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He said that…: reported speech

Reporting what someone said

B1 to B22 minutesfree, no account
THE RULE IN ONE LINE

When you report what someone said earlier, the verb usually moves back: is → was, will → would, can → could, have done → had done.

  • "I'm tired," Ana said. → Ana said she was tired.
  • "I'll call you," Sam said. → Sam said he would call me.
  • "I can't come," Tom said. → Tom said he couldn't come.

Spanish does this too: «dijo que vendría». Just as vendrá becomes vendría, will becomes would: He said he would come.

THE TRAP

If it's still true now, you can keep the verb: She said she lives in Leeds. When it's over, or you say that week or the next day, move it back.

Also on this page: say or tell · that week, the next day · reporting questions

Try 6

Six quick questions, easiest first. At the end you'll see which mistake you make.

THE QUESTIONS
  1. "I'll call you tomorrow," Sam said. → Sam said he ______ me the next day.will call · would call · calls
  2. Last week our neighbours told us they ______ come to the barbecue, but they turned up anyway.couldn't · can't
  3. "I'm making dinner," Kim told me on the phone yesterday. → Kim told me she ______ dinner.makes · was making · is making
  4. The man at the station told me the last train ______ ten minutes earlier.leaves · had left · has left
  5. Our host said that breakfast ______ be ready at eight the next morning.would · will
  6. "I can't afford a holiday this year," Ben said. → Ben said he ______ afford a holiday that year.couldn't · can't
  7. "I'll cover your shifts this week," my boss said. → My boss said she ______ my shifts that week.would cover · will cover
  8. "I'm staying with my aunt this week," Ben said. → Ben said he ______ with his aunt that week.stays · is staying · was staying
  9. "You don't need to pay tax on it this year," the adviser said. → She said I ______ to pay tax on it that year.didn't need · don't need
  10. The weather forecast said it ______ all weekend, but it was sunny.will rain · would rain · rains
  11. Last month the manager told us that the lift ______ out of order until the following week.was · is
  12. My dad told us he ______ too tired to drive, so we got a taxi home.is · was
Show the answers
  1. would callnot will call: will when you report it later
  2. couldn'tnot can't: is, can or has done when it's over
  3. was makingnot is making: is, can or has done when it's over
  4. had leftnot has left: is, can or has done when it's over
  5. wouldnot will: will when you report it later
  6. couldn'tnot can't: is, can or has done when it's over
  7. would covernot will cover: will when you report it later
  8. was stayingnot is staying: is, can or has done when it's over
  9. didn't neednot don't need: is, can or has done when it's over
  10. would rainnot will rain: will when you report it later
  11. wasnot is: is, can or has done when it's over
  12. wasnot is: is, can or has done when it's over

Common mistakes on this point

is, can or has done when it's over

Not: Last week they said they can't come, but they came.

Say: Last week they said they couldn't come, but they came.

When what was said is over or no longer true, move the verb back: is → was, can → could, has done → had done.

See this mistake on its own page ›
will when you report it later

Not: He said he will call me the next day.

Say: He said he would call me the next day.

Reported later, will becomes would, especially with the next day, that week, the following month.

See this mistake on its own page ›