Reported Speech – Basic Structural Rules

The following changes must be applied to reported statements:

1) change pronouns
Nick: “I am tired.”
You say what Nick told you: Nick said he was tired.

2) change tenses
Nick: “I am tired.”
You say what Nick told you: Nick said he was tired.

3) change time expressions
Nick: “I am tired today.” (on Monday)
You say what Nick told you: Nick said he was tired yesterday. (on Tuesday)

4) use a verb to report someone’s words, for example: tell, say, inform, announce, mention, explain
Nick: “I am tired.”
Nick said (that) he was tired.*
Nick told me (that) he was tired.*
Nick informed me (that) he was tired.

*Note the difference in the use of “say” and “tell”:
He said (that)…
He told me (that) …

The word “that” is optional. It is usually omitted in the informal style.