Reporting Verb | Direct and indirect speech

Reporting verb is the verb which reports the speech.

• She said, "I am fine." (Reporting verb: said)
• He asked, "Can I have more of that cheese?" (Reporting verb: asked)
• She says, "I am going." (Reporting verb: says)

Said is preferred when there is no object.

• He said that he was fine.

Tell/told is used when you say who is/was being spoken to.

• He told me that he was fine.

We use talk and speak when we are referring to the action of communicating.

• He talked to us.
• She was speaking on the telephone.

Sections in this article

Direct and indirect speech
Rules for the change of pronouns
Reporting verb
Rules for the change of tenses
Rules for the change of adverbs
Reporting hopes, intentions and promises
Reporting orders, requests and advice
Reporting questions
Reporting questions: grammar exercise
Reported speech exercise
Reporting Yes/No questions