Reported Speech (Part 1) – Statements

It's ugly to go around spreading what others are saying, but with this subject it's exactly what we want you to do.   When we want to repeat the exact words of what someone else has said.    You will like this post a lot.     

Expresso English, available in: https://www.espressoenglish.net/reported-speech-part-1-statements/#:~:text=Login-,Reported%20Speech%20(Part%201)%20%E2%80%93%20Statements,been%20to%20London%20three%20times.%E2%80%9D

What is reported speech?

“Reported speech” is when we talk about what somebody else said – for example:

Direct Speech: “I’ve been to London three times.”

Reported Speech: She said she had been to London three times.

We often use “reported speech” when talking about a conversation that happened in the past. There are some changes to the verbs with reported speech; read the table to find out how each verb tense changes:

DIRECT SPEECH	REPORTED SPEECH	EXAMPLE
Simple present	Simple past	“I want to go home.” She said she wanted to go home.
Present continuous	Past continuous	“I’m reading a good book.” She said she was reading a good book.
Simple past	Past perfect	“I ate pasta for dinner last night.” She said she’d eaten pasta for dinner last night.
Present perfect	Past perfect	“I’ve just finished cleaning my room.” She said she’d just finished cleaning her room.“My mother has never been to Japan.” She said her mother had never been to Japan.
Can / can’t	Could / couldn’t	“I can meet with you next Monday.” She said she could meet with me next Monday.“Sorry, I can’t talk now. I’m at work.” She said she couldn’t talk at the moment because she was at work.
Will / won’t	Would / wouldn’t	“I’ll pick him up at the airport.” She said she’d pick him up at the airport.“I won’t tell anybody your secret.” She said she wouldn’t tell anybody my secret.

Be careful: “said” and “told” have a small difference.

After “told,” we need to include a person:

§  She said she wanted to go home.

§  She told me she wanted to go home.

§  She told John that she wanted to go home.

§  She told she wanted to go home.

§  She said me that she wanted to go home.