Reported speech

Reported speech (or indirect speech) tells what someone said without quoting every word. It is not the same as direct speech.

Basic pattern

Reporting verbs: said, told, explained, asked, suggested… + that (optional) + clause.

• Direct: “I work in Baku,” she said.
• Reported: She said (that) she worked in Baku. — tense often shifts back if the reporting verb is past.

Common changes

• Pronouns and time words: here → there, today → that day, tomorrow → the next day.
• Tense backshift after past reporting: present → past, will → would, can → could (unless the fact is still true).
• Questions: word order becomes statement order: He asked if/whether I was ready.
• Commands/requests: He told me to wait.

Direct speech = exact words in quotes. Reported speech = summary with grammar and reference adjustments.