In English, there are two ways of telling someone what someone else has said.
I. Quoted Speech
Often we may choose to repeat their actual words using a quote structure or quotation, e.g:
"We’re getting married on Saturday!" she said excitedly.
"Are you going to invite your father?" Joe asked.
II. Reported Speech
However, when the information that someone conveys is more important than their actual words, we may want to explain what they have said using our own words, e.g.:
She said that she was getting married on Saturday.
Joe asked whether she was going to invite her father to the wedding.
Examples like these are sometimes referred to as indirect speech or reported speech.
Sentences in reported speech contain a reporting clause with a reporting verb like say or ask, e.g.:
She said…
Joe asked…
This is followed by a reported clause showing someone’s original statement, question or thought, e.g.:
…(that) she was getting married on Saturday.
…(whether) she was going to invite her father to the wedding
