| Direct speech | Reported (indirect) speech |
|---|---|
| “I love you.” | He said that he loved her. |
| “I want to see you tomorrow.” | He told her that he wanted to see her again. |
| “I can help you.” | He said that he could help me. |
| “I spoke to him.” | He told me that he had spoken to him. |
| “I will learn the lesson.” | He told me that he would learn the lesson. |
| “I have been at home since 5 o’clock.” | He said that he had been at home since 5 o’clock. |
| “Do you want to eat?” | He asked her if she wanted to eat. |
| “Where do you study?“ | He asked her where she studied. |
Additional notes:
“That” is optional after “say” and “tell”.
In reported speech pronouns also change (I – He/She).
You can’t use “said” with an object or pronoun. (Do not say: He said her he loved her.)
You must use “told” with an object. (Do not say: He told that …)
In reported questions the tenses change in the same way as they change in reported sentences.
Don’t use “do/did” in reported questions.
In reported questions add “if” if the question begins with do, can, would, could.