Reported speech

Rules

• Rule 1: said or told?

  said stands alone (or said to me). told always needs a person: told me, told us, told Ali. that is optional.

  Pattern: said (that) … · told + person (that) …

  Example: Tom said (that) the museum was closed.

  Example: Tom told us (that) the museum was closed.

• Rule 2: Tenses move back

  Because said / told is in the past, the reported verb usually moves back: am/is → was, like → liked, will → would, can → could, past simple / present perfect → had + V3. If the statement is still true, you don't have to move it back: *She said she lives in Ankara.* (she still does)

  Pattern: “I will come.” → She said she would come.

  Example: “We can swim.” → They said they could swim.

  Example: “I lost my ticket.” → He said he had lost his ticket.

• Rule 3: Questions use normal word order

  Report questions with asked. Keep the question word, but use statement order (subject + verb) and no do / does / did. For yes/no questions use if or whether.

  Pattern: asked (+ person) + wh- / if / whether + subject + verb

  Example: “Where do you live?” → She asked me where I lived.

  Example: “Are you hungry?” → He asked if I was hungry.

• Rule 4: Commands and requests → to + verb

  Report commands and requests with told / asked + person + to + verb. Negative: not to + verb.

  Pattern: told / asked + person + (not) to + verb

  Example: “Sit down, please.” → The teacher asked us to sit down.

  Example: “Don't run!” → The guard told the kids not to run.

Common mistakes

• She said me that she was hungry. → She told me that she was hungry.

  With a person use told me (or said to me).

• He asked me where did I live. → He asked me where I lived.

  No did; use statement order.

• Mom told me don't touch it. → Mom told me not to touch it.

  Negative command: not to + verb.