Explanation + Extra Practice
Reported Speech with “He/She said” and “He/She told me that”
When we use reported speech, we tell someone what another person said. We don’t use the exact words the person used. Instead, we change the sentence a little. Here’s how to do it:
1. He/She said
- Use this when you are telling someone what a person said without saying who they said it to.
Example:
- Direct Speech: “I am tired.” (This is what the person said.)
- Reported Speech: He said that he was tired.
- Direct Speech: “We are going to the park.”
- Reported Speech: She said that they were going to the park.
2. He/She told me that
- Use this when you are telling someone what a person said to you directly. In this case, you include who the person was speaking to (like “me,” “us,” or “her”).
Example:
- Direct Speech: “I will help you.” (This is what the person said to you.)
- Reported Speech: He told me that he would help me.
- Direct Speech: “We can finish the project.”
- Reported Speech: She told me that they could finish the project.
Changes in Reported Speech
When we report what someone says, we often change:
- Pronouns (I → he/she, we → they, etc.)
- Tense (present → past, will → would, etc.)
- Time words (today → that day, tomorrow → the next day)
Example:
- Direct Speech: “I am reading a book.”
- Reported Speech: He said that he was reading a book.
- Direct Speech: “She will call you tomorrow.”
- Reported Speech: She told me that she would call me the next day.
Quick Tense Changes in Reported Speech:
- Present Simple → Past Simple
- Direct: “I like pizza.”
- Reported: He said that he liked pizza.
- Present Continuous → Past Continuous
- Direct: “I am eating.”
- Reported: She said that she was eating.
- Past Simple → Past Perfect
- Direct: “I saw the movie.”
- Reported: He said that he had seen the movie.
- Will → Would
- Direct: “I will call you.”
- Reported: She told me that she would call me.
Time Word Changes in Reported Speech:
- Now → then
- Today → that day
- Tomorrow → the next day
- Yesterday → the day before
- Next week → the following week
Summary:
- He said or She said is used to report what someone said in general.
- He told me that or She told me that is used to report what someone said to you specifically.
- You need to change the tense, pronouns, and time words in reported speech.
This makes it easy to talk about things people said in the past without using their exact words.
Extra Practice!
Here’s a full ESL quiz on Reported Speech using “He/She said” and “He/She told me that” across three levels: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced.
Beginner Level: Reported Speech Quiz
- Direct: “I am happy.” → Reported: He said that he ___ happy.
a) was
b) is
c) were - Direct: “I like pizza.” → Reported: She told me that she ___ pizza.
a) liked
b) liking
c) likes - Direct: “We are going to the park.” → Reported: He said that they ___ to the park.
a) were going
b) went
c) are going - Direct: “I don’t have money.” → Reported: She told me that she ___ money.
a) didn’t have
b) wasn’t having
c) doesn’t have - Direct: “She can swim.” → Reported: He said that she ___ swim.
a) could
b) was able to
c) can - Direct: “We will come tomorrow.” → Reported: They said that they ___ the next day.
a) would come
b) could come
c) will come - Direct: “I am cooking dinner.” → Reported: She said that she ___ dinner.
a) was cooking
b) cooked
c) is cooking - Direct: “He has finished the project.” → Reported: She told me that he ___ the project.
a) had finished
b) has finished
c) was finished - Direct: “We saw the movie.” → Reported: They said that they ___ the movie.
a) had seen
b) saw
c) have seen - Direct: “I don’t like this show.” → Reported: He said that he ___ that show.
a) didn’t like
b) doesn’t like
c) hadn’t liked - Direct: “You are late.” → Reported: She told me that I ___ late.
a) was
b) am
c) had been - Direct: “I will call you later.” → Reported: He said that he ___ me later.
a) would call
b) will call
c) could call - Direct: “She is working hard.” → Reported: They said that she ___ hard.
a) was working
b) is working
c) worked - Direct: “I didn’t see him.” → Reported: She told me that she ___ him.
a) hadn’t seen
b) didn’t see
c) wouldn’t see - Direct: “They are studying for the test.” → Reported: He said that they ___ for the test.
a) were studying
b) had studied
c) are studying
Beginner Answers:
1a, 2c, 3b, 4a, 5a, 6b, 7a, 8b, 9a, 10b, 11a, 12c, 13a, 14b, 15c
Intermediate Level: Reported Speech Quiz
- Direct: “I have never been to Japan.” → Reported: He said that he ___ to Japan.
a) had never been
b) has never been
c) was never - Direct: “They were waiting for the bus.” → Reported: She said that they ___ for the bus.
a) had been waiting
b) waited
c) were waiting - Direct: “I will help you with your homework.” → Reported: She told me that she ___ me with my homework.
a) will help
b) would help
c) could help - Direct: “He hasn’t finished his homework yet.” → Reported: She said that he ___ his homework yet.
a) didn’t finish
b) hasn’t finished
c) hadn’t finished - Direct: “We were playing soccer yesterday.” → Reported: They said that they ___ soccer the day before.
a) had been playing
b) played
c) were playing - Direct: “I can come to the party.” → Reported: He told me that he ___ to the party.
a) would come
b) could come
c) can come - Direct: “You should study harder.” → Reported: She told me that I ___ study harder.
a) would
b) could
c) should - Direct: “We are meeting at 6 p.m.” → Reported: They said that they ___ at 6 p.m.
a) had met
b) were meeting
c) are meeting - Direct: “I didn’t like the food.” → Reported: He told me that he ___ the food.
a) didn’t like
b) hadn’t liked
c) wouldn’t like - Direct: “She was studying when I called.” → Reported: He said that she ___ when he called.
a) was studying
b) studied
c) had been studying - Direct: “We will go shopping tomorrow.” → Reported: They said that they ___ shopping the next day.
a) would go
b) went
c) will go - Direct: “He had already eaten by the time we arrived.” → Reported: She said that he ___ by the time they arrived.
a) had already eaten
b) was eating
c) already ate - Direct: “I could have done better.” → Reported: She told me that she ___ better.
a) can do
b) could have done
c) could do - Direct: “You must finish this by tomorrow.” → Reported: He told me that I ___ finish it by the next day.
a) had to
b) must
c) should - Direct: “I wasn’t feeling well yesterday.” → Reported: She said that she ___ well the day before.
a) wasn’t feeling
b) didn’t feel
c) hadn’t been feeling
Intermediate Answers:
1a, 2c, 3b, 4c, 5a, 6b, 7c, 8b, 9a, 10a, 11a, 12a, 13b, 14a, 15c
Advanced Level: Reported Speech Quiz
- Direct: “If I had known, I would have come earlier.” → Reported: She said that if she ___, she would have come earlier.
a) knew
b) was knowing
c) had known - Direct: “He has been working here for five years.” → Reported: She told me that he ___ there for five years.
a) had been working
b) is working
c) has been working - Direct: “We had finished the project before the deadline.” → Reported: They said that they ___ the project before the deadline.
a) finished
b) had finished
c) were finishing - Direct: “I might see you tomorrow.” → Reported: He said that he ___ me the next day.
a) could see
b) might see
c) may see - Direct: “They could have helped us.” → Reported: She said that they ___ helped them.
a) could have
b) had
c) may have - Direct: “I will be working on the report next week.” → Reported: She said that she ___ on the report the following week.
a) had worked
b) would be working
c) will be working - Direct: “If I win, I will share the prize.” → Reported: He said that if he ___, he would share the prize.
a) had won
b) won
c) would win - Direct: “I should have gone to the doctor.” → Reported: She told me that she ___ to the doctor.
a) could have gone
b) should have gone
c) should go - Direct: “We would have called you if we had known.” → Reported: They said that they ___ if they had known.
a) would call
b) had called
c) would have called - Direct: “She is going to travel next month.” → Reported: He said that she ___ next month.
a) is going to travel
b) was going to travel
c) will travel - Direct: “I wish I had studied more.” → Reported: He said that he wished he ___ more.
a) would study
b) studied
c) had studied - Direct: “You must have forgotten your keys.” → Reported: She told me that I ___ my keys.
a) had forgotten
b) should have forgotten
c) must have forgotten - Direct: “We are planning a trip to Europe.” → Reported: They said that they ___ a trip to Europe.
a) were planning
b) had planned
c) planned - Direct: “If only I had taken that job.” → Reported: He said that if only he ___ that job.
a) had taken
b) took
c) was taking - Direct: “She could be waiting for us.” → Reported: They said that she ___ for them.
a) could be waiting
b) could wait
c) would be waiting
Advanced Answers:
1c, 2a, 3b, 4b, 5a, 6b, 7b, 8b, 9c, 10b, 11c, 12a, 13a, 14a, 15a