B2 Grammar: Reported Speech

B2 Grammar: Reported Speech
ESL Structure Curriculum

ESL Grammar Course

B2: Upper-Intermediate

Quotation marks changing to represent reported speech

Reported Speech

Reported speech (or indirect speech) is how we tell someone what another person said, without using their exact words. This usually involves changes in tense, pronouns, and time/place words.

Scope & Content:

  • Reporting statements, questions, and commands.
  • Understanding the “backshift” rule for tenses.
  • Changing pronouns and time/place adverbs.

⚠️ Attention: Common Challenges

1. Tense Backshift: This is the most important rule. When the reporting verb (e.g., `said`, `told`) is in the past, the tense of the original speech usually moves one step back into the past.

  • Present Simple → Past Simple: “I am tired.” → He said he was tired.
  • Past Simple → Past Perfect: “I saw a movie.” → She said she had seen a movie.
  • Present Perfect → Past Perfect: “I have finished.” → He said he had finished.

2. Reporting Questions: The word order changes from a question to a statement, and we use `if` or `whether` for yes/no questions.

  • “Are you okay?” → She asked if I was okay.
  • “Where do you live?” → He asked where I lived.

3. Time and Place Words: These often need to change to reflect the new perspective.

  • `now` → `then` / `at that time`
  • `today` → `that day`
  • `here` → `there`
  • `tomorrow` → `the next day` / `the following day`

Practice Quiz

1. Direct: “I am going to the store.” → Reported: He said that he ____ to the store.

2. Direct: “Where do you live?” → Reported: She asked me ____.

3. Direct: “I saw the movie yesterday.” → Reported: He told me he had seen the movie ____.

4. Direct: “Are you busy?” → Reported: She asked ____ busy.

5. Direct: “I have never been to Japan.” → Reported: He said he ____ to Japan.

6. Direct: “We will call you tomorrow.” → Reported: They said they would call me ____.

7. Direct: “Don’t touch that!” → Reported: She told me ____ that.

8. Direct: “What have you done?” → Reported: He asked me what I ____.

9. Direct: “I can’t help you now.” → Reported: He said he couldn’t help me ____.

10. Direct: “Did you finish the project?” → Reported: My boss asked ____ the project.