What Is Reported Speech?
Reported speech (indirect speech) is used to convey what someone said without quoting them directly. In PTE Writing and IELTS Task 2, reported speech helps you paraphrase sources and arguments accurately.
Tense Backshift
When the reporting verb is in the past (said, argued, claimed, explained), tenses shift back:
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| “We are working on it.” | He said they were working on it. |
| “The policy has failed.” | She argued the policy had failed. |
| “We will publish the results.” | They announced they would publish the results. |
| “I completed the study.” | He stated that he had completed the study. |
Changes in Pronouns and References
- “I” → he/she/they | “we” → they | “my” → his/her/their
- “here” → there | “now” → then | “today” → that day
- “this” → that | “these” → those
Reporting Verbs for Academic Writing
| Function | Verbs |
|---|---|
| Neutral reporting | said, stated, explained, noted |
| Making a claim | argued, claimed, asserted, maintained |
| Showing evidence | demonstrated, found, revealed, showed |
| Expressing doubt | questioned, challenged, disputed, doubted |
| Recommending | suggested, proposed, recommended, urged |
Common Errors
- ❌ “She said she will come.” (no backshift) → ✓ “She said she would come.”
- ❌ “He told that the results were ready.” → ✓ “He said/reported that…” or “He told us that…” (told requires an object)