“I visited Paris.” → She said that she had visited Paris.
Will → Would
“I will call you.” → He said that he would call me.
Pronoun Changes
Pronouns often change depending on the speaker.
Example:
“I love my dog,” Sarah said. → Sarah said that she loved her dog.
Time and Place Changes
Examples:
“I will go tomorrow.” → He said that he would go the next day.
“We are here now.” → They said that they were there then.
Reporting Questions
Yes/No Questions: Use if or whether
“Do you like coffee?” → She asked if I liked coffee.
Wh- Questions:
Keep the question word.
“Where do you live?”→ He asked where I lived.
Reporting Commands and Requests
Use: told / asked + object + infinitive
Examples:
“Close the door.” → She told me to close the door.
“Please help me.” → He asked me to help him.
“Don’t be late.” → She told him not to be late.
Common Reporting Verbs
- said
- told
- asked
- explained
- suggested
- promised
- warned
- advised
Examples:
“I’ll help you.” → He promised to help me.
“You should study more.” → She advised me to study more.
When Tense Does NOT Change
If the statement is still true or is a general fact:
“The Earth revolves around the Sun.” → The teacher said that the Earth revolves around the Sun.
Answers:
Reported Speech
STORY (Direct speech version)
The Mystery at Maple Hill
It was a foggy morning when Liam, Sofia, and their teacher Ms. Patel arrived at the old Maple Hill Mansion for their school history trip.
“I heard this place is haunted,” Liam whispered, looking nervous.
Sofia replied, “Don’t be silly. Ghosts aren’t real.”
Ms. Patel smiled and said, “Let’s focus on the architecture and the history.”
The trio stepped inside, marveling at the tall ceilings and dusty chandeliers.
“I want to take a photo of the grand staircase,” Sofia said.
Liam asked, “Can I sketch the fireplace instead?”
Ms. Patel said, “You can both explore different parts of the room, but stay close.”
As they explored, Liam stumbled upon a small locked drawer in the library.
“Ms. Patel, I found something,” he shouted.
She asked, “What did you find, Liam?”
He replied, “There’s a locked drawer. Maybe there’s a key around here.”
“I think I saw a key on the mantelpiece,” Sofia added.
Ms. Patel said, “Let’s check it together.”
They found the key and opened the drawer, revealing a pile of old letters and a faded journal.
“This is amazing,” Liam said.
Sofia exclaimed, “It talks about a hidden room behind the bookcase!”
Ms. Patel said excitedly, “Let’s see if we can find it.”
They searched the bookcase, tapping each shelf. Suddenly, a creak echoed and the bookcase slid aside, revealing a narrow passage.
“I can’t believe this!” Liam said, wide-eyed.
Sofia grinned and said, “We’re like real detectives.”
Ms. Patel reminded them, “Stay close and don’t touch anything.”
Inside the secret room, they found antique furniture and photographs from the 1800s.
“These photos must be of the original mansion owners,” Sofia said.
Liam asked, “Can we bring them back to school?”
Ms. Patel responded, “We’ll need permission, but we can certainly document everything.”
The day ended with smiles, awe, and a new appreciation for local history.
STORY (Reported speech version)
The Mystery at Maple Hill
It was a foggy morning when Liam, Sofia, and their teacher Ms. Patel arrived at the old Maple Hill Mansion for their school history trip.
Liam whispered that he had heard the place was haunted.
Sofia replied that he shouldn’t be silly.
Ms. Patel said that they should focus on the architecture and the history.
The trio stepped inside, marveling at the tall ceilings and dusty chandeliers.
Sofia said that she wanted to take a photo of the grand staircase.
Liam asked if he could sketch the fireplace instead.
Ms. Patel said that they could both explore different parts of the room.
As they explored, Liam stumbled upon a small locked drawer in the library.
Liam shouted that he had found something.
Ms. Patel asked Liam what he had found.
Liam replied that there was a locked drawer.
Sofia added that she had seen a key on the mantelpiece.
Ms. Patel said that they should check it together.
They found the key and opened the drawer, revealing a pile of old letters and a faded journal.
Liam said that it was amazing.
Sofia exclaimed that the journal talked about a hidden room behind the bookcase.
Ms. Patel said excitedly that they should see if they could find it.
They searched the bookcase, tapping each shelf. Suddenly, a creak echoed and the bookcase slid aside, revealing a narrow passage.
Liam said wide-eyed that he couldn’t believe it.
Sofia grinned and said that they were like real detectives.
Ms. Patel reminded them to stay close and not to touch anything.
Inside the secret room, they found antique furniture and photographs from the 1800s.
Sofia said that those photos must be of the original mansion owners.
Liam asked if they could bring them back to school.
Ms. Patel responded that they would need permission, but they could certainly document everything.
The day ended with smiles, awe, and a new appreciation for local history.
NEW WORDS
Report, mystery, foggy, mansion, whisper, haunted, silly, focus, architecture, trio, step, marvel, dusty, chandelier, grand staircase, sketch, fireplace, explore, stumble, drawer, mantelpiece, reveal, pile, faded, journal, bookcase, tapping, shelf, creak, echo, slid, passage, detective, secret, antique, furniture, original, owner, permission, document, appreciation, local.