REPORTED SPEECH
Function
We use reported to repeat what someone sait without using their exact words.
Form
Repored speech doesn´t use quoatation marks (" "). When we use a verb in the past tense to introduce reported speech, said or told, we change the tense in the reported speech. In report speech, the change other words the person said, for example, pronouns, time, and place expressions.

EXAMPLES

Simple present changes to simple past

“I’m on my way”, said Tom. 

Tom said he was on his way.

“I like the idea.”

He said he liked the idea.

“I know what to do.”

She said she knew what to do.

Can change to could and will change to would

And we make the transformation also to verbs in negative. So can not change, logically, to could not. And so on.

“I can’t hear you.”

He said he couldn’t hear me.

“I can’t come to the meeting”. 

He said he couldn’t come to the meeting.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She said she would see me the next day.

“I’ll be there at 9 o’clock.”

She said she’d be here at 9 o’clock.

Present perfect 



and simple past change to perfect past

The "step back" in time changes the two times to the perfect past, which is formed with had + past participle.

“I’ve been to Italy several times.”

She said she had been to Italy several times.

“I really enjoyed the party.”

He said he had really enjoyed the party

REPORTED QUESTION

Function

We use reported question to report what someone asked without using exactly the same words.

Form

We can reported questions using asked/wanted to know. We use if / wheter to report a yes/ no question. We have to change the tense in reported questions in the some way as reported spech.

Yes/No question/ Direct questionsd: Are you going out later? Do you like classical mussic?

Reported questions Matt asked me if I was going out later. She wanted to know wheter he liked classical music.

Information question/ What time is it? Where did you meet her?: 

Reported questions: He wanted to know what time it was. Joe asked where I met her.

EXAMPLE

Yes/no questions

• Direct question: “Do you like working in teams?” Reported question: He asked if I like working in teams.

When we report yes/no questions we use ‘if’ or ‘whether’.

• Direct question: “Did you enjoy the party?” Reported question: She asked me whether I’d enjoyed the party.

Questions with a question word

• Direct question: “What time does the train leave?” Reported question: He asked what time the train left.

Look at some more examples:

• Direct question: “Who did you see?”
• Reported question: She asked me who I’d seen.

• Direct question: “Where did you go to school?”
• Reported question: He asked me where I’d gone to school.

• Direct question: “Why are you crying?”
• Reported question: She asked him why he was crying.

Notice that the reported questions do not have a question mark at the end.