Reported Speech is used to report what someone said. When we use reported speech, we are usually talking about the past. So, verbs usually change to the past in reported speech. (Haryanti, 2000: 31). They are two ways of relating what a person has said: 1. Direct Speech In direct speech we repeat the original speaker’s exact words. Example: He said, ‘ I have lost my umbrella.’ 2. Indirect (Reported) Speech In indirect speech we give the exact meaning of a remark or a speech, without necessarily using the speaker’s exact words. Example: He said (that) he had lost his umbrella The Rules of Reported Speech 1. When we use reported speech, the main verb of the sentence is usually past. Example: Tom said that he was feeling ill. I told her that I didn’t have any money. 2. In general, the present form in direct speech changes to the past form in reported speech Example: Direct Judy: My parents are very well. Reported Judy said that her parents were very well. 3. In general, the past simple form in direct speech changes to the past perfect in reported speech. Example: Direct Tom said: ‘I woke up feeling ill, so I didn’t go to work. Reported Tom said (that) he had woken up feeling ill, so he hadn’t gone to work The Kind of Reported Speech There are many kinds of reported speech: 1. Reported Statement Reported statement uses the reporting verb ‘that’, but ‘that’ is optional, so it is placed in bracket. Example: Quoted Statement She said, ‘I watch TV everyday. Reported Statement She said (that) she watched TV everyday. 2. Reported Imperative Reported Imperative is used to report invitation or command from someone to other people. Example : Quoted Imperative : Jamal said, ‘Please come to my party’. Reported Imperative : Jamal invited me to come to his party. Note : In the reporterd Imperative, verb follows by object (pro) noun and then followed by infinitive phrase. The following verbs is always used in reported imperative: Advice - permit - invite Ask - encourage - order Remind - tell - warn 3. Reported Question Reported Question is used to report questions. The interrogative form of the verb changes to the affimative form, the question mark (?) is therefore omitted in reported speech. Example: Quoted Question : He said, ‘Where does she live?’ Reported Question : He asked where she lived. 4. Reported Exclamation Reported Exclamation is reporting of someone’s feeling or see. Example: Quoted Exclamation : He said, ‘What a dreadful thing!’ Reported Exclamation : He said that it was a dreadful thing.