This direct and indirect speech lesson for B1/B2 intermediate learners covers all the essential rules for reported speech, including tense backshift, pronoun changes, time expression changes, and question reporting — plus a 30-question interactive quiz with answers and detailed explanations.
Understanding reported speech is one of the most important grammar skills at the B1/B2 level. Whether you are writing a summary, telling someone what another person said, or preparing for an exam like Cambridge B2 First or IELTS, mastering direct and indirect speech will significantly improve your accuracy and fluency.
In this lesson, you will learn the difference between direct speech and indirect (reported) speech, the rules for changing tenses, pronouns, and time expressions, and how to report questions and commands. By the end, you will be ready to take the full 30-question reported speech quiz and test your understanding.
📌 Quick Answer: Direct vs Indirect Speech at a Glance
- Direct Speech = the exact words someone said, inside quotation marks → She said, "I am tired."
- Indirect Speech = reporting what someone said without quotation marks, with tense backshift → She said that she was tired.
- Tense Backshift = the verb tense moves one step back in time when reporting → "I will call" → he said he would call
- Pronoun Change = pronouns shift to match the new speaker's perspective → "I love my job" → she said she loved her job
- Time Expression Change = words like "today" and "now" change in reported speech → "now" → then / "today" → that day
Key Rule: When the reporting verb (said, told, asked) is in the past tense, the verb in the reported clause must shift one tense back into the past.
{getToc} $title={Table of Contents}
What Is Direct and Indirect Speech? Definition and Function for Intermediate Learners
Direct speech records the exact words a person spoke, placed inside quotation marks with a reporting clause such as he said or she asked. The words inside the quotation marks are not changed at all — they represent the original speaker's precise language. For example: Tom said, "I have finished my homework."
Indirect speech (also called reported speech) conveys the meaning of what was said without using the original exact words. The quotation marks are removed, the conjunction that is often added, and the verb tense, pronouns, and time expressions change to reflect the new reporting context. For example: Tom said that he had finished his homework. This shift is called tense backshift.
At the B1/B2 level, you are expected to handle both structures accurately. Reported speech appears in writing tasks, reading comprehension, listening exercises, and grammar exams. Understanding when and how to make these changes is fundamental to producing natural, accurate English.
| Feature | Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|---|
| Quotation marks | Yes — always used | No — removed |
| Exact words | Yes — unchanged | No — paraphrased |
| Tense change | No change needed | Backshift required |
| Pronoun change | Original pronouns kept | Pronouns adjusted |
| Time expressions | Original time words kept | Time words adjusted |
📘 Key Point: Both direct and indirect speech are correct English — the choice depends on context. In formal writing and academic English, indirect speech is usually preferred. In creative writing and dialogue, direct speech is more common.
The Core Rules: How to Use Direct and Indirect Speech Correctly in English
The most important rule in converting direct speech to indirect speech is tense backshift. When the reporting verb (said, told, asked, replied, explained) is in the past simple, the verb inside the reported clause must move one tense back. This reflects the fact that the statement was made at an earlier point in time.
In addition to tense changes, you must adjust pronouns so they reflect the new speaker's perspective, change time and place expressions to match the reporting context, and use the correct reporting verbs and conjunctions depending on whether you are reporting a statement, a question, or a command.
There is one important exception: if the situation being reported is still true at the time of reporting, the tense change is optional. For example, if someone told you a scientific fact, you may keep the present tense: She said the Earth orbits the sun. This is called a universal truth exception.
| Direct Speech Tense | Indirect Speech Tense | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present Simple | Past Simple | "I work here." → He said he worked there. |
| Present Continuous | Past Continuous | "I am studying." → She said she was studying. |
| Present Perfect | Past Perfect | "I have eaten." → He said he had eaten. |
| Past Simple | Past Perfect | "I went." → She said she had gone. |
| Will | Would | "I will come." → He said he would come. |
| Can | Could | "I can help." → She said she could help. |
| May | Might | "It may rain." → He said it might rain. |
⚠️ Important Exception: Modal verbs would, could, should, might, and ought to do NOT change in reported speech. They are already past forms and remain the same. Example: "You should rest." → She said I should rest.
💡 Practice Tip: When converting sentences, always identify the tense first, then apply the backshift rule. Write out both versions side by side until the pattern becomes automatic.
The 4 Types of Reported Speech Every B1/B2 Learner Must Know
Reported speech is not limited to statements. At the B1/B2 level, you must be able to report four different types of utterances: statements, yes/no questions, wh- questions, and commands/requests. Each type follows slightly different rules, and mixing them up is one of the most common errors intermediate learners make.
| Type | Reporting Verb | Connector Used | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statements | said / told | that (optional) | She said (that) she was tired. |
| Yes/No Questions | asked | if / whether | He asked if I had eaten. |
| Wh- Questions | asked / wanted to know | wh- word | She asked where I lived. |
| Commands / Requests | told / asked / ordered | to + infinitive | He told me to sit down. |
Type 1: Reporting Statements
To report a statement, use said or told followed by that (optional) and apply tense backshift. Remember: said does not take an object, but told always requires a person object.
- ✅ She said she was happy. (correct — no object after "said")
- ✅ She told me she was happy. (correct — "me" is the object after "told")
- ❌ She said me she was happy. (wrong — "said" cannot take an object)
- ❌ She told she was happy. (wrong — "told" must have an object)
Position Rule: said + (that) + subject + backshifted verb | told + object + (that) + subject + backshifted verb
Common Mistake: Confusing said and told — always check whether an object person follows the verb.
Type 2: Reporting Yes/No Questions
To report a yes/no question, use asked followed by if or whether. The reported clause uses statement word order (subject + verb), not question word order. Do not use do/does/did in the reported question.
- Direct: "Do you like coffee?"
- Reported: She asked if I liked coffee. ✅
- Wrong: She asked if did I like coffee. ❌
- Wrong: She asked whether did I like coffee. ❌
Position Rule: asked + if/whether + subject + backshifted verb (statement word order — NO inversion)
Common Mistake: Using question word order (inversion) in reported questions — this is always incorrect.
Type 3: Reporting Wh- Questions
To report a wh- question, use asked or wanted to know followed by the wh- word, then statement word order with tense backshift. Never invert the subject and verb after the wh- word.
- Direct: "Where do you live?"
- Reported: He asked where I lived. ✅
- Wrong: He asked where did I live. ❌
- Direct: "What time does the train leave?"
- Reported: She wanted to know what time the train left. ✅
Position Rule: asked + wh- word + subject + backshifted verb (NO auxiliary do/does/did, NO inversion)
Common Mistake: Keeping do/does/did in the reported wh- question — these disappear entirely in reported speech.
Type 4: Reporting Commands and Requests
To report a command or request, use told, asked, ordered, warned, or advised followed by a person object and to + infinitive. For negative commands, use not to + infinitive. The imperative form of the original verb is never kept.
- Direct: "Sit down!" → Reported: She told me to sit down. ✅
- Direct: "Don't be late." → Reported: He told us not to be late. ✅
- Direct: "Please help me." → Reported: She asked me to help her. ✅
- Wrong: She told me sit down. ❌ (missing "to")
Position Rule: told/asked/ordered + object + (not) to + infinitive
Common Mistake: Forgetting to before the infinitive, or using the imperative form directly in reported speech.
Key Differences: Reported Speech — The Confusing Pairs Beginners Always Get Wrong
Said vs Told: What Is the Difference?
Said and told are the two most common reporting verbs, but they follow different grammar rules. Said is used without a personal object — you cannot say who it was said to. Told always requires a personal object — you must say who was told.
- ✅ He said (that) he was leaving.
- ✅ He told her (that) he was leaving.
- ❌ He said her he was leaving.
- ❌ He told he was leaving.
Memory tip: Told = told someone. Always a person comes after told.
If vs Whether in Reported Yes/No Questions
Both if and whether can introduce reported yes/no questions and are often interchangeable. However, whether is slightly more formal and is preferred when followed by or not, or when the reported question is the subject of the sentence.
- ✅ She asked if I was coming.
- ✅ She asked whether I was coming.
- ✅ She asked whether or not I was coming. (more emphatic)
- ✅ Whether she passes is uncertain. (subject position — only "whether" works here)
Time Expression Changes in Reported Speech
When converting direct speech to indirect speech, time and place expressions must change to reflect the distance between when something was said and when it is reported. These changes are logical — words that point to "now" shift to words that point to "then".
- now → then / at that moment
- today → that day
- yesterday → the day before / the previous day
- tomorrow → the next day / the following day
- last week → the week before / the previous week
- next week → the following week
- ago → before / previously
- here → there
- this → that
- these → those
🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid in Reported Speech:
- ❌ She said me that she was tired. → ✅ She told me that she was tired.
- ❌ He asked where did she live. → ✅ He asked where she lived.
- ❌ They told to leave immediately. → ✅ They told us to leave immediately.
- ❌ She asked if was I ready. → ✅ She asked if I was ready.
- ❌ He said that he will come tomorrow. → ✅ He said that he would come the next day.
- ❌ She told that she had finished. → ✅ She said that she had finished.
- ❌ He asked me what time is it. → ✅ He asked me what time it was.
Direct and Indirect Speech Quiz for B1/B2: 30 Questions with Answers
This reported speech quiz includes 30 multiple choice questions covering tense backshift, said vs told, reporting questions, commands, pronoun changes, and time expressions. Each question includes a detailed explanation so you learn from every answer.
Quiz Instructions: Read each question carefully and select the best answer. After you click, you will see an explanation telling you exactly why the answer is correct.
Finished the quiz? Review every question you got wrong before moving on. If you scored below 70%, re-read the lesson above before retaking the quiz.
Frequently Asked Questions about Direct and Indirect Speech in English Grammar
What is the difference between direct speech and indirect speech?
Direct speech reproduces the exact words a person said, enclosed in quotation marks: She said, "I am hungry." Indirect speech (reported speech) conveys the same meaning without quotation marks, adjusting tense, pronouns, and time expressions: She said (that) she was hungry. The meaning is the same, but the form changes.
The key grammatical difference is tense backshift — when the reporting verb is in the past, the verb in the reported clause shifts one tense back. Direct speech uses the original tense; indirect speech adjusts it to reflect the time distance between speaking and reporting.
Do you always have to change the tense in reported speech?
Not always. The tense backshift rule applies when the reporting verb is in the past and the situation is no longer current. However, if the statement is a universal truth or a fact that is still true, the tense can remain in the present: The teacher said that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
Similarly, if you are reporting something said very recently and the situation is still true, many speakers keep the present tense in informal contexts: She says she is coming. For formal writing and B1/B2 exams, however, always apply backshift to be safe.
How do you report questions in indirect speech?
To report a question, use asked or wanted to know as the reporting verb. For yes/no questions, add if or whether and use statement word order (subject + verb, no inversion). For wh- questions, keep the wh- word but use statement word order and remove do/does/did.
The most common error is keeping question word order in reported questions. Remember: reported questions are not questions — they are noun clauses. So there is no inversion and no question mark at the end. Example: He asked what time it was. (NOT: He asked what time was it.)
What is the difference between "say" and "tell" in reported speech?
Say does not take a personal object — you cannot say who you are speaking to directly after say. Tell always takes a personal object — you must name or reference who was told. This distinction is one of the most tested points at B1/B2 level.
Examples: She said (that) she was leaving. ✅ | She told me (that) she was leaving. ✅ | She said me she was leaving. ❌ | She told she was leaving. ❌. A helpful rule: if you can add the person after the verb, use tell. If you cannot, use say.
How do you report commands and requests in indirect speech?
Commands and requests are reported using told, asked, ordered, warned, or advised followed by a personal object and to + infinitive. For negative commands, use not to + infinitive. The original imperative verb form is never used in reported speech.
Examples: "Close the window." → He told me to close the window. | "Please don't shout." → She asked us not to shout. | "You should see a doctor." → He advised me to see a doctor. The choice of reporting verb reflects the intention — ordered is stronger than asked, which is more polite.
Related Grammar Lessons for Intermediate Learners
- Modal Verbs for B1/B2: Could, Should, Would, Might — Rules and Practice
- The Passive Voice for B1/B2: How to Form and Use Passive Sentences in English
- Conditional Sentences (If Clauses): Zero, First, Second, and Third Conditionals Explained
- Relative Clauses: Who, Which, That, Whose — Defining and Non-Defining Relative Clauses
Mastering direct and indirect speech is an essential step in reaching B1/B2 level fluency in English. Practise converting sentences daily, use the reported speech quiz above to test yourself, and revisit the rules whenever you feel uncertain — consistent practice is the fastest path to accuracy.
About the Author
About the Author: Dharma Poudel has completed an MA and MEd in English and has been teaching English for 20 years. He specializes in creating simple, clear grammar lessons for ESL/EFL learners at all levels. His mission is to help learners build confidence through structured explanations and interactive practice materials.