Reported Speech

Say vs tell and basic reporting

Introduction

Reported speech (or indirect speech) is how we tell others what someone said. Instead of quoting directly ("She said, 'I'm tired'"), we report it indirectly ("She said she was tired").

The distinction between "say" and "tell" is a common stumbling block for English learners. "Tell" always needs an object (tell someone), while "say" doesn't (say something).

Mastering basic reported speech patterns will help you relay information naturally in conversations.

Themes

All Grammar (Basic) in This Chapter (5)

• say vs tell Two ways to report what someone said
• Direct vs Reported Speech The difference between quoting exactly and reporting
• Tense Changes in Reported Speech How tenses shift back in reported speech
• Basic Reported Speech Reporting what someone said in the past
• say vs tell (Basic) When to use each reporting verb