The key idea
Choose a reporting verb and sentence pattern that preserve the speaker's meaning and show the correct changes.
What is it for?
Learn how to report what people said, thought, admitted, denied, or recommended without changing their meaning.
What you need to know
- Choose a reporting verb that matches the speaker's meaning.
- Change verb tenses when the reporting time is later.
- Change pronouns and time words when the situation requires it.
- Use the correct pattern after each reporting verb.
- Report questions as statements without changing their meaning.
- Separate facts, reported opinions, and your own views.
1. Change the tense when needed
Reported speech tells us what someone said earlier.
When the reporting time changes, the verb often moves into the past.
The present simple often becomes the past simple. The past simple often becomes the past perfect.
Will often becomes would. Pronouns and time words may also change.
- Present simple to past simple: work becomes worked.
- Past simple to past perfect: missed becomes had missed.
- Will to would: will arrive becomes would arrive.
- Change today to that day when the time has changed.
- Keep the original tense when the information is still current and the context supports it.
Direct: Lina said, 'The bus arrives at eight.'
The present becomes the past when reporting later.
Reported: Lina said that the bus arrived at eight.
The verb changes from arrives to arrived.
Direct: Omar said, 'I will call you tomorrow.'
The speaker uses will and tomorrow.
Reported: Omar said he would call me the next day.
Will becomes would. You becomes me in this situation.
2. Choose the right reporting verb
Reporting verbs show how a person shared information.
Say reports words. Tell usually needs a person after it.
Explain introduces information or reasons. Suggest and recommend give ideas.
Admit accepts responsibility. Deny rejects a claim. Warn points to danger.
Claim presents something as true, but it may need checking.
- Say + that-clause.
- Tell + person + that-clause.
- Explain + that-clause.
- Suggest + -ing or that-clause.
- Recommend + -ing.
- Admit + -ing.
- Deny + -ing.
- Warn + person + to-infinitive.
- Claim + that-clause.
Marta explained that the shop closed early.
Explain introduces information.
Ben suggested taking the earlier bus.
Suggest is followed by an -ing form.
The driver warned us to wait behind the line.
Warn can be followed by a person and to.
Ravi admitted forgetting his travel card.
Admit is followed by an -ing form.
3. Follow the pattern after the verb
Each reporting verb has its own sentence pattern.
A correct verb with the wrong pattern can still make a sentence incorrect.
Learn the verb and its pattern together.
Use suggest + -ing or suggest that. Do not use suggest someone to do something.
Use tell someone to do something when reporting an instruction.
- Suggest + doing something.
- Suggest that + subject + verb.
- Recommend + doing something.
- Tell + person + to + verb.
- Admit or deny + doing something.
- Warn + person + not to + verb for a negative warning.
Nina suggested changing the meeting time.
Changing follows suggested.
Nina suggested that we change the meeting time.
A subject and verb follow that.
The manager told us to arrive early.
Us comes before to arrive.
The cleaner denied taking the missing key.
Taking follows denied.
4. Report questions as statements
Reported questions do not use the usual question word order.
Use the subject before the verb, as in a statement.
For yes-or-no questions, use if or whether.
For questions with who, where, when, or why, keep that question word.
Do not add do, does, or did to the reported question.
- Direct: She asked, 'Are you ready?'
- Reported: She asked whether I was ready.
- Direct: He asked, 'Where do you work?'
- Reported: He asked where I worked.
- Use a full stop at the end of a reported question.
She asked whether the office was open.
Whether introduces a yes-or-no question.
He asked where I had left the bag.
Where stays, but the word order changes.
I wonder if the next bus will be late.
If introduces an indirect question.
5. Keep the report fair
A report must keep the speaker's original meaning.
Do not make an opinion sound like a proven fact.
Do not add feelings or reasons that the speaker never gave.
Choose claim when you need to show that information is unconfirmed.
Check every pronoun, time word, and reporting verb before you finish.
- Keep facts separate from opinions.
- Use claim when the truth is not yet confirmed.
- Use admit only when someone accepts something.
- Use deny only when someone rejects a claim.
- Keep important details from the original words.
Direct: 'The new route saves ten minutes.'
This is the speaker's claim.
Reported: Eva claimed that the new route saved ten minutes.
Claim shows that Eva said this, not that it is proven.
Direct: 'I forgot to lock the door.'
The speaker accepts responsibility.
Reported: Leo admitted forgetting to lock the door.
Admitted keeps the meaning of the original statement.
How to do it, step by step
- Identify who spoke and the situation.
- Find the main message, opinion, or instruction.
- Choose a reporting verb that matches the meaning.
- Apply the correct verb pattern and any needed changes.
- Check that the report adds no new facts or opinions.
Formulas and key language
| Use it for | Example | Another example |
|---|---|---|
| said that + subject + verb | Mia said that the shop was closed. | Mia said that the shop would open later. |
| told + person + that + clause | The guard told us that the gate was locked. | The teacher told me that the room was ready. |
| explained that + clause | Sam explained that the train was delayed. | The cook explained that lunch would be ready soon. |
| suggested + verb-ing | Ava suggested taking a taxi. | Noah suggested meeting after work. |
| suggested that + subject + verb | Ava suggested that we take a taxi. | Noah suggested that we meet after work. |
| recommended + verb-ing | The nurse recommended drinking more water. | The guide recommended booking a seat early. |
| admitted or denied + verb-ing | Tom admitted breaking the cup. | Tom denied taking the money. |
| told + person + to + verb | Mum told me to close the window. | The driver told us to move back. |
| asked + if or whether + subject + verb | She asked whether I needed a ticket. | He asked if the shop was open. |
| asked + question word + subject + verb | She asked where I lived. | He asked why the bus had stopped. |
UK / US: Both British and American English use these reporting patterns. Some time and place words change with the situation, not the country.
Level up: Replace basic words (good, very, nice) with stronger ones. See our A2 to B2 upgrades page.
Model text
A Report on the New Bus Timetable
Opening
The town transport office shared feedback about its new bus timetable on Monday. Three passengers described different effects on their daily journeys. Their comments covered travel time, crowded buses, and morning connections.
The opening gives the topic, place, and main areas of feedback.
Passenger feedback
Maya said that her journey was now fifteen minutes shorter. She explained that the earlier bus helped her reach work on time. However, Daniel reported missing his usual connection because the second bus left too early. He recommended adding five minutes between the two services. A third passenger, Sara, admitted arriving late twice during the first week. She suggested checking the timetable before leaving home.
The report uses said, explained, reported, recommended, admitted, and suggested.
Further details
The transport office claimed that the new timetable improved service for most passengers. Staff also warned travellers to check the evening schedule, since some buses now finished earlier. The office confirmed that more feedback would be collected next month. It also asked whether passengers had noticed fewer delays. No figures were provided to support the office's claim about overall improvement.
The report includes claims and warnings while clearly showing what remains unconfirmed.
Closing
Overall, the comments showed different experiences. The office planned to review the feedback before making further changes.
The closing sums up the information without adding a personal opinion.
Common mistakes
✗ Mia said me that the shop was closed.
✓ Mia told me that the shop was closed.
Tell needs a person after it, but say does not.
✗ Ben suggested to take the earlier bus.
✓ Ben suggested taking the earlier bus.
Suggest is followed by an -ing form here.
✗ She asked where did I work.
✓ She asked where I worked.
Reported questions use statement word order.
✗ Omar said he will call me later.
✓ Omar said he would call me later.
Will usually changes to would in reported speech.
✗ The guard told that we should wait.
✓ The guard told us that we should wait.
Tell needs the person receiving the information.
✗ Lena denied to take the missing key.
✓ Lena denied taking the missing key.
Deny is followed by an -ing form.
Plan it, then check it
Plan
- Write down who spoke and what happened.
- Underline each important fact, opinion, or suggestion.
- Choose a reporting verb for each message.
- Write the report in a clear order.
- Keep unconfirmed claims separate from proven facts.
Check
- Does each reporting verb match the speaker's meaning?
- Are the tense and pronoun changes correct?
- Does each reporting verb have the right pattern?
- Are reported questions written in statement word order?
- Have I avoided adding my own opinion?
Practice
Choose the correct reporting pattern
Choose the best answer for each sentence.
1.Ella ___ that the bus was late.
Say can introduce a that-clause without a person after it.
2.The driver ___ us to wait near the door.
Tell uses a person before to and the verb.
3.Nina suggested ___ the earlier train.
Suggest is followed by an -ing form in this pattern.
4.The shop assistant recommended ___ a receipt.
Recommend is followed by an -ing form.
5.Omar admitted ___ the wrong ticket.
Admit is followed by an -ing form.
6.She asked ___ I had my travel card.
Whether introduces a reported yes-or-no question.
Complete the reported sentence
Write the correct reported verb form in each gap.
1.1. Ava said that she (feel) tired that day.
The present simple usually changes to the past simple.
2.2. Leo explained that he (miss) the bus the day before.
The past simple often changes to the past perfect.
3.3. Mina said that she (call) me the next day.
Will changes to would in reported speech.
4.4. The guard said that the door (be) locked.
The present form be changes to was in this report.
5.5. Sam admitted (break) the cup.
Admit is followed by an -ing form.
6.6. The manager recommended (book) a seat early.
Recommend is followed by an -ing form.
7.7. The teacher told us (bring) our notebooks.
Tell someone is followed by to and the base verb.
8.8. Eva asked whether the shop (be) open.
The present form is usually backshifted in a reported question.
Build the reported sentence
Put the words in the correct order.
1.Put the words in order:
saidwastheclosedthatshopmia
Said introduces the information, followed by a that-clause.
2.Put the words in order:
totoldwaitusthedriver
Tell uses the person before to and the base verb.
3.Put the words in order:
suggestedtakingnoraataxi
Suggest is followed by an -ing form in this sentence.
4.Put the words in order:
askedIsheworkedwhere
The reported question uses statement word order.
5.Put the words in order:
keytheadmittedtomlosing
Admit is followed by an -ing form.
Correct one small mistake
Change only the incorrect word or word form in each sentence.
1.1. Lina told that the bus was late.
Say can introduce a that-clause without an object.
2.2. The driver told we to sit down.
The object form us follows told.
3.3. Ben suggested to leave early.
Suggest is followed by an -ing form here.
4.4. She asked where did I live.
A reported question uses statement word order.
5.5. Omar said he will arrive the next day.
Will usually changes to would after a past reporting verb.
6.6. Nina denied to take the bag.
Deny is followed by an -ing form.
Now write
Your task
Write a report of 100-130 words about a new bus timetable. Report what three people said. Use these notes as your source. Maya said, 'My journey is shorter now, and I arrive at work on time.' Daniel said, 'I missed my connection twice last week.' He also said, 'The next bus leaves too early.' Sara said, 'I think the evening service needs more buses.' She added, 'The new timetable is easier to read.' Report their facts and opinions fairly. Include at least four different reporting verbs. Use the notes to write one connected paragraph. Do not copy every sentence directly. Change pronouns and verb tenses when needed.
Word bank
reportedexplainedadmittedsuggestedrecommendedclaimedpointed outtravel timebus connectionevening servicetimetablepassenger feedbackdaily journeyon timefurther changes
Sentence starters
- Maya reported that ...
- She explained that ...
- Daniel said that ...
- He also pointed out that ...
- Sara suggested ...
- Overall, the comments showed that ...