Grammar study page: word order in reported speech sentences

Structures of reported speech
direct speech reported speech	She said, "It is better to wait." She said (that) it was better to wait.
direct speech reported speech	He said, "I have never been to Spain." He said (that) he had never been to Spain.

Structures of reported questions
direct speech reported question	She asked, "Is it better to wait?" She asked if it was better to wait.
direct speech reported question	He asked, "Have you been to Spain?" He asked if I had been to Spain.

Reported speech - common mistakes
Common mistakes	Correct version	Why?
She said me that she wasn't able to do it.	She told me that she wasn't able to do it.	After tell we mention the listener. After say we don't mention the listener.
She told me that she is looking for her handbag.	She told me that she was looking for her handbag.	If the reporting verb (in this case tell) is in the past tense, the tenses used in the original sentence normally have to be changed: I am becomes I was I can becomes I could have been becomes had been was becomes had been will becomes would can becomes could
He told me he hasn't seen her before.	He told me he hadn't seen her before.
She told me she will see him later.	She told me she would see him later.
I told him don't go there.	I told him not to go there	When we report a command or warning, we use: (not) + to + infinitive.

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