Sentence Structure Intermediate

Reported Speech

Master Reported Speech (indirect speech) in English. Learn tense backshifting rules, pronoun changes, time expression changes, and how to use it correctly in PTE and IELTS writing tasks.

What is Reported Speech?

Reported Speech (also called Indirect Speech) is used to report what someone said without quoting them directly. It requires tense backshifting, pronoun adjustments, and time expression changes. It is a key feature of academic writing, where you report research findings and expert opinions without using direct quotations.

Rules & Formation

Tense backshift: Present Simple → Past Simple; Present Continuous → Past Continuous; Present Perfect → Past Perfect; Past Simple → Past Perfect; will → would; can → could; may → might.
Pronoun changes: first person ("I", "we") → third person appropriate to the speaker ("she", "he", "they").
Time expression changes: now → then, today → that day, yesterday → the day before, tomorrow → the next day, here → there, this → that.
Reporting verbs: said, told, stated, claimed, argued, suggested, explained, admitted, denied, warned, advised, promised.
For questions: use "whether/if" for Yes/No questions; use the question word for Wh-questions; statement word order (no inversion).
No backshift needed when: reporting a general truth, or when the reporting verb is in the present tense.

Examples

Direct: "I have completed the assignment." → Reported: She said that she had completed the assignment.

Direct: "Are you applying for the visa?" → Reported: He asked whether I was applying for the visa.

Direct: "The study will be published next year." → Reported: They stated that the study would be published the following year.

"Climate change is a serious threat," the researcher argued. → The researcher argued that climate change was a serious threat.

"Don't miss the deadline," the tutor warned. → The tutor warned us not to miss the deadline.

🎯 Exam Tip — PTE & IELTS

In IELTS Writing Task 2 and PTE Write Essay, use Reported Speech to reference academic sources and arguments: "Smith (2019) argued that technology would fundamentally alter employment patterns." Notice the tense shift (argue → argued, will → would). This is far more academic than copying quotes directly. In PTE Summarize Written Text, paraphrase the author's claims using reported speech structures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I always need to backshift tenses in Reported Speech?

Not always. Backshifting is required when the reporting verb is in the past tense and the content is no longer current or relevant. However, when reporting a general truth or a currently valid statement, backshifting is optional: "He said that the sun rises in the east." (general truth — no backshift needed). In academic writing, tense backshift is the standard practice when using past reporting verbs.

What reporting verbs are most useful for IELTS Writing Task 2?

For presenting arguments: argue, claim, suggest, assert, contend, maintain. For presenting evidence: demonstrate, indicate, reveal, show, find, prove. For agreeing/disagreeing: acknowledge, admit, accept, deny, refute, challenge. Using a variety of reporting verbs (not just "say" and "tell") is a marker of high Lexical Resource in IELTS Writing.

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