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G.12 - Reported Speech

Say or Tell?

Average: 1.5 (183 votes)

These two verbs are often confused. This is because they have the same meaning but are used in different ways.
Rules:

Say and tell can be used in both direct and indirect speech.
E.g.

Direct: "I said I'm hungry."

Indirect: "She told me she was hungry."

Reported Speech and Reporting Verbs

Average: 3.4 (98 votes)

Reported speech

Direct speech and reported speech are the two ways we can say what someone has said.

Directed speech: "I am your neighbour," said James.

Reported speech: James said that he was my neighbour.

How to use Would

Average: 2.9 (848 votes)

'I would love to travel the world.'

How to use Reported Speech

Average: 4.2 (371 votes)

We use reported speech when we want to repeat what someone had previously said.

Let's look at the difference between direct speech and reported speech:

Direct Tomie said = 'I am tired.'