Reported Speech

Lesson 8: Common Errors in Reported Speech

Lesson: 8 of 8 | Level: 🟠 Intermediate — 🟣 Upper-Intermediate

1. Lesson Overview

Every lesson in this module has built a systematic understanding of reported speech — from the fundamental distinction between direct and reported speech, through tense backshift, reporting questions, commands, and suggestions, the rich repertoire of reporting verbs, the contexts where backshift is not required, and the behaviour of modal verbs in reported constructions. This final lesson draws all of that knowledge together by cataloguing and correcting the most common, most persistent, and most significant errors that learners make in reported speech — organised into clear categories with the grammatical principles that underlie each correction.

This lesson is designed to serve as both a diagnostic tool and a reference — learners can use it to identify the specific areas of reported speech where their accuracy needs attention, and teachers can use it to prioritise instruction and correction.

Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Identify all the major categories of error in reported speech
• Understand the grammatical and communicative principles that underlie each correction
• Apply accurate reported speech transformations across all constructions
• Avoid the most persistent errors in both production and analysis

2. Core Content

A. Errors with Said and Told

The confusion between said and told is one of the most persistent errors at intermediate level — and one of the most noticeable, since both verbs are so frequently used.

The rule

Said does not take a personal object — it is followed directly by that + reported clause or by a to-infinitive. Told requires a personal object — it must be followed by the person addressed before any that + clause or to-infinitive.

Common errors

The researcher said me that the findings were significant. ❌ The researcher told me that the findings were significant. ✅

The committee told that the project would be funded. ❌ The committee said that the project would be funded. ✅

The supervisor said the team to submit the report. ❌ The supervisor told the team to submit the report. ✅

She told that she had completed the analysis. ❌ She said that she had completed the analysis. ✅

The distinction in full

B. Errors of Tense Backshift — Applying It Incorrectly

Error type 1 — Failing to apply backshift when it is required

This is the most common backshift error — the original tense is carried over unchanged into reported speech when a past reporting verb is used.

She said the team discovers new species every year. ❌ (discovers should backshift) She said the team discovered new species every year. ✅

He reported that scientists have identified five thousand species. ❌ (have identified should backshift) He reported that scientists had identified five thousand species. ✅

The team announced that they find the methodology adequate. ❌ The team announced that they found the methodology adequate. ✅

Error type 2 — Applying backshift to permanent facts and general truths

Applying backshift mechanically to statements that describe permanent facts or universal truths produces technically over-corrected and subtly misleading reported speech.

The teacher said that light had travelled at 300,000 km per second. ❌ (permanent fact — no backshift) The teacher said that light travels at 300,000 km per second. ✅

The scientist explained that DNA had carried genetic information in all living organisms. ❌ The scientist explained that DNA carries genetic information in all living organisms. ✅

Error type 3 — Applying backshift to still-current situations

When the reported situation is still true at the time of reporting, applying backshift can falsely imply that the situation has ended or changed.

The director said that scientists were mapping the vent field — and they still are. ❌ The director said that scientists are mapping the vent field. ✅ (still in progress)

Error type 4 — Over-backshifting the past perfect

The past perfect is already the furthest back tense in English — it cannot be shifted further. Attempting to do so produces a non-standard construction.

She said that by the time they had arrived, the storm had already had destroyed the equipment. ❌ She said that by the time they arrived, the storm had already destroyed the equipment. ✅

Error type 5 — Using academic present incorrectly

In academic writing, the academic present is used with present-tense reporting verbs — applying backshift here is incorrect.

Darwin argued that natural selection was the primary mechanism of evolutionary change. ❌ (academic present — argues and is) Darwin argues that natural selection is the primary mechanism of evolutionary change. ✅

C. Errors of Word Order in Reported Questions

Word order errors in reported questions are among the most common and most persistent at intermediate and upper-intermediate level — the interrogative inversion of direct questions is frequently carried over into reported speech.

The rule

Reported questions always use declarative word order — subject before verb — regardless of the word order of the original direct question.

Error type 6 — Inverting subject and verb in reported questions

She asked where was the vent field located. ❌ She asked where the vent field was located. ✅

He asked what did the data show. ❌ He asked what the data showed. ✅

The committee asked whether had the methodology been validated. ❌ The committee asked whether the methodology had been validated. ✅

She asked how long had scientists been studying this phenomenon. ❌ She asked how long scientists had been studying that phenomenon. ✅

Error type 7 — Retaining do/does/did in reported questions

The auxiliary do/does/did — used to form questions in direct speech — disappears in reported questions because it is replaced by standard declarative word order with backshifted tense.

He asked what did the team discover during the expedition. ❌ He asked what the team had discovered during the expedition. ✅

She asked whether did the findings confirm the hypothesis. ❌ She asked whether the findings had confirmed the hypothesis. ✅

Error type 8 — Using a question mark in reported questions

Reported questions are not questions — they are subordinate clauses within statements. A question mark at the end is incorrect.

She asked whether the results were ready? ❌ She asked whether the results were ready. ✅

D. Errors with If and Whether

Error type 9 — Using if where whether is required

If cannot replace whether in all contexts — it is not used when the reported question is the subject of the sentence, after a preposition, or in the whether or not construction.

If the methodology is robust depends on the sample size. ❌ Whether the methodology is robust depends on the sample size. ✅

The debate about if deep-sea mining causes damage continues. ❌ The debate about whether deep-sea mining causes damage continues. ✅

She asked if or not the results were reproducible. ❌ She asked whether or not the results were reproducible. ✅

Error type 10 — Omitting if/whether in reported yes/no questions

Yes/no questions require if or whether as the connecting word — omitting it produces a non-standard construction.

She asked the results were ready. ❌ She asked whether the results were ready. ✅

He asked the expedition had been successful. ❌ He asked whether the expedition had been successful. ✅

E. Errors with Reporting Directives

Error type 11 — Using suggest with object + to-infinitive

Suggest cannot be followed by object + to-infinitive — it requires a gerund or a that-clause with should.

The researcher suggested the team to extend the survey. ❌ The researcher suggested extending the survey. ✅ The researcher suggested that the team should extend the survey. ✅

Error type 12 — Using recommend with object + to-infinitive

Recommend follows the same rule as suggest — it cannot be followed by object + to-infinitive.

The reviewer recommended the authors to revise the methodology. ❌ The reviewer recommended that the authors should revise the methodology. ✅ The reviewer recommended revising the methodology. ✅

Error type 13 — Omitting not in negative reported commands

The negative of a reported command requires not before the to-infinitive — the imperative negative (don’t + verb) is not reproduced.

The officer told the team don’t proceed. ❌ The officer told the team not to proceed. ✅

The supervisor warned the researchers don’t remove the samples. ❌ The supervisor warned the researchers not to remove the samples. ✅

Error type 14 — Using said instead of told for reported commands

Reported commands require told + object + to-infinitive — not said + object + to-infinitive.

The supervisor said the team to return immediately. ❌ The supervisor told the team to return immediately. ✅

Error type 15 — Omitting the personal object with tell

Tell requires a personal object — omitting it produces a non-standard construction.

The supervisor told to return to the surface. ❌ The supervisor told the team to return to the surface. ✅

F. Errors with Modal Verbs in Reported Speech

Error type 16 — Failing to backshift will to would

She said the team will publish the findings next month. ❌ She said the team would publish the findings the following month. ✅

Error type 17 — Failing to backshift can to could

He stated the submersible can operate at 6,000 metres. ❌ He stated the submersible could operate at 6,000 metres. ✅

Error type 18 — Failing to backshift may to might

She said the species may be endangered. ❌ She said the species might be endangered. ✅

Error type 19 — Failing to backshift must (obligation) to had to

The protocol stated researchers must submit data within thirty days. ❌ (obligation — should backshift) The protocol stated researchers had to submit data within thirty days. ✅

Error type 20 — Incorrectly backshifting must (deduction)

Must for logical deduction does not backshift — it remains must.

The technician said the readings must have been wrong → incorrectly reported as the technician said the readings had to be wrong. ❌ The technician said the readings must be wrong. ✅ (deduction — no change)

Error type 21 — Incorrectly backshifting should, could, would, might, ought to

These modal verbs are already past/tentative forms — they do not change in reported speech.

She said scientists should have established data — reported as she said scientists ought to had established data. ❌ She said scientists should have established baseline data. ✅ (no change)

G. Errors with Time and Place Expressions

Error type 22 — Failing to change time and place expressions

Time and place expressions must change to reflect the new context of reporting — failing to change them produces a reported speech passage that sounds as if the reporter is still in the original context of the speech.

The researcher said that they would publish the findings here tomorrow. ❌ The researcher said that they would publish the findings there the following day. ✅

She said that the discovery was made yesterday. ❌ She said that the discovery had been made the day before. ✅

He said that today they had achieved something extraordinary. ❌ He said that that day they had achieved something extraordinary. ✅

Error type 23 — Changing time expressions when the context is the same

Conversely, changing time expressions when the reporting context is the same as the original speech context is unnecessary and incorrect.

She said this morning that the results are available. → Changed unnecessarily to: She said that morning that the results had been available. ❌ She said this morning that the results are available. ✅ (context unchanged — no change needed)

H. Errors with Pronoun Change

Error type 24 — Failing to change pronouns

Pronouns must shift to reflect the reporter’s perspective — failing to change them can make it unclear whose perspective is being reported.

The researcher said that I had spent my career studying this ecosystem. ❌ The researcher said that she had spent her career studying that ecosystem. ✅

The team announced that we had made an extraordinary discovery. ❌ The team announced that they had made an extraordinary discovery. ✅

Error type 25 — Changing pronouns incorrectly

The pronoun must reflect the correct person — I becomes he/she/they depending on who is speaking; you becomes I, he, she, or they depending on who was addressed.

The professor told me that I should reconsider. ❌ (if the professor was telling the reporter to reconsider — I is correct but context must make this clear) The professor told me that I should reconsider. ✅ (if the professor was addressing the reporter — I is correct here)

Pronoun changes must always reflect the actual communicative relationships — not a mechanical substitution.

I. Errors with Reporting Verb Patterns

Error type 26 — Using the wrong pattern after a reporting verb

Different reporting verbs require different patterns — using the wrong pattern produces a grammatically incorrect construction.

She denied to have falsified the data. ❌ (deny + gerund) She denied having falsified the data. ✅

He admitted to that the sample size was too small. ❌ (admit + that directly) He admitted that the sample size was too small. ✅

The expert insisted to continue the programme. ❌ (insist + on + gerund for persistence) The expert insisted on continuing the programme. ✅

The company refused the data to be released. ❌ (refuse + to-infinitive) The company refused to release the data. ✅

3. Usage in Context

• Apply the said/told distinction consistently — said never takes a personal object; told always requires one.

The scientist said that the findings were conclusive. ✅ The scientist told the committee that the findings were conclusive. ✅ The scientist said the committee that the findings were conclusive. ❌ The scientist told that the findings were conclusive. ❌

• Apply backshift consistently with past reporting verbs — but do not apply it to permanent facts, still-current situations, or academic present constructions.

She said that the team had discovered a new species. ✅ (backshift — past completed event) The paper argues that deep-sea ecosystems are more complex than believed. ✅ (academic present — no backshift) The teacher said that water boils at 100°C. ✅ (permanent fact — no backshift)

• Maintain declarative word order in all reported questions — no inversion, no do/does/did, no question mark.

She asked where the vent field was located. ✅ She asked where was the vent field located. ❌ She asked where the vent field was located? ❌

• Use whether — not if — after prepositions, as subject of a sentence, and in whether or not constructions.

The debate about whether deep-sea mining causes lasting damage is ongoing. ✅ Whether the expedition succeeds depends entirely on the weather. ✅ She asked whether or not the results had been verified. ✅

• Report suggestions using suggest + gerund or suggest + that-clause + should — never suggest + object + to-infinitive.

The researcher suggested extending the monitoring period. ✅ The researcher suggested that they should extend the monitoring period. ✅ The researcher suggested the team to extend the monitoring period. ❌

• Report negative commands using not + to-infinitive — not the imperative form.

The officer told the team not to proceed beyond the boundary. ✅ The officer told the team don’t proceed beyond the boundary. ❌

• Apply modal backshift correctly — will → would, can → could, may → might, must (obligation) → had to; do not backshift should, could, would, might, ought to, or must (deduction).

She said they would publish the findings. ✅ (will → would) He said the sensor could detect parts-per-billion concentrations. ✅ (can → could) The report said researchers had to submit data within thirty days. ✅ (must obligation → had to) The expert said scientists should establish baselines before mining. ✅ (should — no change)

• Change time and place expressions to reflect the reporting context — but only when the context has actually changed.

She said they had made the discovery the day before. ✅ (yesterday → the day before) She said they would publish the findings the following week. ✅ (next week → the following week)

• Change pronouns to reflect the reporter’s perspective — not mechanically but accurately according to who said what to whom.

The professor said she had spent her career studying vent ecosystems. ✅ (I → she; my → her) The team announced they had made an extraordinary discovery. ✅ (we → they)

4. Common Errors and Corrections

5. Lesson Mastery

After completing this lesson, you should now be able to:

    ✅ Identify all the major categories of error in reported speech

    ✅ Understand the grammatical and communicative principles that underlie each correction

    ✅ Apply accurate reported speech transformations across all constructions

    ✅ Avoid the most persistent errors in both production and analysis