What Are Reported Statements? Definitions, Uses, and Key Differences
Understanding reported statements is comparatively easy. The most common verb that we use to report statements is telling. Reported speech is called Direct and Indirect Speech or even Narration. In Indirect Speech, we express the speaker's message in our own words. Hence, the message can be conveyed in the following 2 ways:
Direct speech simply means repeating the exact words that are spoken and Indirect speech is actually reporting the words.
For instance, we must have heard someone saying “He loves the Toy Story films,” and in another way,” He said she loved the Toy Story films.” Here, the first sentence is direct speech and the second sentence is indirect speech. Also, we see that someone is reporting about a person who likes a Toy story film.
On this page, we will go through the illustrated reported statements examples and also differentiate between reported and direct statements.
Reported Statement Basic Rule
As a general rule, any changes in the tense of the reported speech rely upon the tense of the reporting verb in the direct speech. Therefore, we need to understand that when the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tense of the reported verb also turns to the past tense.
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Now, let us go through some more reported statement examples.
Examples of Reported Statements
Direct: He said, ‘I may come to your home tomorrow.’
Indirect: He said that he might come to your home tomorrow.
Direct: He said, ‘I will marry a girl only if she stays abroad with me.’
Indirect: He said that he would marry her only if she stays abroad with me.
Direct: He said, ‘I have decided not to put the house on rent because it is off the main road.’
Indirect: He said that he had decided not to put the house on rent because it was off the main road.
Direct: He said, ‘girls and boys, we must make the right decision here and now.’
Indirect: He told his audience that they would have to make the right decision there and then.
Direct: He said to his friend, ‘I have been walking for a long time from my hometown. I am getting totally exhausted.’
Indirect: He told his friend that he had been walking for a long time from my hometown. He is getting totally exhausted.’
Now, let us understand a variety of topics under the reported and direct statements:
The Introductory Sentence for a Reported Speech
Simple Present
If the introductory sentence has the Simple Present tense, there are no chances of a backshift of tenses.
For instance, there are the following examples:
Direct Speech → Marina: “Mary is a freelancer.”
Reported Speech → Marina says (that)* Mary is a freelancer.
The introductory sentence here is that Marina says ... → and this sentence is in the simple present, here, we notice that there is no backshift of tenses.
If the Introductory Sentence in the Simple Past
Assume that the introductory sentence is in the Simple Past, there are chances of backshifting of tenses.
For Instance:
Direct Speech → Marina: “Mary is a freelancer.”
Reported Speech → Marina said (that)* Mary was a freelancer.
The introductory sentence used here is: Marina said ... → this sentence is in the Simple Past, and there is a backshift of tenses.
Types of Introductory Sentences
The word that we use in introductory sentences can be replaced with other words, e.g.
Add
Decide
Know
Mention
Remark
tell
think
Change of Persons/Pronouns
The person or a pronoun used in Direct Speech may be adjusted in Reported Speech, depending on the situation.
Riya and Jiya are discussing the latest fashion at school. Riya says to Jiya:
Riya: “I like your new trendy top.”
Possibility 1:
Jiya says to her friend Marco in the afternoon.
Riya said (that) she liked my new trendy top.
Possibility 2:
Riya says to her friend Jonathan in the afternoon:
I said (that) I liked her new trendy top.
Backshift of Tenses
It happens that if the introductory sentence is in the Simple Past, there is a backshift of tenses in Reported Speech. What happens here is, we shift the tense used in Direct Speech by one step back in Reported Speech.
However, if we use the Past Perfect tense or the modals, such as would, could, should, might, must, must, and needn't in Direct Speech there is the probability to shift the tense back in Reported Speech.
Examples of Reported and Direct Statements
Facts on Reporting Statements
Now, let us go through the frequently asked questions on reported and direct statements.
Conclusion
From the above text, we understand that a message conveyed exactly is direct speech. However, conveying it in an indirect way is reporting the words.
FAQs on Reported Statements: Rules, Tips & Everyday Examples
1. What are reported statements and why are they important in English grammar?
A reported statement, also known as indirect speech, is used to communicate what someone else has said without using their exact words. Its importance lies in allowing us to convey conversations, stories, and information more naturally and fluently within a narrative. For example, instead of saying, He said, "I am going to the market," we can report it as, He said that he was going to the market.
2. What are the fundamental rules for converting direct speech to a reported statement?
The core rules for converting direct speech to a reported statement are:
Remove the quotation marks.
Use a reporting verb like 'said', 'told', or 'asked', often followed by the conjunction 'that'.
Change the pronouns to match the perspective of the person reporting the speech.
Apply the 'backshift' rule to the verb tense (e.g., present tense becomes past tense).
Modify words related to time and place (e.g., 'today' becomes 'that day', 'here' becomes 'there').
3. How does the meaning or tone of a sentence change when moving from direct speech to a reported statement?
Moving from direct speech to a reported statement can subtly alter the tone and immediacy. Direct speech feels more personal, dramatic, and immediate as it uses the speaker's exact words, preserving their original emotion. For example, "I won!" conveys pure excitement. Reported speech, like She exclaimed that she had won, is more descriptive and distant. It focuses on the act of reporting information rather than reliving the moment, making it suitable for summaries and narrative storytelling.
4. How does the 'backshift' rule for tenses work in reported statements? Provide an example.
The 'backshift' rule means that when the reporting verb (like 'said') is in the past tense, the verb tense inside the reported statement moves one step back into the past. For example:
Simple Present becomes Simple Past: He said, "I am unwell." → He said that he was unwell.
Present Perfect becomes Past Perfect: She said, "I have finished my work." → She said that she had finished her work.
Simple Past becomes Past Perfect: They said, "We went to the cinema." → They said that they had gone to the cinema.
5. What changes are required for pronouns and words indicating time and place in reported statements?
Besides tense changes, you must adjust pronouns and adverbs of time and place to maintain a logical perspective. Key changes include:
Pronouns: The first-person pronoun ('I', 'we') changes based on the subject of the reporting verb. For instance, She said, "I like tea" becomes She said that she liked tea.
Time expressions: 'now' becomes 'then', 'today' becomes 'that day', 'yesterday' becomes 'the day before', and 'tomorrow' becomes 'the next day'.
Place expressions: 'here' becomes 'there', and 'this' often becomes 'that'.
6. Are there any situations where the tense of the verb is NOT changed in a reported statement?
Yes, there are important exceptions to the backshift rule. The tense does not change if the reported statement expresses a universal truth, scientific fact, or a habitual action. For example, The teacher said, "The Earth revolves around the Sun" becomes The teacher said that the Earth revolves around the Sun. The tense 'revolves' remains the same because it is a universal fact. Similarly, if the reporting verb is in the present tense (e.g., 'he says'), the tense of the reported speech does not usually change.
7. Can you provide some examples of how reported statements are used in everyday conversations or writing?
Reported statements are extremely common in daily life. You use them when:
Telling a story to a friend: "Yesterday, my mom told me that we were going on a holiday."
Summarising a meeting at work: "The manager said that the deadline had been extended to Friday."
Reading a news report: "The witness stated that he had seen the car speeding away."
Sharing information: "I heard that Priya got the job she wanted."
In each case, you are relaying information without quoting it word-for-word.
