1. Lesson Overview
In this lesson, you will learn how declarative sentences (statements) are transformed into reported speech.
Statements are the most common type of reported speech, and they usually follow a clear grammatical structure involving a reporting verb and a that-clause.
Example:
Direct speech:
She said, “The experiment is successful.”
Reported speech:
She said that the experiment was successful.
In reported statements, quotation marks disappear and the sentence is restructured grammatically.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
-
transform direct statements into reported speech
-
use that-clauses correctly
-
apply reporting verbs such as say, tell, explain, mention, and report
-
identify and correct errors in reported statements
2. Concept Introduction
Consider the following example.
Direct speech:
The researcher said, “The results are accurate.”
Reported speech:
The researcher said that the results were accurate.
| Element | Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|---|
| quotation marks | present | removed |
| reporting verb | said | said |
| clause structure | independent sentence | that-clause |
Reported statements therefore follow the structure:
Reporting verb + that + clause
3. Core Explanation
When statements are reported, several grammatical changes may occur:
-
quotation marks disappear
-
the sentence becomes a that-clause
-
pronouns may change
-
tenses may shift
-
time references may change
Example:
Direct speech:
She said, “I will complete the report tomorrow.”
Reported speech:
She said that she would complete the report the next day.
Using “Say” and “Tell”
Two very common reporting verbs are say and tell.
Say
Structure:
say + (that) + clause
Example:
She said that the system was working properly.
Tell
Structure:
tell + object + (that) + clause
Example:
She told the technician that the system was working properly.
4. Rule Table
Basic Structure of Reported Statements
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| subject + said that + clause | She said that the experiment was successful. |
| subject + told + object + that + clause | She told the team that the results were accurate. |
Common Reporting Verbs
| Verb | Example |
|---|---|
| say | She said that the report was ready. |
| tell | He told the team that the meeting had started. |
| explain | The scientist explained that the method was reliable. |
| mention | She mentioned that the data needed verification. |
| report | The study reported that the results were significant. |
5. Usage
1. Reporting information
Example:
She said that the results were correct.
2. Reporting explanations
Example:
The researcher explained that the process was complex.
3. Reporting announcements
Example:
The manager said that the meeting would start soon.
4. Reporting research findings
Example:
The study reported that the treatment was effective.
5. Reporting past statements
Example:
The technician said that the system had stopped working earlier.
6. Signal Words
Certain reporting verbs often appear when statements are reported.
| Reporting Verb | Example |
|---|---|
| said | She said that the system was functioning correctly. |
| told | He told the team that the project was finished. |
| explained | The scientist explained that the results were consistent. |
| reported | The article reported that the experiment was successful. |
| mentioned | She mentioned that the report needed revision. |
These verbs introduce reported information.
7. Special Cases
Omitting “That”
In many sentences, the word that may be omitted.
Example:
She said that the results were accurate.
She said the results were accurate.
Both sentences are grammatically correct, but that is more common in formal writing.
Reporting Verbs in Present Tense
If the reporting verb is present, tense changes may not occur.
Example:
Direct speech:
She says, “I am busy.”
Reported speech:
She says that she is busy.
8. Additional Notes
In formal writing, reporting verbs may express different shades of meaning.
For example:
| Reporting Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| explain | giving detailed information |
| report | presenting factual information |
| mention | referring briefly to something |
| state | expressing formally |
Example:
The report states that the data were collected carefully.
9. Common Errors
⚠ Using “say” with an object
Incorrect:
She said me that the meeting was cancelled.
Correct:
She told me that the meeting was cancelled.
Explanation:
Say does not take a direct object; tell does.
⚠ Keeping quotation marks
Incorrect:
She said that “the report was finished.”
Correct:
She said that the report was finished.
Explanation:
Reported speech does not use quotation marks.
⚠ Incorrect tense shift
Incorrect:
She said that she will finish the report.
Correct:
She said that she would finish the report.
Explanation:
Future will usually becomes would.
⚠ Incorrect pronoun reference
Incorrect:
She said that I was tired.
Correct:
She said that she was tired.
Explanation:
Pronouns must match the original speaker.
⚠ Missing reporting clause
Incorrect:
That the results were accurate.
Correct:
The researcher said that the results were accurate.
Explanation:
Reported statements require a reporting verb.
10. Lesson Mastery
After completing this lesson, you should now be able to:
✅ transform direct statements into reported speech
✅ use that-clauses correctly
✅ apply reporting verbs such as say, tell, explain, mention, and report
✅ identify and correct errors in reported statements