What are the three main changes you need to make when converting direct speech to reported speech?

Add a reporting verb, backshift the tenses, and change the pronouns.

Which of the following sentences is correctly converted to reported speech? Direct speech: 'I am going to the store.'

She said that she was going to the store.

A reporting verb introduces the reported speech. Examples are 'said' and 'told'.

Backshifting tenses means changing the verb tense to an earlier form. For example, present simple becomes past simple.

He told her that he would meet her at the library.

Grade 11th Grade · 60 min

I can transform direct speech into reported speech accurately.

English with Lucy · 7:37

REPORTED SPEECH in English - Indirect Speech | Reported Speech | Direct Speech (+ Free PDF & Quiz)

3 key concepts

1
When changing direct speech to reported speech, you must add a reporting verb, backshift the tenses by one, and change the pronouns.
2
The most common reporting verbs are to say and to tell, which are conjugated to said and told.
3
When using 'tell' in reported speech, you must always add in the person you're reporting to, using the structure 'tell plus who we're reporting to'.

12 questions · Multiple choice & Short answer

Quick comprehension check

“Transform the following sentence from direct speech into reported speech: 'I am going to the store.' Begin your answer with 'She said that'.”

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