While preparing for the IELTS exam, you’ve likely come across practice questions involving reported speech in English. This is a common grammar topic that is not too difficult but requires a solid understanding of verb tense changes and transformation rules. In this article, IDP will guide you through the structure of reported speech and how to convert direct speech into indirect speech accurately. You can also test your knowledge with exercises at the end of the article.
1. What Is Reported Speech?
Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is used to report what someone has said without quoting them directly. When using reported speech, quotation marks are not used.
Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
I like blueberry tart. | She said that she liked blueberry tart. |
2. Rules for Converting Direct Speech to Reported Speech
To change direct speech into reported speech, follow these essential steps:
2.1. Change Personal Pronouns and Possessive Adjectives
When converting a sentence, you need to adjust personal and possessive pronouns based on the context.
Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
I | he, she |
you | I, he, she, they |
we | they |
my | his, her |
our | their |
your | our, their |
mine | his, hers |
yours | ours, mine, theirs |
Examples:
I could swim when I was four → She said she could swim when she was four.
I must study at the weekend → She said she had to study at the weekend.
Our team won the championship → They said their team had won the championship.
2.2. Change Verb Tenses
Since reported speech often refers to a past moment, the verb tense usually shifts one step back in time.
Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
Present simple | Past simple |
Present continuous | Past continuous |
Present perfect | Past perfect |
Past simple | Past perfect |
Past continuous | Past perfect continuous |
Past perfect | Past perfect |
Future simple (will) | Would |
Future continuous | Would be V-ing |
Can, may, shall | Could, might, should |
Should, could, might, must, would | Remain unchanged |
2.3. Change Time and Place Expressions
Time and place expressions must also be adapted to match the new point of reference.
Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
Today | That day |
Yesterday | The day before |
The day before yesterday | Two days before |
Tomorrow | The next / following day |
The day after tomorrow | In two days’ time |
Next week / month | The following week / month |
Last week / month | The previous week / month |
... ago | ... before |
This / these | That / those |
Here / over here | There / over there |
3. Common Reported Speech Structures
In addition to general tense changes, reported speech may take different forms depending on the sentence type:
3.1. Reporting Statements
Structure: S + said / told + (that) + S + V
Note: say / says / said to becomes tell / tells / told
Example:
He said to me, “I ate a pizza last night.” → He told me he had eaten a pizza the previous night.
3.2. Reporting Yes/No Questions
Structure: S + asked / wanted to know / wondered + if / whether + S + V
Example:
John asked, “Do you remember?” → John asked me if I remembered.
3.3. Reporting Wh-Questions
Structure: S + asked / wanted to know / wondered + Wh-word + S + V
Example:
“What is Andy doing?” → Jim wanted to know what Andy was doing.
4. Reported Speech Exercises with Answers
Exercise 1: Rewrite the sentences using reported speech
“If the weather is fine, I will go to the beach with my friends,” she said. → She said that if the weather was fine, she would go to the beach with her friends.
“What would you do if you had one day off?” I asked her. → I asked her what she would do if she had one day off.
“I would have come to see you if I had known your address, Harry,” Tom said. → Tom said that he would have come to see me if he had known Harry's address.
“I’m sure he will help you if you ask him,” she told me. → She told me that she was sure he would help me if I asked him.
“If today were Monday, we would go to school,” my friend said. → My friend said that if today were Monday, they would go to school.
She said to me, “If I were you, I wouldn’t tell her my address.” → She said that if she were me, she would not tell her address to her.
“There would not be enough seats if a lot of guests came,” they said. → They said there would not be enough seats if many guests came.
“You will be surprised if you meet her,” Ann said to Clara. → Ann said to Clara that she would be surprised if she met her.
Exercise 2: Convert the following sentences into reported speech
"If I have time, I will visit you tomorrow," she said. → She said that if she had time, she would visit me the next day.
"Would you like to join us for dinner?" they asked. → They invited me to join them for dinner.
"Be careful! The road is slippery," the sign said. → The sign warned that the road was slippery.
"Please, lend me some money," he said. → He begged me to lend him some money.
"You did a great job on the presentation," the manager praised. → The manager praised me for doing a great job on the presentation.
"Let me help you with your luggage," he offered. → He offered to help me with my luggage.
"I broke the vase," she admitted. → She admitted breaking the vase.
"Let's go to the movies tonight," he suggested. → He suggested going to the movies that night.
"You broke the window," she accused. → She accused me of breaking the window.
"Don't forget to call me later," he reminded me. → He reminded me to call him later.
Master Reported Speech with IDP
The grammar rules and exercises above will help you understand reported speech in English more clearly. If you want to improve your grammar skills, continue practicing with personalized exercises available from IDP.
At IDP, you can take the computer-based IELTS test with flexible scheduling and various test dates. Don’t forget to check the IELTS scoring criteria for each skill to set your goals and create an effective study plan.
When you are ready, register for your IELTS test online with IDP today!