She said that she was tired.
- Language
- English
- Level
- B2
- Unit
- Reported and Indirect Speech
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
Reported speech is a way to tell someone what another person said, without using their exact words.
When to use it
Use reported speech when you want to explain or report what someone else said, especially in the past.
Key forms
- Change the verb tense back (e.g., 'am' → 'was', 'will' → 'would')
- Use reporting verbs like 'say', 'tell', 'ask'
- No quotation marks
- Change pronouns and time words if needed
Examples
He told me that he would call later.
They asked if I had finished my homework.
John said he didn’t like coffee.
Tips
- Remember to change the verb tense one step back in time.
- Do not use quotation marks in reported speech.
- Change pronouns and time expressions to fit the new context.
Exceptions and edge cases
- If the reporting verb is in the present, you do not need to change the tense.
- Some modal verbs (like 'could', 'might', 'should') do not change.