Quick Guide to Reported Speech

To support the work we have done in the class on reported speech, here is a quick revision guide of the main points:

Using 'said'

The reporting verb 'said' is followed by 'that' + the words you wish to report with a tense change.

The tenses move back (so present tense becomes past tense, and so on). However, in everyday conversation this 'rule' is regularly not followed, especially if the reported words are still relevant or are felt to be true in the present time.

The tense changes are as follows:

'I am happy with the arrangement.' > He said that he was happy with the arrangement.

'I am having trouble with my computer.' > He said that he was having trouble with his computer.'

'I had lunch at midday.' > He said that he had had lunch at midday.*

'I was walking home when I saw the accident.' > He said that he had been walking home when he had seen the accident.'*

'I had already visited Paris once before'. > He said that he had already visited Paris once before.

'I will be leaving early.' > He said that he would be leaving early.

'I would like a refund.' > He said that he would like a refund.

'You should book early.' > He said that we should book early.

For sentences marked * it is common to keep the original past tenses in the reported version in everyday coversation:

He said that he had lunch at midday.

He said that he was walking home when he saw the accident.

Note: 'said' can't be followed by a direct personal pronoun ('He said me...') but only indirect ('He said to me that...'). Also, 'said' can't usually be followed by an infinitive ('He said me to go...').

Note: in all the above examples, 'that' can be omitted without losing the meaning.

Other reporting verbs like 'said':

explained, remarked, admitted, declared,stated, insisted

John explained to me how the machine worked (works).
He remarked that nobody had applied for the course.
She admitted that the interview had been tough.
The minister declared that the government would do all it could.

Using 'told', 'advised', 'warned' etc

'Told' is used to give a summary of the information a person gave, whereas 'said' refers to the actual words they spoke.

Catherine told me all about her holiday in Bordeaux.
Catherine said that Bordeaux had won first prize as France's loveliest city.

'Told' uses a direct object pronoun + 'that' (with tense change) or an infinitive:

'I can't make the meeting next Friday.' > He told me that he couldn't make the meeting next Friday.

'Give my fish some food every day.'> He told me to feed his fish every day.

Other verbs like this are:

advised, warned, urged, ordered

She advised me to take a long break.
She warned us that two snakes had escaped in the area.
The guide warned them not to step outside the village.
The Secretary General urged both sides to renew the talks.

Using 'asked'

This verb usually takes the same pattern as 'told', but for questions:

She asked me to repeat the exercise.

But it can also take 'if':

She asked me if I could/would repeat the exercise.

And also 'how' and 'about':

She asked me how I knew about the secret plans.
She asked me about the meeting that took place without her.

Using gerunds

Some reporting verbs can also take a gerund:

The man denied having any contact with the gang.
She admitted stealing the top-secret document in her handbag.
He finished off his speech by listing the names of the victims.

Some unususal customers

described
She described Grenada for me.
She described how the mouse was finally caught.

wondered
He wondered how many more people would have to die.

reckoned
Jim reckoned it would take half an hour.