“ARE there any rules prescribing when to use present-tense reporting verbs over past-tense reporting verbs? Also, can’t we just use past-tense reporting verbs at all times so that whatever is being ...

The coach said, “My boys are determined to bring the cup home.” (Direct) The coach said his boys were determined to bring the cup home. (Indirect/Reported) In the above example, some changes occurred ...

Insist, demand and advise are all reporting verbs. Learn how and why we use this kind of verb in 6 Minute Vocabulary, then do lots of practice exercises to test yourself. 0 / 14 We use the verbs say, ...

What is Direct & Indirect Speech? Direct Speech: the message of the speaker is conveyed or reported in his own actual words without any change. Indirect Speech: the message of the speaker is conveyed ...

In discussing other authors’ work, you have many words to choose from. You can, of course, always report that the author ‘says’ or ‘writes’ things, but this likely becomes repetitive. In this blog ...

There is a general rule which says that when we use a reporting verb in the past, as above, the verbs used in the original speech are usually moved one tense further back. Thus: (Take care to use ...

If someone says something that you want to tell another person, you can report it using direct speech or reported speech. In direct speech we use speech (or quotation) marks to show the exact words ...