‘That’ may or may not be used when using Reported Speech. We know with or without it the meaning remains the same. At times it can even sound cumbersome. Not having to use ‘that’ can keep things simpler for the EFL Learner. They can even sound more natural.
Example:
Aina said she was going to the cinema tomorrow
OR
Aina said (that) she was going to the cinema tomorrow
What is Reported Speech?
Reported Speech is also known as Indirect Speech. It basically means that you report on what another person has said. Changing Direct Speech to Reported Speech can be complicated at times as verb tenses and subject pronouns have to be changed.
Example:
Direct Speech:
Aina: I am going to the cinema tomorrow
Indirect Speech:
Juan: She said (that) she was going to the cinema tomorrow
The present continuous am going changes to past continuous was going because Juan is reporting something that has already been said (in the past) and the pronoun I changes to She as Juan is reporting on what Aina has said.