• He said (that)...
• He told me (that)...

• pronouns may need to change to reflect a different perspective
• tense sometimes has to go back one tense (eg, present becomes past) - this is called backshift

1. When we report questions, the subject comes before the verb.
   • Direct speech: “Where are you going?”
     Reported speech: He asked me where I was going.
   • Direct speech: “Why is he shouting?”
     Reported speech: He asked me why he was shouting.
   • Direct speech: “What do you want?”
     Reported speech: She asked me what I wanted.
2. When reporting questions we don’t use the auxiliary verb do, except in negative questions.
   • Direct speech: “Who doesn’t like cheese?”
     Reported speech: She asked me who didn’t like cheese.
3. We report yes/no questions with if or whether.
   • Direct speech: “Do you want me to come?”
     Reported speech: I asked him if he wanted me to come.
   • Direct speech: “Have you fed the dog?”
     Reported speech: She asked me whether I had fed the dog.
4. When we report questions with who, what or which + to be + object, the verb be can come before or after the object.
   • Direct speech: “Who is the champion?”
     Reported speech: She asked me who the champion was / She asked me who was the champion.
   • Direct speech: “What is your favourite colour?”
     Reported speech: She asked me what my favourite colour was / She asked me what was my favourite colour.

Reported Commands and Requests in English

• Reported Commands and Requests
• Reported Commands and Requests | Picture
• Reported Speech: Useful Rules & Examples

• Reported Orders, Commands and Requests are formed using the to-infinitive and not to-infinitive.
• The reporting verbs for the orders/ commands/ requests are: order, shout, demand, warn, beg, command, tell, insist, beseech, threaten, implore, ask, propose, forbid…
• When we change from direct to indirect speech, the pronoun and tense changes that are also needed.