Reported speech

To report and summarize what someone said, use a reporting verb. Some reporting verbs require an object.

Ex:
" He informed me that he wasn't comming"

"I told him the mailing address was correct."

"He commented that it was the best mistake the postal service had ever made."

"She said that she was going to the store to buy groceries."

​Reported statements

Chris contected me.
"Brian told us that Chris had contacted him."

"I saw your post and recognized the postcard immediatly."
"He told Carly that he had seen her post and had recognized the postcard immediately."

I finished reading the book you recommended.
"He told me he had finished reading the book I recommended.

​To report a past statement, use the past perfect.

"It has to be a mistake."
My husband said that it had to be a mistake.

"The mailing address is correct."
I told him the mailing address was correct.

​To report a present tense statement, use the simple past. 

​To report  instructions

• use a past tense reporting verb (told)

• then include who received them (Brian)

• followed by an infinitive verb (to bring).
  

  Ex: "Bring him over to our house"

  We told him to bring him over to our house.

  "Clean your room"

  She told me to clean my room