Reported Speech: A Quick Guide for ESL Learners

Reported speech (also known as indirect speech) allows us to share what someone else said without quoting them word-for-word. Understanding how to backshift tenses and choose the right reporting verbs is essential for clear communication in both daily conversations and formal writing.

Key Grammar Rules

1. Choosing the Right Verb: Said vs. Told

• Said: Use when you do not mention the listener.

  • Example: "She said that she was tired."

• Told: Use when you do mention the listener directly.

  • Example: "She told me that she was tired."

2. Backshifting Verbs (Moving One Step into the Past)

When reporting statements, main verbs usually shift back one tense into the past:

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
am / is	was
are	were
do / don't	did / didn't
have / has	had
can	could
will	would

3. Reporting Past Events

When the original statement is already in the Past Simple, you have two options:

1. Keep it in the Past Simple (common in spoken English):

   • "I visited Chiang Mai." → He said he visited Chiang Mai.

2. Shift to the Past Perfect (preferred in formal/academic writing):

   • "I visited Chiang Mai." → He said he had visited Chiang Mai.

Interactive Practice Game

[ { "title": "Reported Speech Review", "hint": { "summary": "Reported Speech & Backshifting", "content": "• Use **said** when no listener is mentioned (*He said that...*).\n\n• Use **told** when specifying the listener (*He told me that...*).\n\n • Backshift present verbs to past: **am/is → was**, **are → were**, **have/has → had**, **can → could**, **will → would**, **don't → didn't**.\n• Past Simple can remain **Past Simple** or backshift to **Past Perfect (had + V3)**." }, "questions": [ { "type": "multiple-choice", "question": "Aom ___ me that she loved reading books.", "options": ["told", "said", "say"], "correctIndex": 0, "explanation": "Use **told** when the listener (*me*) is directly mentioned." }, { "type": "multiple-choice", "question": "The teacher ___ that the exam would be next Tuesday.", "options": ["said", "told", "told to"], "correctIndex": 0, "explanation": "Use **said** when there is no direct object or listener mentioned." }, { "type": "multiple-choice", "question": "Mew ___ his brother to turn down the television.", "options": ["told", "said", "says"], "correctIndex": 0, "explanation": "Use **told** because the listener (*his brother*) is stated." }, { "type": "multiple-choice", "question": "They ___ they were going to Siam Square after class.", "options": ["said", "told", "tell"], "correctIndex": 0, "explanation": "Use **said** because no listener is named before the clause." }, { "type": "multiple-choice", "question": "Chai said ___ he could swim very fast.", "options": ["that", "to", "what"], "correctIndex": 0, "explanation": "The word **that** acts as an optional connector in reported speech." }, { "type": "multiple-choice", "question": "When backshifting in reported speech, 'can' changes to ___.", "options": ["could", "would", "can"], "correctIndex": 0, "explanation": "The modal verb **can** shifts back to **could**." }, { "type": "multiple-choice", "question": "When backshifting in reported speech, 'will' changes to ___.", "options": ["would", "could", "will"], "correctIndex": 0, "explanation": "The modal verb **will** shifts back to **would**." }, { "type": "multiple-choice", "question": "When backshifting present continuous, 'am eating' changes to ___.", "options": ["was eating", "is eating", "had eaten"], "correctIndex": 0, "explanation": "Present continuous (**am/is + V-ing**) shifts to past continuous (**was/were + V-ing**)." }, { "type": "multiple-choice", "question": "'I don't like spicy food.' → She said she ___ like spicy food.", "options": ["didn't", "doesn't", "don't"], "correctIndex": 0, "explanation": "Present simple negative (**don't**) backshifts to past simple negative (**didn't**)." }, { "type": "multiple-choice", "question": "'We have a new car.' → They said they ___ a new car.", "options": ["had", "have", "have had"], "correctIndex": 0, "explanation": "The verb **have/has** backshifts to **had** in reported speech." }, { "type": "fill-in-the-blank", "instruction": "Fill in the blank with the past form of the modal:", "question": "Aom said she ___ (can) help me with homework.", "answer": ["could"], "explanation": "**Can** backshifts to **could** in reported speech." }, { "type": "fill-in-the-blank", "instruction": "Fill in the correct reported speech verb:", "question": "Lek ___ (told/said) us that she was learning how to drive.", "answer": ["told"], "explanation": "We use **told** because the object/listener (*us*) is included." }, { "type": "fill-in-the-blank", "instruction": "Complete the verb backshift:", "question": "Boy: 'I don't understand.' → Boy told me that he ___ understand.", "answer": ["didn't", "did not"], "explanation": "**Don't** shifts back to **didn't**." }, { "type": "fill-in-the-blank", "instruction": "Complete the backshift for present continuous:", "question": "Sarah: 'I am eating lunch.' → Sarah said she ___ eating lunch.", "answer": ["was"], "explanation": "**Am eating** shifts to **was eating**." }, { "type": "fill-in-the-blank", "instruction": "Complete the backshift for future modal:", "question": "John: 'I will finish the report.' → John said he ___ finish the report.", "answer": ["would"], "explanation": "**Will** shifts back to **would**." }, { "type": "fill-in-the-blank", "instruction": "Complete the backshift for ability:", "question": "Mew: 'We can speak English.' → Mew said they ___ speak English.", "answer": ["could"], "explanation": "**Can** changes to **could**." }, { "type": "fill-in-the-blank", "instruction": "Fill in the past perfect auxiliary verb:", "question": "Tawan said that he ___ visited Chiang Mai.", "answer": ["had"], "explanation": "Past simple can shift to past perfect using **had + V3**." }, { "type": "fill-in-the-blank", "instruction": "Complete the reporting statement:", "question": "Aom: 'I have two older sisters.' → Aom said that she ___ two older sisters.", "answer": ["had"], "explanation": "**Have** changes to **had**." }, { "type": "fill-in-the-blank", "instruction": "Fill in the missing reporting verb:", "question": "Boy ___ that he wanted to go to Siam Square.", "answer": ["said"], "explanation": "Use **said** when there is no direct object." }, { "type": "fill-in-the-blank", "instruction": "Complete the backshift for present continuous:", "question": "Team: 'We are preparing.' → The team said they ___ preparing.", "answer": ["were"], "explanation": "**Are preparing** backshifts to **were preparing**." }, { "type": "scramble", "sentence": "Aom said that she loved reading books.", "explanation": "Subject + said + (that) + clause with backshifted verb." }, { "type": "scramble", "sentence": "The teacher told us that the exam was cancelled.", "explanation": "Subject + told + object + (that) + clause." }, { "type": "scramble", "sentence": "He said he could swim very fast.", "explanation": "Subject + said + subject + could + base verb + adverb." }, { "type": "scramble", "sentence": "Boy said that he wanted to go to Siam Square.", "explanation": "Subject + said + (that) + clause in past tense." }, { "type": "scramble", "sentence": "She said that she was eating lunch with her mom.", "explanation": "Present continuous changes to past continuous in reported speech." }, { "type": "scramble", "sentence": "John said that he would finish the report.", "explanation": "Subject + said + (that) + subject + would + base verb." }, { "type": "scramble", "sentence": "They told us they had bought tickets to the concert.", "explanation": "Subject + told + object + past perfect clause." }, { "type": "scramble", "sentence": "She said she didn't like spicy food.", "explanation": "Subject + said + subject + didn't + base verb." }, { "type": "scramble", "sentence": "Mew said that he was excited for the weekend.", "explanation": "Subject + said + (that) + subject + was + adjective." }, { "type": "scramble", "sentence": "Korn told me he went to the night market.", "explanation": "Subject + told + object + simple past clause." } ] } ]