Reported speech: statements
To report what someone said, use say or tell with a that-clause and usually move the verb one step back in time. Change pronouns and time words so they make sense from where you are now.
How it works
- Say something (to someone); tell someone something: She said (that)…, She told me (that)…
- Backshift after a past reporting verb: present → past, past or present perfect → past perfect, will → would, can → could.
- Change pronouns and time and place words: today → that day, tomorrow → the next day, here → there.
- You don't need to backshift when the fact is still true or the reporting verb is present: He says he's busy.
- That is optional: She said (that) she was tired.
- Could, would, should and might stay the same. Must can stay or change to had to: She said she had to leave.
Examples
She told me she was moving to Da Nang.
He said that he had already paid the bill.
The manager said the report would be ready the next day.
My friend said she couldn't come to the wedding.
The teacher told us that the Earth goes round the Sun.
Common mistakes
Wrong: He
saidme that he was tired.Right: He told me that he was tired.
Wrong: She
told that she willcall later.Right: She said that she would call later.
Wrong: He told
tome he liked the food.Right: He told me he liked the food.
Practice
1 of 14Fill the gap.
Level: EGP Reported speech: reporting a statement with said/told and a past verb is a B1 point; consistent backshift to the past perfect, would and could, with time-word changes, is controlled at B2. Written for Gloss.