{"id":273385,"date":"2026-09-16T03:00:39","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T08:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/langcom.org\/?p=273385"},"modified":"2026-09-16T03:00:39","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T08:00:39","slug":"%e9%97%b4%e6%8e%a5%e5%bc%95%e8%af%ad%e3%80%81%e9%99%88%e8%bf%b0%e3%80%81%e7%96%91%e9%97%ae%e5%8f%a5-b1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/langcom.org\/zh\/blog\/reported-speech-statements-questions-b1\/","title":{"rendered":"\u638c\u63e1\u95f4\u63a5\u5f15\u8bed\uff1a\u9648\u8ff0\u53e5\u4e0e\u7591\u95ee\u53e5\uff08B1\u82f1\u8bed\u8bed\u6cd5\uff09"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"lc-answer\"><strong>Reported speech is how we tell someone what another person said, without using their exact words.<\/strong> This is a key skill for B1 English learners, allowing you to share information and conversations smoothly. When we use reported speech, we often change the verb tense to a &#8220;past&#8221; form, a process called &#8220;backshift.&#8221; For example, <span data-no-translation>\u2018I am happy\u2019<\/span> \u53d8\u6210 <span data-no-translation>He said he was happy.<\/span> We also adjust pronouns, time expressions, and place words to fit the new context, such as changing <span data-no-translation>\u2018today\u2019<\/span> \u5230 <span data-no-translation>\u2018that day.\u2019<\/span> For questions, the word order changes, and we use words like <span data-no-translation>if<\/span> \u6216 <span data-no-translation>whether<\/span> for yes\/no questions. Mastering these changes helps you communicate more naturally and accurately in English. Remember to use <span data-no-translation>tell<\/span> with an object (e.g., <span data-no-translation>told me<\/span>) and <span data-no-translation>say<\/span> without one (e.g., <span data-no-translation>said that<\/span>). This structure is vital for everyday conversations and storytelling.<\/div>\n<h2>What is Reported Speech?<\/h2>\n<p>When we talk about what someone said, we can use two main forms: direct speech or reported speech.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Direct speech<\/strong> uses the speaker&#8217;s exact words, usually with quotation marks. For example: <span data-no-translation>He said, \u2018I don\u2019t want to talk to you.\u2019<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Reported speech<\/strong> (also called indirect speech) tells us what was said without using the exact words. For example: <span data-no-translation>He said he didn\u2019t want to talk to me.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We often use reporting verbs like <span data-no-translation>say<\/span>, <span data-no-translation>tell<\/span>, \u6216 <span data-no-translation>ask<\/span> to introduce reported speech.<\/p>\n<div class=\"lc-cta lc-cta-blended\" style=\"border-radius:14px;padding:30px;margin:30px 0;text-align:center;color:#fff;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#0E63C4,#0A2540);\"><h3 style=\"color:#fff;font-size:22px;font-weight:800;margin:0 0 8px;\">\ud83c\udf93 \u91c7\u7528\u6df7\u5408\u5f0f\u6559\u5b66\u6cd5\u5b66\u4e60\u82f1\u8bed<\/h3><p style=\"margin:0 0 10px;opacity:.95;\">\u5c0f\u73ed\u6388\u8bfe \u00b7 7\u00d724\u5c0f\u65f6AI\u8f85\u5bfc \u00b7 \u5251\u6865\u8003\u8bd5\u5907\u8003<\/p><p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;font-size:18px;\">\u6765\u81ea <strong><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-amount amount\"><bdi><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-currencySymbol\" translate=\"no\" dir=\"auto\">$<\/span>39<\/bdi><\/span><\/strong> <s style=\"opacity:.6;\"><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-amount amount\"><bdi><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-currencySymbol\" translate=\"no\" dir=\"auto\">$<\/span>79<\/bdi><\/span><\/s> \u6bcf\u6708<\/p><a href=\"\/zh\/\" style=\"display:inline-block;margin-top:8px;padding:13px 30px;border-radius:8px;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;background:#fff;color:#0E63C4;\">\u9884\u8ba2\u8bfe\u7a0b<\/a><\/div>\n<h2>How Do Tenses Change in Reported Speech? (Backshift)<\/h2>\n<p>When the reporting verb (e.g., <span data-no-translation>said<\/span>) is in the past, we usually \"backshift\" the tense of the original statement. This means moving the tense one step further into the past.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-no-translation><strong>Present Simple<\/strong><\/span> \u53d8\u6210 <span data-no-translation><strong>Past Simple<\/strong><\/span>.<br \/>\u4f8b\u5982 <span data-no-translation>\u2018I don\u2019t want to talk.\u2019<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>He said he didn\u2019t want to talk.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation><strong>Present Continuous<\/strong><\/span> \u53d8\u6210 <span data-no-translation><strong>Past Continuous<\/strong><\/span>.<br \/>\u4f8b\u5982 <span data-no-translation>\u2018I\u2019m planning to resign.\u2019<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>She said she was planning to resign.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation><strong>Present Perfect<\/strong><\/span> \u53d8\u6210 <span data-no-translation><strong>Past Perfect<\/strong><\/span>.<br \/>\u4f8b\u5982 <span data-no-translation>\u2018I\u2019ve already told you.\u2019<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>He said he had already told me.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation><strong>Past Simple<\/strong><\/span> \u53d8\u6210 <span data-no-translation><strong>Past Perfect<\/strong><\/span>.<br \/>\u4f8b\u5982 <span data-no-translation>\u2018I saw you break it.\u2019<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>I told him I had seen him break it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation><strong>\u2018Be going to\u2019<\/strong><\/span> \u53d8\u6210 <span data-no-translation><strong>\u2018was\/were going to\u2019<\/strong><\/span>.<br \/>\u4f8b\u5982 <span data-no-translation>\u2018I\u2019m going to cook tonight.\u2019<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>You said you were going to cook that night.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation><strong>Will<\/strong><\/span> \u53d8\u6210 <span data-no-translation><strong>Would<\/strong><\/span>.<br \/>\u4f8b\u5982 <span data-no-translation>\u2018I\u2019ll see you soon.\u2019<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>He said he would see me soon.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation><strong>Can<\/strong><\/span> \u53d8\u6210 <span data-no-translation><strong>Could<\/strong><\/span>.<br \/>\u4f8b\u5982 <span data-no-translation>\u2018I can\u2019t hear you.\u2019<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>She said she couldn\u2019t hear me.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation><strong>May<\/strong><\/span> \u53d8\u6210 <span data-no-translation><strong>Might<\/strong><\/span>.<br \/>\u4f8b\u5982 <span data-no-translation>\u2018You may be right.\u2019<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>He said I might be right.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Do All Modal Verbs Change?<\/h2>\n<p>No, some modal verbs do not change in reported speech. These modals already express a degree of possibility or condition.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The modal verbs <span data-no-translation>would<\/span>, <span data-no-translation>could<\/span>, <span data-no-translation>should<\/span>, \uff0c \u548c <span data-no-translation>might<\/span> usually stay the same.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u4f8b\u5982\uff1a<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Direct: \u2018I\u2019d like to go.\u2019<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>Reported: He said he\u2019d like to go.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Direct: \u2018It might be difficult.\u2019<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>Reported: She said it might be difficult.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Reporting Questions: Wh- and Yes\/No<\/h2>\n<p>When reporting questions, the word order changes from question form to statement form. We also do not use question marks.<\/p>\n<h3>\u7591\u95ee\u53e5<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Keep the question word (<span data-no-translation>where, why, what, when, how<\/span>).<\/li>\n<li>Put the subject <strong>\u4e4b\u524d<\/strong> the verb.<\/li>\n<li>Do not use the auxiliary verbs <span data-no-translation>do, does,<\/span> \u6216 <span data-no-translation>did<\/span>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u793a\u4f8b\uff1a<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Direct: \u2018Where are you from?\u2019<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>Reported: She asked me where I was from.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Direct: \u2018Why did she say that?\u2019<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>Reported: He asked me why she had said that.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>\u662f\/\u5426\u95ee\u9898<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\u4f7f\u7528 <span data-no-translation>if<\/span> \u6216 <span data-no-translation>whether<\/span> after the reporting verb.<\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Whether<\/span> is generally more formal than <span data-no-translation>if<\/span>.<\/li>\n<li>Again, put the subject <strong>\u4e4b\u524d<\/strong> the verb.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u793a\u4f8b\uff1a<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Direct: \u2018Are you going to help?\u2019<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>Reported: We asked them if they were going to help.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Direct: \u2018Did you visit the London Eye?\u2019<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>Reported: She asked us whether we had visited the London Eye.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Other Important Changes: Pronouns, Time, and Place<\/h2>\n<p>Besides tenses, you usually need to change pronouns and possessive adjectives. This depends on who is speaking and who is being spoken to.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Direct: \u2018I want you to give this message to your boss tonight.\u2019<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Reported: She said she wanted me to give that message to my boss that night.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Common changes for time and place words:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-no-translation>now<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>then<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>today<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>that day<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>tonight<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>that night<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>yesterday<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>the day before \/ the previous day<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>tomorrow<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>the next day \/ the following day<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>last week<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>the week before \/ the previous week<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>next year<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>the following year<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>here<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>there<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>this<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>that<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>these<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>those<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>When Don't We Change the Tense?<\/h2>\n<p>Sometimes, we don't need to backshift the tense in reported speech. This happens in specific situations:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>When the original statement is still true or relevant at the time of reporting. For example, if someone said <span data-no-translation>\u2018I don\u2019t want to talk to you\u2019<\/span> yesterday, and it's still true today: <span data-no-translation>I told you yesterday that I don\u2019t want to talk to you.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>If the reporting verb is in the present tense (e.g., <span data-no-translation>He says...<\/span>), we also don't change the tense of the reported clause. For example: <span data-no-translation>He says he is happy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>For general truths or scientific facts: <span data-no-translation>She said the Earth is round.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Say vs. Tell: What's the Difference?<\/h2>\n<p>These two verbs are often confused, but they have different grammar patterns. Understanding them is crucial for correct reported speech.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span data-no-translation>Say<\/span>:<\/strong> \u4f7f\u7528 <span data-no-translation>say<\/span> when you don't mention the person you are speaking to. You can use <span data-no-translation>say (that) + clause<\/span>. For example: <span data-no-translation>He said (that) he had a new car.<\/span> \u60a8\u8fd8\u53ef\u4ee5\u4f7f\u7528 <span data-no-translation>say to someone<\/span>, \uff0c\u4f46\u662f <span data-no-translation>tell<\/span> is more common when an object is present.<\/li>\n<li><strong><span data-no-translation>Tell<\/span>:<\/strong> Always use <span data-no-translation>tell<\/span> with an object (the person you are speaking to). The pattern is <span data-no-translation>tell + object + (that) + clause<\/span>. For example: <span data-no-translation>He told me (that) he had a new car.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Remember: It is incorrect to say <span data-no-translation>He said me he had a new car.<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<caption>Common Tense Changes in Reported Speech<\/caption>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Direct Speech Tense<\/th>\n<th>Reported Speech Tense<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>Present Simple<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>Past Simple<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>Present Continuous<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>Past Continuous<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>Present Perfect<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>Past Perfect<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>Past Simple<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>Past Perfect<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>Will<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>Would<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>Can<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>Could<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>May<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>Might<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>Be going to<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>Was\/Were going to<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>\u793a\u4f8b<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-no-translation>He said, \u2018I don\u2019t want to talk to you.\u2019<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>He said he didn\u2019t want to talk to me.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>She said she was planning to resign.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>He said he had already told me.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>I told him I had seen him break it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>You said you were going to cook that night.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>He said he would see me soon.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>She said she couldn\u2019t hear me.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>He said I might be right.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>He said he\u2019d like to go.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>She said it might be difficult.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>She asked me where I was from.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>He asked me why she had said that.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>We asked them if they were going to help.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>She asked us whether we had visited the London Eye.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>She said she wanted me to give that message to my boss that night.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>I told you yesterday that I don\u2019t want to talk to you.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Tom said he had a new car.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Tom told me he had a new car.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>\u7ec3\u4e60<\/h2>\n<div class=\"h5p-iframe-wrapper\"><iframe id=\"h5p-iframe-1787\" class=\"h5p-iframe\" data-content-id=\"1787\" style=\"height:1px\" src=\"about:blank\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"I10 L5 GRAMMAR Reported speech (statements and questions)\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div class=\"lc-cta lc-cta-placement\" style=\"border-radius:14px;padding:30px;margin:30px 0;text-align:center;color:#fff;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#2B87DA,#29C4A9);\"><h3 style=\"color:#fff;font-size:22px;font-weight:800;margin:0 0 8px;\">\u270d\ufe0f \u4e0d\u786e\u5b9a\u81ea\u5df1\u7684\u6c34\u5e73\u5982\u4f55\uff1f<\/h3><p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;opacity:.95;\">\u53c2\u52a0\u6211\u4eec\u7684\u514d\u8d39\u5206\u7ea7\u6d4b\u8bd5\uff0c\u83b7\u5f97\u7531\u5251\u6865\u8ba4\u8bc1\u8003\u5b98\u63d0\u4f9b\u7684\u4e2a\u6027\u5316\u53cd\u9988\u3002.<\/p><a href=\"\/zh\/%e8%8b%b1%e8%af%ad\/%e5%ad%a6%e9%99%a2\/%e5%85%8d%e8%b4%b9%e6%b5%8b%e8%af%95\/\" style=\"display:inline-block;margin-top:8px;padding:13px 30px;border-radius:8px;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;background:#0A2540;color:#fff;\">\u53c2\u52a0\u6211\u4eec\u7684\u514d\u8d39\u5206\u7ea7\u6d4b\u8bd5<\/a><\/div>\n<h2>\u897f\u73ed\u7259\u8bed\u6bcd\u8bed\u8005\u5e38\u72af\u7684\u9519\u8bef<\/h2>\n<p>Many Spanish speakers often make these mistakes when using reported speech:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>\u4ee4\u4eba\u56f0\u60d1 <span data-no-translation>say<\/span> \u548c <span data-no-translation>tell<\/span>:<\/strong> Direct translation of \"decir a alguien\" can lead to errors.\n<ul>\n<li><strong>\u9519\u8bef\uff1a<\/strong> <span data-no-translation>She said me she was busy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>\u6b63\u786e\uff1a<\/strong> <span data-no-translation>She told me she was busy.<\/span> (\u4f7f\u7528 <span data-no-translation>tell<\/span> with an object)<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u6b63\u786e\uff1a<\/strong> <span data-no-translation>She said she was busy.<\/span> (\u4f7f\u7528 <span data-no-translation>say<\/span> without an object)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Forgetting to backshift tenses:<\/strong> Especially from Past Simple to Past Perfect when the reporting verb is in the past.\n<ul>\n<li><strong>\u9519\u8bef\uff1a<\/strong> <span data-no-translation>He said he went to the party yesterday.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>\u6b63\u786e\uff1a<\/strong> <span data-no-translation>He said he had gone to the party the day before.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Not changing the word order in reported questions:<\/strong> Remember to use statement word order (subject + verb).\n<ul>\n<li><strong>\u9519\u8bef\uff1a<\/strong> <span data-no-translation>She asked me where was I from.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>\u6b63\u786e\uff1a<\/strong> <span data-no-translation>She asked me where I was from.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>\u5e38\u89c1\u95ee\u9898<\/h2>\n<h3>\u4e3a\u4ec0\u4e48\u5728\u95f4\u63a5\u5f15\u8bed\u4e2d\u8981\u6539\u53d8\u65f6\u6001\uff1f<\/h3>\n<p>We change tenses (called \"backshift\") because the original words were spoken at an earlier time. The reported speech reflects that past moment. For example, <span data-no-translation>\u2018I am hungry\u2019<\/span> \u53d8\u6210 <span data-no-translation>He said he was hungry<\/span>, because at the time of reporting, he *was* hungry.<\/p>\n<h3>\u65f6\u6001\u8f6c\u6362\u603b\u662f\u5fc5\u8981\u7684\u5417\uff1f<\/h3>\n<p>No, not always. If the reported statement is still true or relevant at the moment of reporting, or if the reporting verb is in the present tense (e.g., <span data-no-translation>He says...<\/span>), you don't need to backshift. For example, <span data-no-translation>She said the Earth is round<\/span> is correct because it's a universal truth.<\/p>\n<h3>\u5728'say'\u6216'tell'\u540e\u9762\u53ef\u4ee5\u7528'that'\u5417\uff1f<\/h3>\n<p>\u662f\u7684\uff0c, <span data-no-translation>that<\/span> is optional after <span data-no-translation>say<\/span> \u6216 <span data-no-translation>tell<\/span> in reported statements. For example, <span data-no-translation>He said he was tired<\/span> \u548c <span data-no-translation>He said that he was tired<\/span> are both correct. It's often omitted in informal speech.<\/p>\n<h3>What's the main difference between reporting statements and reporting questions?<\/h3>\n<p>The main difference is word order and the use of conjunctions. For statements, we use subject + verb. For questions, we also use subject + verb (not question word order), and we add <span data-no-translation>if\/whether<\/span> for yes\/no questions, or keep the question word for Wh- questions.<\/p>\n<h2>\u76f8\u5173\u8bfe\u7a0b<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/langcom.org\/zh\/?p=272801\">Reported speech<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reported speech is how we tell someone what another person said, without using their exact words. This is a key skill for B1 English learners, allowing you to share information and conversations smoothly. When we use reported speech, we often change the verb tense to a &#8220;past&#8221; form, a process called &#8220;backshift.&#8221; For example, \u2018I [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":192,"featured_media":274446,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"bwfblock_default_font":"","langcom_teaches":"Reported speech","langcom_cefr":"B1","langcom_type":"grammar","langcom_faq":"[{\"q\": \"Why do we change tenses in reported speech?\", \"a\": \"We change tenses (called \\\"backshift\\\") because the original words were spoken at an earlier time. The reported speech reflects that past moment. For example, <span data-no-translation>\u2018I am hungry\u2019<\/span> becomes <span data-no-translation>He said he was hungry<\/span>, because at the time of reporting, he *was* hungry.\"}, {\"q\": \"Is it always necessary to backshift tenses?\", \"a\": \"No, not always. If the reported statement is still true or relevant at the moment of reporting, or if the reporting verb is in the present tense (e.g., <span data-no-translation>He says...<\/span>), you don't need to backshift. For example, <span data-no-translation>She said the Earth is round<\/span> is correct because it's a universal truth.\"}, {\"q\": \"Can I use 'that' after 'say' or 'tell'?\", \"a\": \"Yes, <span data-no-translation>that<\/span> is optional after <span data-no-translation>say<\/span> or <span data-no-translation>tell<\/span> in reported statements. For example, <span data-no-translation>He said he was tired<\/span> and <span data-no-translation>He said that he was tired<\/span> are both correct. It's often omitted in informal speech.\"}, {\"q\": \"What's the main difference between reporting statements and reporting questions?\", \"a\": \"The main difference is word order and the use of conjunctions. For statements, we use subject + verb. For questions, we also use subject + verb (not question word order), and we add <span data-no-translation>if\/whether<\/span> for yes\/no questions, or keep the question word for Wh- questions.\"}]","_kiss_seo_title":"","_kiss_seo_excerpt":"Reported speech is how we tell someone what another person said, without using their exact words.","_mwseo_canonical":"","_mwseo_keywords":"","_mwseo_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[168],"tags":[651,1118],"formats":[],"class_list":["post-273385","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-b1-intermediate-english","tag-grammar","tag-reported-speech-statements-and-questions"],"dsm_author":{"name":"\u52b3\u5c14","avatar_url":"https:\/\/langcom.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/nsl_avatars\/1de86ea706740d324aaef3dd8bf0843b.png","archive_link":"https:\/\/langcom.org\/zh\/blog\/author\/raulmaguinahamann\/","biodata":""},"dsm_categories":[{"term_name":"B1 Intermediate 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