Reported Speech
Direct → Indirect transformation📖 Reported Speech
🔹 Direct Speech
Quoting exact words
🔹 Indirect Speech
Reporting what was said
📌 Rules
- Present → Past
- Past → Past Perfect
- Will → Would
- Can → Could
- May → Might
Transform to Reported Speech
Reported speech: track speaker, time and intention
Original practice material · explained answers · no official-exam attribution
Understand the rule
Reported speech expresses a message from a new viewpoint. With a present reporting verb, backshift is not automatic: She says, “I am ready” → She says that she is ready. With a past reporting verb, present commonly becomes past, past becomes past perfect and will becomes would. A statement still true may keep its tense. Pronouns depend on their referents; time and place expressions change only when the viewpoint changes. Reported questions use statement word order, not auxiliary inversion.
Follow a method
Identify the speaker and addressee. Choose a reporting verb that matches the act: say, tell someone, ask or advise. For yes/no questions use if or whether; for wh-questions keep the question word. Use ask/tell + object + to-infinitive for requests or orders. Check reference, tense and word order separately.
Worked example
Practise and explain your answer
01Report: Sara said, “I will help you,” speaking to me.
02Report: He asked me, “Do you understand?”
03Correct: She asked where did I live.
04Report: The teacher told us, “Don’t copy.”
05Must every present tense become past?
MathMaroc · Guided practice
Report a message in context
Practise, use a hint, then read the explanation. This activity does not give an official examination grade.