Reported Speech
1. What is Reported Speech?
Reported speech (also called indirect speech) is used when we tell someone what another
person said, without using their exact words. We usually change the verb tense, pronouns, and
time expressions to fit the new context.
Example:
Direct speech: Aunt Em said, "Quick, Dorothy! Get inside!"
Reported speech: Aunt Em told Dorothy to get inside quickly.
2. Key Changes in Reported Speech
2.1. Verb Tense Changes
When reporting speech, we usually move the tense one step back in time (backshifting).
If the original sentence is already in the past, we often change it to past perfect.
2.2. Pronoun Changes
Pronouns often change to match the new subject.
Direct speech: Dorothy said, "I am scared."
Reported speech: Dorothy said she was scared.
2.3. Time & Place Changes
Time and place expressions also change to reflect the shift in perspective.
Example:
Direct speech: "We will leave tomorrow."
Reported speech: They said they would leave the next day.
3. Reporting Different Types of Speech
3.1. Reporting Commands & Requests
When reporting orders or requests, we use told + object + to + verb or asked + object + to +
verb.
Direct speech: Aunt Em said, "Quick, Dorothy! Get inside!"
Reported speech: Aunt Em told Dorothy to get inside quickly.
For negative commands, we use not to + verb:
Direct speech: "Don’t be afraid, Dorothy."
Reported speech: She told Dorothy not to be afraid.
3.2. Reporting Yes/No Questions
For yes/no questions, we use if or whether.
Direct speech: "Is the cyclone coming?"
Reported speech: Uncle Henry asked if the cyclone was coming.
3.3. Reporting WH-Questions
For WH-questions (who, what, where, when, why, how), we keep the question word but change
the sentence structure.
Direct speech: "Where is Dorothy?"
Reported speech: They asked where Dorothy was.
Direct speech: "Why are you scared?"
Reported speech: She asked why he was scared.
4. Summary of Changes in Reported Speech
1. Tense shifts (Present → Past, Past → Past Perfect, etc.)
2. Pronoun changes (I → he/she, we → they, etc.)
3. Time and place words change (now → then, today → that day, etc.)
4. For commands and requests, use told/asked + object + to + verb
5. For yes/no questions, use if/whether
6. For WH-questions, keep the question word but change the sentence structure
Part 1: Change to Reported Speech
Rewrite the sentences in reported speech.
1. Uncle Henry said, "There's a cyclone coming, Em!"
2. Aunt Em cried, "Quick, Dorothy! Get inside!"
3. Uncle Henry told his wife, "Get into the cyclone cellar! You get in too, Dorothy."
4. The text says, "Dorothy played with Toto all day long." (Report this in the past.)
5. The narrator said, "The wind was coming from the south. It whistled and roared."
Part 2: Change to Direct Speech
Rewrite the sentences in direct speech as they might have been originally said.
6. Uncle Henry said that he was very worried about the sky.
7. Aunt Em told Dorothy to hurry inside before the cyclone arrived.
8. Uncle Henry told Dorothy that he would look after the cows and horses.
9. The text says that Dorothy could not get into the cyclone cellar because the wind had shut
the trap door.
10. The narrator said that hours later, Dorothy was woken up by a hard bump.
