What is reported speech in English?
Reported speech (indirect speech) is when you report what someone said: 'She said she was tired' instead of 'I am tired'. We often shift tenses and change pronouns and time words. It's common in conversation and writing.
How reported speech works
We usually shift the verb back: present → past, past → past perfect. We change pronouns (I → she), and time words (today → that day). Not every language does this; practising in full sentences with Rozy helps you get the shifts right.
Reported speech in speaking
We use it when we tell someone what another person said. Getting the tense and pronouns right avoids confusion. Conversation practice with feedback builds the habit.
Frequently asked questions
- What is reported speech?
- When you report what someone said instead of quoting them. We often change the tense and pronouns: 'I'm tired' → 'She said she was tired'.
- Do I always change the tense?
- When the original words are still true, we sometimes keep the same tense. When we're reporting past speech, we usually shift back (present → past).
- How can I practise reported speech?
- Report what someone told you or what you read. Rozy lets you practise in conversation and gives feedback on tense and pronouns.
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