INDIRECT SPEECH

We often have to give information about what people say or think. In order to do this you can use direct
speech, or indirect speech.

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

I am exhausted

Saying exactly what someone has said Indirect speech (sometimes called
word for word. reported speech), doesn't use
sometimes called quoted speech. quotation marks to enclose what the
person said and it doesn't have to be
word for word.
She said, “I am exhausted”.

OR

She said (that) she was exhausted.

“I am exhausted”, she said.
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We use a reporting verb like 'say' or 'tell'. You can use the present tense in reported speech if you want to
say that something is still true. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence:

Reported speech: She says she likes ice cream.

I like ice cream.

My name is Estefania.

Reported Speech: She says (that) her name is Estefania.

Reported speech: She said (that) her name was Estefania.

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When reporting speech the tense usually changes. This is because when we use reported speech, we are
usually talking about a time in the past (because obviously the person who spoke originally spoke in the past).
The verbs therefore usually have to be in the past too.
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Modal verb forms also sometimes change:

Note: There is no change to; could, would, should, might and ought to.

“You should eat more vegetables”, The doctor said I should eat more
the doctor said. vegetables.