The past simple (did, saw, knew) usually stays the same when changing from direct speech to reported speech. If you’d like, you can also change it to the past perfect (had done, had seen, had known).

✅ Direct speech:

James said, “I woke up feeling ill, so I didn’t go to work.” 

✅ Reported speech:

James said (that) he woke up feeling ill, so he didn’t go to work.

or

James said (that) he had woken up feeling ill, so he hadn’t gone to work.

Look at the example below, comparing direct speech and reported speech:

You met up with your friend, Jade. Later, you tell your brother what Jade said.

It is not always necessary to change the verb when you use reported speech. If you report something and it is still true, you do not need to change the verb:

✅ Direct speech: Alex said, “New York is more lively than London.”

✅ Reported speech: Alex said that New York is more lively than London. (New York is still more lively. This hasn’t changed.)

✅ Direct speech: Beth said, “I want to visit you in New York next year.”

✅ Reported speech: Beth said that she wants to visit you in New York next year.(Beth still wants to visit New York next year.) 

But remember that it is also correct to change the verb into the past:

Alex said that New York was more lively than London.

Beth said she wanted to visit you in New York next year.

Below is a situation where the tense is important in reported speech:

You met Luiza a few days ago. When you saw her, she said, “Jim is ill.” Later that day, you saw James. He was looking well and carrying a tennis racket. You said to James, “I didn’t expect to see you, James. Luiza said you were ill.”

Let’s practice!

Change the following direct speech statements into reported speech statements:

1. “I live in New York.”

He said _______________________________.

2. “He works at a school.”

She told me _______________________________.

3. “Russell doesn’t have any children.”

Lucy said _______________________________.

4. “Margaret owns three apartments in the city.” He told me ______________________________.

5. “I never get up early on the weekends.”

She said _______________________________.

6. “They never come on time.”

Jim said _______________________________.

7. “I don’t go to the gym very often.”

She said _______________________________.

8. “We don’t travel much.”

Wendy said _____________________________.

9. “They work in Brazil.”

Their children told me _____________________.

10. “We like living in our neighborhood.”

Kate told me ____________________________.

1. “Tony hates spinach.”

Chris said ______________________________.

12. “I don’t want to go to the cottage.”

He said  _______________________________.

Interested in more English language challenges? Follow our Instagram account @limlessons for daily quizzes and lessons. 

Sign up for an English lesson with one of our native speaker tutors to practice!