Understanding Reported Speech Through Examples
Reported speech allows us to convey what someone said without using their exact words. At B2 level, you'll encounter diverse reporting patterns across formal and informal contexts. These 40 examples demonstrate how tenses shift, how questions are reported, and how commands and requests change when we move from direct to reported speech. Pay attention to the reporting verbs and how punctuation and structure transform.
Examples — page 1 of 4
Direct: 'I am studying for my exams.' Reported: She said (that) she was studying for her exams.
Present continuous → Past continuous · Statement
Direct: 'Where did you go yesterday?' Reported: He asked where I had gone the day before.
Question word question · Formal context
Direct: 'You must finish this report by Friday.' Reported: The manager insisted that I finish the report by Friday.
Command with obligation · Professional register
Direct: 'I haven't finished yet.' Reported: They mentioned (that) they hadn't finished yet.
Present perfect → Past perfect · Informal context
Direct: 'Do you want coffee?' Reported: She asked if I wanted coffee.
Yes/no question · Everyday conversation
Direct: 'Could you help me move house?' Reported: Tom requested that I help him move house.
Polite request · Subjunctive form
Direct: 'I will call you tomorrow.' Reported: He promised (that) he would call me the next day.
Future simple → Conditional · Commitment
Direct: 'Don't be late for the meeting.' Reported: She warned him not to be late for the meeting.
Negative command · Warning context
Direct: 'I had lived there for ten years.' Reported: She explained (that) she had lived there for ten years.
Past perfect unchanged · Historical narrative
Direct: 'Why didn't you call me?' Reported: She wanted to know why I hadn't called her.
Question word with past perfect · Accusatory tone
Signal words
said
told
asked
mentioned
insisted
requested
promised
warned
explained
wanted to know
invited
claimed
suggested
admitted
denied
complained
reported
wondered
remarked
replied
KEY TAKEAWAYS
What to Remember
- When reporting, shift present tense to past and past to past perfect, except for timeless facts.
- Use reported speech word order (subject-verb) in questions and avoid inverting or using question marks.
- Choose appropriate reporting verbs like said, told, asked, ordered, and requested to match the original meaning.
- When reporting commands and requests, convert imperatives to infinitive structures with tell, ask, or order.
- Include time and place references that change in reported speech: now becomes then, here becomes there.