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PP10 
Reported Speech in Journalism 
In print journalism, say is commonly used in the past tense to report speech. 
Quoted 
“I will run for re-election this year,” said Mayor Reed. 
Reported 
Mayor Reed said (that) he would run for re-election this year. 
In broadcast journalism, say is often used in the present tense to report speech.
Mayor Reed says that he will run for re-election this year.
Note that when the reporting verb is in the present tense, as in the last example, verb 
tense changes are not required in reported speech. 
 
 
PP11
Although say and tell are the most common reporting verbs, several others are possible.
 
Other Reporting Verbs 
For Statements 
For Questions 
Added
Asked 
Announced 
Inquired 
Commented
Wanted to know 
Explained 
Wondered 
Remarked 
Stated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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7 
Verb Tense Changes in Reported Speech 
 
When reporting speech, grammatical changes must often be made in order to keep the 
original meaning of what was said. The most common changes occur in verb tenses, 
pronouns and adjectives of place and time. In this lesson we will introduce verb tense 
changes, and in the next lesson we will continue with the other changes. Verb tense 
changes are especially important in writing, where formal reported speech is used (See 
chart below). In conversational English, speakers do not always make verb changes when 
reporting speech.
You should go over this chart with the students. Ask them what they notice about the 
changes in verb tenses for reported speech. Point out that in formal reported speech, the 
tenses go back in time one tense. For example, “study” becomes “studied” and “studied” 
becomes “had studied.” In conversational or immediate reporting, the verb tenses do not 
change. Formal reported speech is the most challenging, so we will place our efforts here. 
Have the students do the practice exercise below the chart in class and correct it together. 
Answers are in parenthesis. You can find the student handout at the end of this lesson.