Reported Speech
Use reported speech to tell someone what another person said without quoting their exact words. Tenses usually shift back, and pronouns and time expressions often change.
Level B2
Clauses
Summary
- Use reported speech to tell someone what another person said without quoting their exact words. Tenses usually shift back, and pronouns and time expressions often change.
Structure
reporting verb (said/told) + (that) + clause with shifted tense
Examples
- She said that she was tired.
- He told me he had finished the report.
- They said they would call the next day.
- I asked her where she lived.
Common mistakes
- • Shift the tense back: NOT 'She said she is tired' → 'She said she was tired.'
- • Use statement word order in reported questions: NOT 'He asked where did I live' → 'He asked where I lived.'
Related
More clauses
Relative Clauses (Defining)
B1
Use defining relative clauses to give essential information that identifies which person or thing you mean. Use who for people, which for things, and that for both. No commas are used.
Relative Clauses (Non-Defining)
B2
Use non-defining relative clauses to add extra, non-essential information about a noun. These clauses are separated by commas, and 'that' cannot be used.