reported speech
noun /rɪˌpɔːtɪd ˈspiːtʃ/
/rɪˌpɔːrtɪd ˈspiːtʃ/
(also indirect speech)
[uncountable] (grammar)- a report of what somebody has said that does not use their exact words
- In reported speech, ‘“I'll come later,” he said.’ becomes ‘He said he'd come later.’
- Certain grammatical rules must be followed when describing a conversation in reported speech.