Direct speech gives someone's exact words in inverted commas: Sam said, “I like pizza.” Reported speech tells us what was said without quoting: Sam said that he liked pizza.
When you change direct speech into reported speech, the pronouns usually change (I becomes he or she) and the tense moves back (like becomes liked, will becomes would, can becomes could).
Reported questions use statement word order and no question mark: “Where do you live?” becomes She asked me where I lived.
Worked example
Change to reported speech: “We will win,” said the captain.
- We becomes they.
- Will becomes would.
Answer:The captain said that they would win.
Key words
- direct speech
- the exact words someone said
- reported speech
- an account of what was said, without quotation
- backshift
- moving the tense back in reported speech
Practise this
New questions every time.
Common Core-referenced: L.5.2