Reported Speech: The Backshift Rule, Tense Changes & Tips

Reported speech (also called indirect speech) is one of the most useful grammar skills in English because it helps us repeat what another person said without using their exact words.

Imagine your coworker tells you, “The meeting starts at 9.” Later, you tell your manager about it. You probably would not repeat the sentence word for word. Instead, you would naturally say:

• She said the meeting started at 9.

That is reported speech in action.

We use reported speech every day when talking about conversations, news, instructions, rumors, advice, or messages from other people.

What Is Reported Speech?

Reported speech is used to report what another person said without repeating the exact words.

To do this naturally, English often changes:

• verb tenses
• pronouns
• demonstratives
• time expressions
• place expressions

Reported speech is usually introduced by a reporting verb such as:

• say
• tell
• ask
• explain
• warn
• suggest
• advise
• promise

Direct Speech vs. Reported Speech

These are the two main ways to communicate what someone said.

Different Types of Reported Sentences

Reported Statements

Statements usually use that after the reporting verb.

• Direct: “I live in Paris.”
• Reported: He said that he lived in Paris.

In informal English, that is often omitted.

• He said he lived in Paris.

Reported Questions

This is where many learners get confused.

In reported questions:

• we do not use question word order
• we do not use a question mark
• yes/no questions use if or whether

Wh-question:

• Direct: “Where is the station?”
• Reported: He asked where the station was.

Yes/No question:

• Direct: “Are you hungry?”
• Reported: She asked if I was hungry.

Reported Requests and Commands

Requests and commands usually use to + verb.

• Direct: “Please sit down.”
• Reported: She asked me to sit down.

Negative commands use not to.

• Direct: “Don’t touch that.”
• Reported: He warned me not to touch that.

The Golden Rule: Backshift

The most important concept in reported speech is called backshift.

When the reporting verb is in the past, the original tense usually moves one step back into the past.

This happens because the speaker is reporting information from an earlier moment.

Think of it like this:

• Direct speech = the original moment
• Reported speech = looking back at that moment later

Tense Changes in Reported Speech

When NOT to Change the Tense

Not every reported sentence needs backshift.

The tense usually stays the same in these situations:

The Reporting Verb Is in the Present

• She says she is tired.

The Statement Is Still True

• Direct: “Water boils at 100°C.”
• Reported: He says that water boils at 100°C.

Because this fact is always true, there is no need to shift the tense backward.

Changes in Time and Place Expressions

Reported speech often changes expressions of time and place to match the new context.

Pronouns and Demonstratives

Pronouns change depending on who is speaking and who is listening.

• Direct: “I like my job.”
• Reported: She said she liked her job.

This part can feel confusing at first because there is no single fixed rule. You always need to think about the speaker’s perspective.

Say vs. Tell in Reported Speech

One of the most common mistakes ESL learners make is confusing say and tell.

Incorrect:

• He said me that… ❌

Correct:

• He said to me that… ✅
• He told me that… ✅

Useful Reporting Verbs Beyond “Say” and “Tell”

Using different reporting verbs makes your English sound more natural and advanced.

Common Mistakes in Reported Speech

Keeping the Question Mark

Reported questions are no longer real questions grammatically.

❌ She asked where was I?

✅ She asked where I was.

Forgetting to Change “Here”

❌ He said he liked it here. (when speaking about another place)

✅ He said he liked it there.

Using Direct Word Order

❌ She asked what did I want.

✅ She asked what I wanted.

Changing Tenses Unnecessarily

Sometimes learners force a tense change even when the statement is still true.

❌ The teacher said water boiled at 100°C.

✅ The teacher said water boils at 100°C.

Reported speech appears constantly in conversations, interviews, news reports, workplace communication, and storytelling.

Once learners understand the logic behind backshift and reporting verbs, indirect speech becomes much easier and more natural.

Instead of memorizing every rule mechanically, try focusing on real communication situations. That is usually the moment reported speech finally “clicks” for most learners.

Last Updated on June 25, 2026

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