Reported Speech / Indirect Speech
الكلام المنقول / الكلام غير المباشر
Introduction
Reported speech (also called indirect speech) is used to tell someone what another person said without using their exact words.
First, you will learn the difference between direct and reported speech. Second, you will see how to change tenses, pronouns, and time expressions. Finally, you will practice with examples and exercises.
For example, instead of saying “I am tired,” you can report it as “She said that she was tired.” In addition, reported speech is very common in everyday conversation, storytelling, and news reports.
Let’s begin!
المقدمة
الكلام المنقول (ويسمى أيضاً الكلام غير المباشر) يُستخدم لإخبار شخص ما بما قاله شخص آخر دون استخدام كلماته الدقيقة.
أولاً، ستتعلم الفرق بين الكلام المباشر والمنقول. ثانياً، سترى كيفية تغيير الأزمنة والضمائر والتعبيرات الزمنية. وأخيراً، ستتدرب مع الأمثلة والتمارين.
على سبيل المثال، بدلاً من قول “أنا متعب”، يمكنك نقله كـ “She said that she was tired”. بالإضافة إلى ذلك، الكلام المنقول شائع جداً في المحادثات اليومية وسرد القصص والتقارير الإخبارية.
لنبدأ!
1. Direct vs Reported Speech
١. الكلام المباشر مقابل الكلام المنقول
Direct Speech: The exact words of the speaker are used with quotation marks.
- Ahmed said, “I am hungry.”
- She said, “I will come tomorrow.”
Reported Speech: The speaker’s words are reported without quotation marks.
- Ahmed said that he was hungry.
- She said that she would come the next day.
الكلام المباشر: يتم استخدام كلمات المتحدث الدقيقة مع علامات التنصيص.
- (قال أحمد: “أنا جائع”). Ahmed said, “I am hungry.”
- (قالت: “سآتي غداً”). She said, “I will come tomorrow.”
الكلام المنقول: يتم نقل كلمات المتحدث دون علامات تنصيص.
- (قال أحمد إنه جائع). Ahmed said that he was hungry.
- (قالت إنها ستأتي في اليوم التالي). She said that she would come the next day.
Reporting Verbs:
| Verb | Use | Example |
| say | General reporting | He said (that) he was tired. |
| tell | Used with an object | He told me (that) he was tired. |
| ask | For questions | She asked if I was ready. |
| explain | For explanations | He explained why he was late. |
أفعال النقل:
| الفعل | الاستخدام | مثال |
| say | النقل العام | (قال إنه متعب). He said (that) he was tired. |
| tell | يُستخدم مع مفعول به | (أخبرني أنه متعب). He told me (that) he was tired. |
| ask | للأسئلة | (سألت إذا كنت جاهزاً). She asked if I was ready. |
| explain | للتوضيحات | (شرح لماذا تأخر). He explained why he was late. |
2. Tense Changes in Reported Speech
٢. تغيير الأزمنة في الكلام المنقول
When the reporting verb is in the past tense (said, told, asked, etc.), the tense usually changes:
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
| Present Simple: “I work hard.” | Past Simple: He said he worked hard. |
| Present Continuous: “I am working.” | Past Continuous: He said he was working. |
| Present Perfect: “I have finished.” | Past Perfect: He said he had finished. |
| Past Simple: “I went to the store.” | Past Perfect: He said he had gone to the store. |
| Future (will): “I will come.” | would: He said he would come. |
| can: “I can swim.” | could: He said he could swim. |
| must: “I must go.” | had to: He said he had to go. |
| may: “I may come.” | might: He said he might come. |
عندما يكون فعل النقل في الماضي (said, told, asked, إلخ)، يتغير الزمن عادةً:
| الكلام المباشر | الكلام المنقول |
| المضارع البسيط: “I work hard.” | الماضي البسيط: (قال إنه يعمل بجد). He said he worked hard. |
| المضارع المستمر: “I am working.” | الماضي المستمر: (قال إنه كان يعمل). He said he was working. |
| المضارع التام: “I have finished.” | الماضي التام: (قال إنه قد أنهى). He said he had finished. |
| الماضي البسيط: “I went to the store.” | الماضي التام: (قال إنه قد ذهب إلى المتجر). He said he had gone to the store. |
| المستقبل (will): “I will come.” | would: (قال إنه سيأتي). He said he would come. |
| can: “I can swim.” | could: (قال إنه يستطيع السباحة). He said he could swim. |
| must: “I must go.” | had to: (قال إنه يجب أن يذهب). He said he had to go. |
| may: “I may come.” | might: (قال إنه ربما يأتي). He said he might come. |
3. Pronoun Changes — تغيير الضمائر
Pronouns change according to the subject of the reporting verb:
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
| I → he/she | “I am tired.” → She said she was tired. |
| you → I/he/she/they | “You are kind.” → He said I was kind. |
| we → they | “We are ready.” → They said they were ready. |
| my → his/her/their | “This is my book.” → He said it was his book. |
تتغير الضمائر حسب فاعل فعل النقل:
| الكلام المباشر | الكلام المنقول |
| I → he/she | (أنا متعب → قالت إنها متعبة). “I am tired.” → She said she was tired. |
| you → I/he/she/they | (أنت لطيف → قال إنني كنت لطيفاً). “You are kind.” → He said I was kind. |
| we → they | (نحن جاهزون → قالوا إنهم جاهزون). “We are ready.” → They said they were ready. |
| my → his/her/their | (هذا كتابي → قال إنه كتابه). “This is my book.” → He said it was his book. |
4. Time and Place Changes
٤. تغيير الزمان والمكان
Time expressions change in reported speech:
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
| now | then |
| today | that day |
| tomorrow | the next day / the following day |
| yesterday | the day before / the previous day |
| this week | that week |
| last week | the week before / the previous week |
| next week | the following week / the next week |
| here | there |
Examples:
- “I am busy now.” → She said she was busy then.
- “I will call you tomorrow.” → He said he would call me the next day.
- “I saw her yesterday.” → He said he had seen her the day before.
- “I am here.” → She said she was there.
تتغير التعبيرات الزمنية في الكلام المنقول:
| الكلام المباشر | الكلام المنقول |
| now (الآن) | then (آنذاك) |
| today (اليوم) | that day (ذلك اليوم) |
| tomorrow (غداً) | the next day / the following day (اليوم التالي) |
| yesterday (أمس) | the day before / the previous day (اليوم السابق) |
| this week (هذا الأسبوع) | that week (ذلك الأسبوع) |
| last week (الأسبوع الماضي) | the week before / the previous week (الأسبوع السابق) |
| next week (الأسبوع القادم) | the following week / the next week (الأسبوع التالي) |
| here (هنا) | there (هناك) |
أمثلة:
- (أنا مشغول الآن → قالت إنها كانت مشغولة آنذاك). “I am busy now.” → She said she was busy then.
- (سأتصل بك غداً → قال إنه سيتصل بي في اليوم التالي). “I will call you tomorrow.” → He said he would call me the next day.
- (رأيتها أمس → قال إنه قد رآها في اليوم السابق). “I saw her yesterday.” → He said he had seen her the day before.
- (أنا هنا → قالت إنها كانت هناك). “I am here.” → She said she was there.
5. Reported Questions
٥. الأسئلة المنقولة
Reporting Yes/No Questions:
- Use if or whether.
- Change the word order to subject + verb (no question word order).
Examples:
- Direct: “Are you ready?” → Reported: She asked if I was ready.
- Direct: “Do you like coffee?” → Reported: He asked whether I liked coffee.
- Direct: “Have you finished?” → Reported: She asked if I had finished.
Reporting Wh- Questions:
- Keep the question word (who, what, where, when, why, how).
- Change the word order to subject + verb.
Examples:
- Direct: “Where do you live?” → Reported: He asked where I lived.
- Direct: “What is your name?” → Reported: She asked what my name was.
- Direct: “Why are you crying?” → Reported: He asked why I was crying.
نقل أسئلة بنعم/لا:
- استخدم if أو whether.
- غيّر ترتيب الكلمات إلى الفاعل + الفعل (بدون ترتيب السؤال).
أمثلة:
- (مباشر: “هل أنت جاهز؟” → منقول: سألت إذا كنت جاهزاً). Direct: “Are you ready?” → Reported: She asked if I was ready.
- (مباشر: “هل تحب القهوة؟” → منقول: سأل ما إذا كنت أحب القهوة). Direct: “Do you like coffee?” → Reported: He asked whether I liked coffee.
- (مباشر: “هل أنهيت؟” → منقول: سألت إذا كنت قد أنهيت). Direct: “Have you finished?” → Reported: She asked if I had finished.
نقل أسئلة Wh-:
- احتفظ بأداة الاستفهام (who, what, where, when, why, how).
- غيّر ترتيب الكلمات إلى الفاعل + الفعل.
أمثلة:
- (مباشر: “أين تعيش؟” → منقول: سأل أين أعيش). Direct: “Where do you live?” → Reported: He asked where I lived.
- (مباشر: “ما اسمك؟” → منقول: سألت ما هو اسمي). Direct: “What is your name?” → Reported: She asked what my name was.
- (مباشر: “لماذا تبكي؟” → منقول: سأل لماذا كنت أبكي). Direct: “Why are you crying?” → Reported: He asked why I was crying.
6. Reported Commands / Imperatives
٦. الأوامر المنقولة
Reporting Positive Commands:
- Use told + object + to + infinitive
Examples:
- Direct: “Sit down.” → Reported: He told me to sit down.
- Direct: “Open the door.” → Reported: She told him to open the door.
- Direct: “Stay here.” → Reported: They told us to stay there.
Reporting Negative Commands:
- Use told + object + not + to + infinitive
Examples:
- Direct: “Don’t sit down.” → Reported: He told me not to sit down.
- Direct: “Don’t open the door.” → Reported: She told him not to open the door.
- Direct: “Don’t be late.” → Reported: They told us not to be late.
نقل الأوامر الإيجابية:
- استخدم told + مفعول به + to + المصدر
أمثلة:
- (مباشر: “اجلس.” → منقول: أخبرني أن أجلس). Direct: “Sit down.” → Reported: He told me to sit down.
- (مباشر: “افتح الباب.” → منقول: أخبرته أن يفتح الباب). Direct: “Open the door.” → Reported: She told him to open the door.
- (مباشر: “ابق هنا.” → منقول: أخبرونا أن نبقى هناك). Direct: “Stay here.” → Reported: They told us to stay there.
نقل الأوامر السلبية:
- استخدم told + مفعول به + not + to + المصدر
أمثلة:
- (مباشر: “لا تجلس.” → منقول: أخبرني ألا أجلس). Direct: “Don’t sit down.” → Reported: He told me not to sit down.
- (مباشر: “لا تفتح الباب.” → منقول: أخبرته ألا يفتح الباب). Direct: “Don’t open the door.” → Reported: She told him not to open the door.
- (مباشر: “لا تتأخر.” → منقول: أخبرونا ألا نتأخر). Direct: “Don’t be late.” → Reported: They told us not to be late.
7. Common Mistakes — الأخطاء الشائعة
Mistake 1: Forgetting to change the tense
- ❌ She said she is tired.
- ✅ She said she was tired.
الخطأ الأول: نسيان تغيير الزمن
- ❌ She said she is tired.
- ✅ (قالت إنها كانت متعبة). She said she was tired.
Mistake 2: Forgetting to change pronouns
- ❌ Ahmed said that I was tired. (if Ahmed is speaking about himself)
- ✅ Ahmed said that he was tired.
الخطأ الثاني: نسيان تغيير الضمائر
- ❌ (إذا كان أحمد يتحدث عن نفسه). Ahmed said that I was tired.
- ✅ (قال أحمد إنه متعب). Ahmed said that he was tired.
Mistake 3: Using “say” instead of “tell” with an object
- ❌ He said me that he was tired.
- ✅ He told me that he was tired.
الخطأ الثالث: استخدام “say” بدلاً من “tell” مع مفعول به
- ❌ He said me that he was tired.
- ✅ (أخبرني أنه متعب). He told me that he was tired.
Mistake 4: Using question word order in reported questions
- ❌ She asked where was I.
- ✅ She asked where I was.
الخطأ الرابع: استخدام ترتيب السؤال في الأسئلة المنقولة
- ❌ She asked where was I.
- ✅ (سألت أين كنت). She asked where I was.
8. Practice Exercises — تمارين تطبيقية
Change the following sentences to reported speech:
- “I am tired,” she said.
- “We will come tomorrow,” they said.
- “I have finished my homework,” he said.
- “Where do you live?” she asked.
- “Are you ready?” he asked.
- “Sit down,” the teacher said.
- “Don’t be late,” she told me.
- “I can speak three languages,” he said.
Answers:
- She said that she was tired.
- They said that they would come the next day.
- He said that he had finished his homework.
- She asked where I lived.
- He asked if/whether I was ready.
- The teacher told me to sit down.
- She told me not to be late.
- He said that he could speak three languages.
حوّل الجمل التالية إلى الكلام المنقول:
- “I am tired,” she said.
- “We will come tomorrow,” they said.
- “I have finished my homework,” he said.
- “Where do you live?” she asked.
- “Are you ready?” he asked.
- “Sit down,” the teacher said.
- “Don’t be late,” she told me.
- “I can speak three languages,” he said.
الإجابات:
- She said that she was tired. (قالت إنها كانت متعبة)