Academia Teach: Grammar: Reported Speech
How to Retell What People Said
When we tell stories, we rarely repeat conversations word for word. Instead, we report what someone said, focusing on the message rather than the exact words. This is where reported speech becomes essential.
In everyday English, reported speech is used to:
retell conversations
share experiences
explain problems or situations
tell stories we heard from other people
At Christian’s bar, this happens all the time. Customers talk, share moments, complain, laugh—and later, Christian retells those stories to others.
1. Direct Speech vs. Reported Speech
Direct speech uses the exact words the speaker said.
Reported speech tells us what was said, without quotation marks.
Direct:
“I’m exhausted,” the customer said.
Reported:
The customer said that he was exhausted.
Notice that the meaning stays the same, but the structure changes.
2. Basic Structure of Reported Speech
Most reported sentences follow this structure:
Reporting verb + (that) + clause
Common reporting verbs:
say
tell
explain
admit
promise
complain
Examples:
She said (that) she needed a break.
He told me (that) he had had a long day.
She explained (that) she didn’t want another drink.
*“That” is optional and often omitted in spoken English.
3. Tense Changes: The Backshift
When the reporting verb is in the past (said, told, explained), the tense usually moves one step back. This is called backshifting.
Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
Present Simple | Past Simple |
Present Continuous | Past Continuous |
Past Simple | Past Perfect |
Will | Would |
Examples:
“I work late.” → He said he worked late.
“I’m waiting for a friend.” → She said she was waiting for a friend.
“I missed the bus.” → He said he had missed the bus.
“I’ll come back.” → She said she would come back.
This shift helps place the conversation clearly in the past.
4. Pronouns and Time Expressions
When reporting speech, we also adjust pronouns and time words to match the new perspective.
Common changes:
I → he / she
my → his / her
today → that day
yesterday → the day before
now → then
Example:
“I’m tired today.”
→ She said she was tired that day.
This is especially important in storytelling, where clarity matters.
5. Reported Speech in Storytelling
Reported speech is extremely useful when telling stories because it allows you to:
summarize conversations
keep the story flowing
focus on meaning, not exact words
Bar example:
“The guy told me he had fallen asleep on the bus and woken up in the wrong town.”
Christian isn’t quoting the customer. He’s retelling the experience.
This makes reported speech sound more natural and more mature than repeating direct quotes all the time.
6. Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ He said me that he was tired.
✅ He told me that he was tired.
❌ She said she is exhausted.
✅ She said she was exhausted.
❌ He told that he would come.
✅ He said that he would come.
Remember:
Say does not take an object (say something).
Tell needs an object (tell someone something).
7. When NOT to Change the Tense
If the reported information is still true, the tense change is optional.
Example:
“The bar opens at 6.”
→ He said the bar opens at 6.
→ He said the bar opened at 6.
Both are acceptable, depending on context.
8. Why Reported Speech Matters at B1–B2 Level
Using reported speech correctly helps you:
tell better stories
explain situations clearly
sound more fluent and confident
avoid repeating exact quotes unnaturally
It’s a key skill for real-life English, especially in conversations, work situations, and storytelling contexts like Christian’s bar.
Final Thought
Reported speech is not just grammar—it’s a tool for narration.
Once you master it, your English becomes more flexible, more natural, and much more expressive.
And just like Christian behind the bar, you’ll be able to turn simple conversations into memorable stories. 🍸✨
Exercise 1
Comentarios