Reporting statements: that clauses

A reported statement (also called indirect speech) is when we repeat what someone said without quoting them word-for-word. We often introduce the reported clause with the conjunction that. The structure usually uses a reporting verb + that + clause.

• Structure: reporting verb + that + subject + verb (e.g., She said that the meeting would start).
• Common reporting verbs: say, tell, explain, confirm, announce, add, recommend.
• With tell we normally include the person told: tell + object + that + clause (e.g., He told me that...).
• In many cases 'that' is optional in informal speech, but keeping it improves clarity, especially in writing.
• When the reporting verb is in the past, we often backshift tenses in the reported clause (e.g., 'will' → 'would').

Use that to introduce the reported clause and keep the sentence clear. Remember how different verbs pattern with objects.

• Use that after most reporting verbs: She said that..., He explained that....
• With tell include the person: tell + object + that (e.g., They told us that...).
• That can be omitted in informal speech with verbs like say: She said (that) the report was late.
• When the reporting verb is past, consider backshifting tenses in the reported clause (present → past, will → would).

Keep 'that' in formal or ambiguous sentences to avoid confusion.

Learners often make predictable, universal errors when forming reported statements. Watch for these:

• Forgetting the reporting verb or using the wrong verb pattern (e.g., using 'say' without 'to' when an object is required).
• Failing to backshift the tense when the reporting verb is in the past (e.g., 'She said that she is...' instead of 'she was...').
• Not changing pronouns or time expressions when necessary (e.g., 'I' vs 'he', 'tomorrow' → 'the next day').
• Incorrect word order by turning the reported clause into a question (e.g., 'He said that when will the meeting start?' is wrong).
• Omitting 'that' in formal writing where clarity is needed, which can create ambiguity.

Check the reporting verb, pronouns, tenses, and time expressions every time you convert direct speech to reported speech.