Guide C1 · Advanced Grammar

Reported Speech: Statements

Learn C1 English reported speech for statements, including the tense, pronoun, and time-expression changes used to relay what someone said.

3 min read 473 words Updated Aug 9, 2026

On this page (7 sections)

Reported speech lets you explain what someone said without repeating the exact quotation. Good reported speech keeps the meaning, adjusts the grammar, and makes the speaker clear. At an advanced level, accuracy depends on viewpoint: ask who said the words, who is hearing them now, and whether the information is still true.

Common transformations

Direct speech	Reported speech	What changes
“I am tired.”	She said that she was tired.	Present becomes past after a past reporting verb.
“I have finished.”	He said that he had finished.	Present perfect becomes past perfect.
“I will call you.”	They said that they would call me.	Will becomes would; pronouns may change.
“I saw her yesterday.”	He said that he had seen her the day before.	Time expression changes with the viewpoint.

Backshift is a choice

After a past reporting verb such as said or explained, English often moves the original tense one step back. This is called backshift. It is useful when you are reporting a past conversation, but it is not an automatic rule in every sentence.

Use backshift when the original situation is connected to a past viewpoint: “She said she was tired.”
Keep the present when the statement is still a general fact: “The teacher explained that water boils at 100°C.”
Keep the original tense when the exact words or current truth are important and the context is clear.

Make the viewpoint clear

Check who is speaking, who is listening, and when the original sentence was said. Pronouns and time expressions change only when the viewpoint requires it.

Choose the reporting verb carefully

Verb	Use it for	Example
said	A neutral statement	Rina said that the meeting had started.
told	A statement directed to a listener	Rina told me that the meeting had started.
explained	Information or a reason	Rina explained that the meeting had started early.
admitted	Information the speaker may feel reluctant to share	Rina admitted that she had missed the first train.

Time and place move with the speaker

Original expression	Possible reported expression	Example
today	that day	He said he was busy that day.
yesterday	the day before	She said she had called the day before.
tomorrow	the next day	They said they would leave the next day.
here	there	He said he had left the files there.

A careful reporting routine

Choose a reporting verb such as said, told, explained, or admitted.
Change the pronouns so the sentence matches the new speaker and listener.
Move the tense back when the reporting verb is in the past and the meaning requires it.
Check time and place expressions such as today, yesterday, here, and tomorrow.

A final accuracy check

Underline the original speaker and listener before changing pronouns.
Decide whether the original time and place are still the same.
Choose a reporting verb that matches the speaker’s purpose and attitude.
Read the reported sentence without the original quotation and check that the meaning is still visible.