Overview
Common pronoun errors in reported speech occur when writers fail to shift pronouns from the speaker's perspective to the reporter's: 'She said I was tired' (wrong) vs. 'She said she was tired' (correct). The pronoun must reflect who is being referred to from the reporter's point of view.
Pronoun Error Types
- Keeping I❌ She said I was tired. ✅ She said she was tired.
- Keeping we❌ He said we had finished. ✅ He said they had finished.
- Wrong you❌ She said you should go. ✅ She said I / he / they should go.
Pronoun Change Table
- I / me →he/him or she/her
- my →his or her
- we / us →they / them
- our →their
Context Rules for You
- you changes depending on who is being spoken to.
- Example'I'll help you,' she told me. → She said she'd help me.
- Example'I'll help you,' she told him. → She said she'd help him.
When to use
Exam writing
She said she (NOT I) had already applied.
Conversation
He told me he (NOT I) would call later.
Emails
She confirmed that her team had finished the report.
Grammar class
They said they (NOT we) were ready to begin.