Reported speech: telling what someone said
Short answer: Use said (that), told me to and asked if to tell what a person said. Said + that + an idea: Dad said that the dog was outside. Told + someone + to + plain verb: She told me to bring my book. Asked + if + subject + verb: He asked if I was hungry. After asked if, use statement order, not question order.
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At a glance
| Original | Reported | Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| “The dog is outside.” | Dad said that the dog was outside. | said (that) + idea |
| “Bring your book.” | She told me to bring my book. | told + person + to + verb |
| “Are you hungry?” | He asked if I was hungry. | asked if + subject + verb |
In short
- said (that) + idea. told me to + action word. asked if + subject + verb.
- After asked if use statement order.
- said has no me; told needs me.
What is the rule for “Telling what someone said”?
The rule
said that + the idea. told + someone + to + the plain action word. asked if + the question as a statement.
How it looks
said (that) + idea · told me to + action word · asked if + subject + verb
What it means
They report what someone said, ordered or asked.
When to use it
Use them to tell about words you heard.
How it works
- Decide what kind of words you are reporting: a statement, a request or a question.
- Statement: said (that) + the idea. Request: told + someone + to + plain verb. Question: asked + if + the question as a statement.
- Say who and what. Said has no me; told needs me.
- In the past, the verbs often shift: is → was, will → would.
Examples of “Telling what someone said”
- Dad said that the dog was outside.
The idea comes after said that. - She told me to bring my book.
told + me + to + action word. - He asked if I was hungry.
The question becomes a statement. - The teacher said that we could read.
Past forms are often used after said. - She said that she was tired.
A statement in the past. - The teacher told us to open our books.
A request: told us to + verb. - He asked if I knew the answer.
A yes/no question reported with if. - Mom said dinner was ready.
That can be left out.
Common mistakes with “Telling what someone said”
She said me that she was tired.→ She told me that she was tired. / She said that she was tired.
said has no me. told needs me.He asked me am I hungry.→ He asked if I was hungry.
After asked if use statement order.The teacher told us sit down.→ The teacher told us to sit down.
We need to after told us.She said that she will come tomorrow.→ She said that she would come the next day.
After said, the verbs usually shift back: will becomes would.He asked me if did I know the answer.→ He asked me if I knew the answer.
After asked if, use statement order.
Exceptions: watch out
- that
that can be left out: Mom said dinner was ready.
Said, told and asked
These three verbs report different types of speech.
| Verb | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| said | said (that) + idea | He said that he was tired. |
| told | told + person + (that / to) | He told me that he was tired. |
| asked | asked (+ person) + if + idea | He asked if I was tired. |
See also: Verb + -ing or to + verb
Check yourself
- Fix: “She said me that she was tired.”
Show the answer
She told me that she was tired. Said has no me. Told needs me.
- Fix: “He asked me am I hungry.”
Show the answer
He asked if I was hungry. After asked if, use statement order.
- Fix: “The teacher told us sit down.”
Show the answer
The teacher told us to sit down. Told us needs to.
How to practice “Telling what someone said”
The interactive version adds step-by-step help, spoken instructions and a quick check. One rule card, one sound lesson and the first lesson of every stone are free to try; the rest is part of Full Access. See Full Access.
- Practice lesson: Telling what someone said
Questions
Do I always change the tense?
When the reporting verb is in the past, the tense usually moves back: is → was, will → would, can → could. If the fact is still true, you may keep the present.
What happens to words like “today” and “here”?
They often change: today → that day, here → there, tomorrow → the next day.
How do I report a question with a question word?
Use the question word and statement order: She asked where I lived.
More Texts and Talk rules
- Have you ever …? Experience: have / has + the past form tells about something you did (or never did) in your life, up to now.
- already, yet, just: already, yet and just go with have / has and tell about things that happened a short time ago.
- Present perfect or past simple?: A finished time (yesterday, last week) needs the past simple. Experience up to now needs have + the past form.
- Advice and rules: should, must, have to: should gives advice. must and have to give rules. After them, use the plain action word.
- unless: unless means if not. It says what could stop something.
- as … as, and comparing actions: as … as says two things are the same. not as … as says one is less. For actions use faster or more carefully.
Part of the 📘 Grammar tool. Level G6: Texts and Talk. Đọc bằng tiếng Việt.
Written for English learners by the English for Fun team. How we write our lessons · Last updated 2026-11-05.
Reviewed by Chinh Q. Hoang, PhD, founder, English for Fun · 2026-10-30
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