Reported Statements
Learn the basic pattern for retelling a statement, the difference between say and tell, and when the word that can be left out.
Retelling what was stated
A reported statement follows a simple, consistent pattern.
A reported statement retells a declarative sentence, one that gives information, using a reporting verb followed by an optional that and a clause.
In “I like tea,” he said., his exact words are quoted. In He said (that) he liked tea., the reporting verb said introduces the retold clause, and liked reflects the shift in tense.
This lesson covers the pattern behind reported statements, including the choice between say and tell. The full mechanics of tense shifting are covered in the Backshifting Tenses lesson.
Before you begin
This is one of ten topics on reported speech.
This lesson focuses on reported statements specifically. Reported speech as a whole includes nine other topics, each covered in its own lesson.
If you would like an overview of reported speech in general, begin with the Reported Speech page.
The central idea
A reporting verb replaces the quotation marks entirely.
Compare a direct statement with its reported version.
01
Direct statement
“I like tea,” he said.
02
Reported statement
He said (that) he liked tea.
The useful question is: what holds the retold clause together?
The reporting verb, said, does the work the quotation marks once did, introducing the retold idea as part of the sentence itself.
The basic pattern
Subject, reporting verb, an optional that, and the retold clause.
He said (that) he liked tea.
The subject of the reporting verb does not need to match the subject of the retold clause; here, he appears in both roles, since he is retelling his own earlier statement.
Say versus tell
Tell needs a listener; say does not require one.
Say, without a listener named
He said (that) he liked tea.
Tell, with a listener named directly
He told me (that) he liked tea.
Tell is followed directly by the person being spoken to, without a preposition in between.
Say, with a listener named using to
He said to me (that) he liked tea.
This version is possible but far less common than using told for the same idea.
The role of that
That can usually be included, or left out.
He said (that) he liked tea.
That is often dropped in everyday speech and casual writing, but included more often in formal writing. Both versions are correct, and the meaning stays the same either way.
Going further with tense
Tense usually shifts one step into the past.
In the examples on this page, liked reflects a shift from the present tense used in the original statement. This shift, called backshifting, is covered in full detail in its own lesson.
A useful decision guide
Ask which reporting verb fits, and whether a listener is named.
01
Is a specific listener being named?
If so, tell usually fits more naturally than say.
02
Should that be included, or left out?
Both are correct; the choice often depends on formality.
03
Do the pronouns in the clause need to change?
Check whether they still refer to the right person from the new point of view.
04
Does the verb tense need to shift?
In most cases, it moves one step into the past.
Common mistakes
Say and tell are not interchangeable in every situation.
Tell needs a listener directly after it.
Not: He told (that) he liked tea.
Correct: He told me (that) he liked tea.
Without a listener named, said is needed instead of told.
Say is not followed directly by a listener without to.
Not: He said me (that) he liked tea.
Correct: He told me (that) he liked tea. / He said to me (that) he liked tea.
Quotation marks are not kept in a reported statement.
Not: He said that “he liked tea.”
Correct: He said that he liked tea.
Check your understanding
Which verb correctly completes each sentence?
Choose the correct answer for each sentence.
She __________ us (that) she would be late.
✅ Exactly! A listener, “us”, is named directly, so “told” fits here.
❎ Not quite. Is a listener named directly after the verb?
Is a listener named right after the verb?
He __________ (that) the meeting was cancelled.
✅ Exactly! No listener is named, so “said” fits here.
❎ Not quite. “Told” needs a listener directly after it, which is missing here.
Is anyone named as the listener?
Which sentence is correctly formed?
✅ Exactly! Reported speech does not keep quotation marks.
❎ Not quite. Once a sentence is reported, it should not be inside quotation marks.
Should reported speech have quotation marks?
Choose the best explanation
Select the sentence that explains the mistake correctly.
Why is “He told (that) he liked tea.” not correctly formed?
✅ Exactly! Without a named listener, “said” is the verb this sentence needs.
❎ Not quite. Look at what follows “told” directly.
Why is “He said me (that) he liked tea.” not correctly formed?
✅ Exactly! “Told” or “said to” would both fix this sentence correctly.
❎ Not quite. Compare “said” here to how “tell” is used with a listener.
Quick review
A reporting verb introduces the retold clause, with or without that.
A reported statement follows a subject, a reporting verb, an optional that, and the retold clause.
Tell is followed directly by the listener; say is not, unless to is used before the listener.
That can be included or left out without changing the meaning.
The verb tense in the retold clause often shifts one step into the past, a process covered in full in the Backshifting Tenses lesson.
Remember
Check whether a listener is named before choosing say or tell.
If a listener is named directly, reach for tell. If not, say is the more natural choice.