reported speech

reported speech

1. When do we use reported speech? Sometimes someone says a sentence, for example "I'm going to the cinema tonight". Later, maybe we want to tell someone else what the first person said.

2. We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'. (Click here for more about using 'say' and 'tell'.) , We don't need to change the tense, though probably we do need to change the 'person' from 'I' to 'she', for example. We also may need to change words like 'my' and 'your'.

3. You’re working too hard. ⇨ She told me I was working too hard.

   • I drove to Paris yesterday. ⇨ He said he had driven to Paris the previous day.
     • I woke up in hospital. ⇨ He said he had woken up in hospital.
       • I worked last Sunday. ⇨ He said he had worksed last Sunday
         • I’ve bought a new cushion. ⇨ She said she had bought a new cushion.

4. You’re driving on the wrong side. ⇨ She said I was driving on the wrong side.

   • I’m resting on the sofa. ⇨ He said he was resting on the sofa.
     • I live in London. ⇨ He said he lived in London.
       • I love speaking in English ⇨ She said she loved speaking in English.
         • I’m from Spain. ⇨ He said he was from Spain.