Example: Peter: "I cleaned the black shoes yesterday." Peter told me that _________________________________
Answer: Peter told me that .
1) Emily: "Our teacher will go to Leipzig tomorrow." Emily said that
2) Helen: "I was writing a letter yesterday." Helen told me that
3) Robert: "My father flew to Dallas last year." Robert told me that
4) Lisa: "Tim went to the stadium an hour ago." Lisa said that
5) Patricia: "My mother will celebrate her birthday next weekend." Patricia said that
6) Michael: "I am going to read a book this week." Michael said to me that
7) Jason and Victoria: "We will do our best in the exams tomorrow." Jason and Victoria told me that
8) Andrew: "We didn't eat fish two days ago." Andrew remarked that
9) Alice: "I spent all my pocket money on Monday." Alice complained that
10) David: "John had already gone at six." David said that
Finish the sentences using Reported speech. change the tense, although it is sometimes not necessary.
Example: Peter: "Clean the black shoes!" Peter told me _________________________
Answer: Peter told me .
1) Andrew: "Clean the blue bike!" Andrew told me
2) Jessica: "Write a text message!" Jessica told me
3) Nelly: "Help Peter's sister!" Nelly told me
4) Fred: "Wash your hands!" Fred told me
5) Anna: "Open the window!" Anna told me
6) Tom: "Come at 8!" Tom told me
7) Teacher: "Do your homework!" The teacher told me
8) Doris: "Dance with me!" Doris told me
9) Sabine: "Meet Sandy at the station!" Sabine told me
10) Victoria: "Check your e-mails!" Victoria told me
Finish the sentences using Reported speech. change the tense, although it is sometimes not necessary.
Example: Peter: "Don't clean the black shoes!" Peter told me _________________________
Answer: Peter told me .
1) Karen: "Don't play football in the garden!" Karen told me
2) Teacher: "Don't forget your homework!" The teacher reminded me
3) Mike: "Don't shout at Peter!" Mike told me
4) Yvonne: "Don't talk to your neighbour!" Yvonne told me
5) Denise: "Don't open the door!" Denise told me
6) Marcel: "Don't sing that song!" Marcel reminded me
7) Jane: "Don't watch the new film!" Jane advised me
8) Walter: "Don't ring Romy on Sunday!" Walter told me
9) Lisa: "Don't fly via Paris!" Lisa advised me
10) Jamie: "Don't eat so much junk food!" Jamie reminded me
Finish the sentences using Reported speech. change the tense, although it is sometimes not necessary.
Example: Peter: "Did John clean the black shoes yesterday?" Peter asked me _________________________________________
Answer: Peter asked me .
1) Mandy: "Are the boys reading the book?" Yesterday Mandy asked me
2) Jason: "Who gave you the laptop?" Yesterday Jason wanted to know
3) Robert: "Is Tim leaving on Friday?" Yesterday Robert asked me
4) Daniel: "Will it rain tomorrow?" Yesterday Daniel asked me
5) Jennifer: "Where do you play football today?" Yesterday Jennifer wanted to know
6) Nancy: "Why didn't Nick go to New York last summer?" Yesterday Nancy wanted to know
7) Barbara: "Must I do my homework this afternoon?" Yesterday Barbara asked me
8) Linda: "Did Max fly to London two weeks ago?" Yesterday Linda wanted to know
9) Grandmother: "Where are my glasses?" Yesterday Grandmother asked me
10) A man: "When does the train to Liverpool leave?" Yesterday a man asked me
Let’s practise the other introductory verbs. The verbs are given. Rewrite the following commands / requests / suggestions into reported speech in the past.
1) “Let’s go to the disco.” Tom – suggest
2) “Give me roasted meat with rice.” Mr Knight – order – the waiter
3) “Come on, Danny, write down your novel.” Angie - encourage
4) “Don’t meet these criminals, please!” Mum – beg - Allan
5) “Give me the salt, please” Brad - ask - Patrick
6) “Don’t touch this wire!” The electrician – warn – the children
7) “Remember to put the soup into the fridge.” Dad – remind - mum
8) “Take the second street on the right.” The officer – advise – the tourist
9) “Punish the wrong behaviour in the class.” Mr Hart - agree
10) “Tidy your room.” Mrs Taylor - tell – Susan
Ïadvise
Ïorder
Ïagree
Ïremind
Ïask
Ïsuggest
Ïbeg
Ïtell
Ïencourage
Ïwarn
1) “Have your eyes tested.” The teacher to Liam
2) “Draw up the car immediately.” Captain Kingsley to the corporal
3) “Don’t let him do this crazy trick, please.” Don to Jim
4) “Hold my umbrella for a moment, please.” Mrs Marks to Mr Farley
5) “Give an award to the best student.” Mrs Simons
6) “Take the children to the museum.” Dad to mum
7) “Come on, girls, let’s show our courage.” The teacher
8) “Don’t sit on that fresh painted bench.” The park-keeper to Julian
9) “Don’t forget to post the letter to grandma.” Trina to Kevin
10) “Find a better place to play.” Mr Glum to the children
Use the following reporting verbs to report the following sentences:
advised, claimed, promised, refused, suggested
"I won't tell you where I've hidden it"
"Why don´t you go to Greece? It's beautiful"
"I won't lose it, I will bring it back tomorrow"
"It wasn't me. It was Pete!"
"You should report it to the police"
Told Said Advised Warned Suggested Asked Offered Ordered
1. "I'd go and see a doctor if I were you," Julie said to me. Julie me to go and see a doctor.
2. "Can you come and help me with this box?" John me to help him with the box.
3. "This is an exam Mr. Jenkins!! Shut up now!!!" The headmaster Mr. Jenkins to shut up.
4. "That road is very dangerous so just be very careful!" His mother him that the road was very dangerous and to be careful.
5. "Liverpool won the match last night." The journalist that Liverpool had won the match the previous night.
6. "Why don't we go and see that new film at the cinema." Bill going to see the new film at the cinema.
7. "I can come and look after the children tomorrow night." Jane to come and look after the children the following day.
8. "The lesson starts at six o'clock in the evening." The teacher us that the lesson started at six in the evening.
Reported speech answers
1) Emily:"Our teacher will go to Leipzig tomorrow." Emily said that .
2) Helen:"I was writing a letter yesterday." Helen told me that .
3) Robert:"My father flew to Dallas last year." Robert told me that .
4) Lisa:"Tim went to the stadium an hour ago." Lisa said that .
5) Patricia:"My mother will celebrate her birthday next weekend." Patricia said that .
6) Michael:"I am going to read a book this week." Michael said to me that .
7) Jason and Victoria:"We will do our best in the exams tomorrow." Jason and Victoria told me that .
8) Andrew:"We didn't eat fish two days ago." Andrew remarked that .
9) Alice:"I spent all my pocket money on Monday." Alice complained that .
10) David:"John had already gone at six." David said that .
1) Andrew:"Clean the blue bike!" Andrew told me .
2) Jessica:"Write a text message!" Jessica told me .
3) Nelly:"Help Peter's sister!" Nelly told me .
4) Fred:"Wash your hands!" Fred told me .
5) Anna:"Open the window!" Anna told me .
6) Tom:"Come at 8!" Tom told me .
7) Teacher:"Do your homework!" The teacher told me .
8) Doris:"Dance with me!" Doris told me .
9) Sabine:"Meet Sandy at the station!" Sabine told me .
10) Victoria:"Check your e-mails!" Victoria told me
1) Karen:"Don't play football in the garden!" Karen told me .
2) Teacher:"Don't forget your homework!" The teacher reminded me .
3) Mike:"Don't shout at Peter!" Mike told me .
4) Yvonne:"Don't talk to your neighbour!" Yvonne told me .
5) Denise:"Don't open the door!" Denise told me .
6) Marcel:"Don't sing that song!" Marcel reminded me .
7) Jane:"Don't watch the new film!" Jane advised me .
8) Walter:"Don't ring Romy on Sunday!" Walter told me .
9) Lisa:"Don't fly via Paris!" Lisa advised me .
10) Jamie:"Don't eat so much junk food!" Jamie reminded me .
1) Mandy:"Are the boys reading the book?" Yesterday Mandy asked me .
2) Jason:"Who gave you the laptop?" Yesterday Jason wanted to know .
3) Robert:"Is Tim leaving on Friday?" Yesterday Robert asked me .
4) Daniel:"Will it rain tomorrow?" Yesterday Daniel asked me .
5) Jennifer:"Where do you play football today?" Yesterday Jennifer wanted to know .
6) Nancy:"Why didn't Nick go to New York last summer?" Yesterday Nancy wanted to know .
7) Barbara:"Must I do my homework this afternoon?" Yesterday Barbara asked me .
8) Linda:"Did Max fly to London two weeks ago?" Yesterday Linda wanted to know .
9) Grandmother:"Where are my glasses?" Yesterday Grandmother asked me .
10) A man:"When does the train to Liverpool leave?" Yesterday a man asked me
PRESENT SIMPLE
PRESENT PERFECT
PERFECT TENSES
REPORTED SPEECH
PASSIVE VOICE
REWRITING INTENSIFIERS
MODAL VERBS
ESO 3 DIVERSIFICACIÓN
WEB ACTIVITIES
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Change these direct questions into reported speech:, no comments:, post a comment, composition on female education in bangladesh for examination.
Female Education in Bangladesh Education is a light to which everybody has the equal right. Education is the backbone of a nation. The ...
Passage Narration for JSC,SSC and HSC Examination Dhaka Borad – 2017 Change the narrative style by using direct/indirect speeches. “Follow my example,” she said as we shook hands, “...
100 Reported Speech Examples: How To Change Direct Speech Into Indirect Speech
Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is a way of communicating what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. For example, if your friend said, “ I am going to the store ,” in reported speech, you might convey this as, “ My friend said he was going to the store. ” Reported speech is common in both spoken and written language, especially in storytelling, news reporting, and everyday conversations.
Reported Speech: Changing Pronouns
Pronouns are usually changed to match the perspective of the person reporting the speech. For example, “I” in direct speech may become “he” or “she” in reported speech, depending on the context. Here are some example sentences:
Reported Speech: Reporting Verbs
Reported speech: tense shifts.
When converting direct speech into reported speech, the verb tense is often shifted back one step in time. This is known as the “backshift” of tenses. It’s essential to adjust the tense to reflect the time elapsed between the original speech and the reporting. Here are some examples to illustrate how different tenses in direct speech are transformed in reported speech:
Reported Speech: Changing Time and Place References
Reported speech: question format.
When converting questions from direct speech into reported speech, the format changes significantly. Unlike statements, questions require rephrasing into a statement format and often involve the use of introductory verbs like ‘asked’ or ‘inquired’. Here are some examples to demonstrate how questions in direct speech are converted into statements in reported speech:
Reported Speech: Omitting Quotation Marks
Reported speech quiz.
What is Reported Speech and how to use it? with Examples
Published by
Olivia Drake
Reported speech and indirect speech are two terms that refer to the same concept, which is the act of expressing what someone else has said.
On this page:
Reported speech is different from direct speech because it does not use the speaker’s exact words. Instead, the reporting verb is used to introduce the reported speech, and the tense and pronouns are changed to reflect the shift in perspective. There are two main types of reported speech: statements and questions.
1. Reported Statements: In reported statements, the reporting verb is usually “said.” The tense in the reported speech changes from the present simple to the past simple, and any pronouns referring to the speaker or listener are changed to reflect the shift in perspective. For example, “I am going to the store,” becomes “He said that he was going to the store.”
2. Reported Questions: In reported questions, the reporting verb is usually “asked.” The tense in the reported speech changes from the present simple to the past simple, and the word order changes from a question to a statement. For example, “What time is it?” becomes “She asked what time it was.”
It’s important to note that the tense shift in reported speech depends on the context and the time of the reported speech. Here are a few more examples:
Direct speech: “I will call you later.”Reported speech: He said that he would call me later.
Direct speech: “Did you finish your homework?”Reported speech: She asked if I had finished my homework.
Direct speech: “I love pizza.”Reported speech: They said that they loved pizza.
When do we use reported speech?
Reported speech is used to report what someone else has said, thought, or written. It is often used in situations where you want to relate what someone else has said without quoting them directly.
Reported speech can be used in a variety of contexts, such as in news reports, academic writing, and everyday conversation. Some common situations where reported speech is used include:
News reports: Journalists often use reported speech to quote what someone said in an interview or press conference.
Business and professional communication: In professional settings, reported speech can be used to summarize what was discussed in a meeting or to report feedback from a customer.
Conversational English: In everyday conversations, reported speech is used to relate what someone else said. For example, “She told me that she was running late.”
Narration: In written narratives or storytelling, reported speech can be used to convey what a character said or thought.
How to make reported speech?
1. Change the pronouns and adverbs of time and place: In reported speech, you need to change the pronouns, adverbs of time and place to reflect the new speaker or point of view. Here’s an example:
Direct speech: “I’m going to the store now,” she said. Reported speech: She said she was going to the store then.
In this example, the pronoun “I” is changed to “she” and the adverb “now” is changed to “then.”
2. Change the tense: In reported speech, you usually need to change the tense of the verb to reflect the change from direct to indirect speech. Here’s an example:
Direct speech: “I will meet you at the park tomorrow,” he said. Reported speech: He said he would meet me at the park the next day.
In this example, the present tense “will” is changed to the past tense “would.”
3. Change reporting verbs: In reported speech, you can use different reporting verbs such as “say,” “tell,” “ask,” or “inquire” depending on the context of the speech. Here’s an example:
Direct speech: “Did you finish your homework?” she asked. Reported speech: She asked if I had finished my homework.
In this example, the reporting verb “asked” is changed to “said” and “did” is changed to “had.”
Overall, when making reported speech, it’s important to pay attention to the verb tense and the changes in pronouns, adverbs, and reporting verbs to convey the original speaker’s message accurately.
How do I change the pronouns and adverbs in reported speech?
1. Changing Pronouns: In reported speech, the pronouns in the original statement must be changed to reflect the perspective of the new speaker. Generally, the first person pronouns (I, me, my, mine, we, us, our, ours) are changed according to the subject of the reporting verb, while the second and third person pronouns (you, your, yours, he, him, his, she, her, hers, it, its, they, them, their, theirs) are changed according to the object of the reporting verb. For example:
Direct speech: “I love chocolate.” Reported speech: She said she loved chocolate.
Direct speech: “You should study harder.” Reported speech: He advised me to study harder.
Direct speech: “She is reading a book.” Reported speech: They noticed that she was reading a book.
2. Changing Adverbs: In reported speech, the adverbs and adverbial phrases that indicate time or place may need to be changed to reflect the perspective of the new speaker. For example:
Direct speech: “I’m going to the cinema tonight.” Reported speech: She said she was going to the cinema that night.
Direct speech: “He is here.” Reported speech: She said he was there.
Note that the adverb “now” usually changes to “then” or is omitted altogether in reported speech, depending on the context.
It’s important to keep in mind that the changes made to pronouns and adverbs in reported speech depend on the context and the perspective of the new speaker. With practice, you can become more comfortable with making these changes in reported speech.
How do I change the tense in reported speech?
In reported speech, the tense of the reported verb usually changes to reflect the change from direct to indirect speech. Here are some guidelines on how to change the tense in reported speech:
Present simple in direct speech changes to past simple in reported speech. For example: Direct speech: “I like pizza.” Reported speech: She said she liked pizza.
Present continuous in direct speech changes to past continuous in reported speech. For example: Direct speech: “I am studying for my exam.” Reported speech: He said he was studying for his exam.
Present perfect in direct speech changes to past perfect in reported speech. For example: Direct speech: “I have finished my work.” Reported speech: She said she had finished her work.
Past simple in direct speech changes to past perfect in reported speech. For example: Direct speech: “I visited my grandparents last weekend.” Reported speech: She said she had visited her grandparents the previous weekend.
Will in direct speech changes to would in reported speech. For example: Direct speech: “I will help you with your project.” Reported speech: He said he would help me with my project.
Can in direct speech changes to could in reported speech. For example: Direct speech: “I can speak French.” Reported speech: She said she could speak French.
Remember that the tense changes in reported speech depend on the tense of the verb in the direct speech, and the tense you use in reported speech should match the time frame of the new speaker’s perspective. With practice, you can become more comfortable with changing the tense in reported speech.
Do I always need to use a reporting verb in reported speech?
No, you do not always need to use a reporting verb in reported speech. However, using a reporting verb can help to clarify who is speaking and add more context to the reported speech.
In some cases, the reported speech can be introduced by phrases such as “I heard that” or “It seems that” without using a reporting verb. For example:
Direct speech: “I’m going to the cinema tonight.” Reported speech with a reporting verb: She said she was going to the cinema tonight. Reported speech without a reporting verb: It seems that she’s going to the cinema tonight.
However, it’s important to note that using a reporting verb can help to make the reported speech more formal and accurate. When using reported speech in academic writing or journalism, it’s generally recommended to use a reporting verb to make the reporting more clear and credible.
Some common reporting verbs include say, tell, explain, ask, suggest, and advise. For example:
Direct speech: “I think we should invest in renewable energy.” Reported speech with a reporting verb: She suggested that they invest in renewable energy.
Overall, while using a reporting verb is not always required, it can be helpful to make the reported speech more clear and accurate
How to use reported speech to report questions and commands?
1. Reporting Questions: When reporting questions, you need to use an introductory phrase such as “asked” or “wondered” followed by the question word (if applicable), subject, and verb. You also need to change the word order to make it a statement. Here’s an example:
Direct speech: “What time is the meeting?” Reported speech: She asked what time the meeting was.
Note that the question mark is not used in reported speech.
2. Reporting Commands: When reporting commands, you need to use an introductory phrase such as “ordered” or “told” followed by the person, to + infinitive, and any additional information. Here’s an example:
Direct speech: “Clean your room!” Reported speech: She ordered me to clean my room.
Note that the exclamation mark is not used in reported speech.
In both cases, the tense of the reported verb should be changed accordingly. For example, present simple changes to past simple, and future changes to conditional. Here are some examples:
Direct speech: “Will you go to the party with me?”Reported speech: She asked if I would go to the party with her. Direct speech: “Please bring me a glass of water.”Reported speech: She requested that I bring her a glass of water.
Remember that when using reported speech to report questions and commands, the introductory phrases and verb tenses are important to convey the intended meaning accurately.
How to make questions in reported speech?
To make questions in reported speech, you need to use an introductory phrase such as “asked” or “wondered” followed by the question word (if applicable), subject, and verb. You also need to change the word order to make it a statement. Here are the steps to make questions in reported speech:
Identify the reporting verb: The first step is to identify the reporting verb in the sentence. Common reporting verbs used to report questions include “asked,” “inquired,” “wondered,” and “wanted to know.”
Change the tense and pronouns: Next, you need to change the tense and pronouns in the sentence to reflect the shift from direct to reported speech. The tense of the verb is usually shifted back one tense (e.g. from present simple to past simple) in reported speech. The pronouns should also be changed as necessary to reflect the shift in perspective from the original speaker to the reporting speaker.
Use an appropriate question word: If the original question contained a question word (e.g. who, what, where, when, why, how), you should use the same question word in the reported question. If the original question did not contain a question word, you can use “if” or “whether” to introduce the reported question.
Change the word order: In reported speech, the word order of the question changes from the inverted form to a normal statement form. The subject usually comes before the verb, unless the original question started with a question word.
Here are some examples of reported questions:
Direct speech: “Did you finish your homework?”Reported speech: He wanted to know if I had finished my homework. Direct speech: “Where are you going?”Reported speech: She wondered where I was going.
Remember that when making questions in reported speech, the introductory phrases and verb tenses are important to convey the intended meaning accurately.
Here you can find more examples of direct and indirect questions
What is the difference between reported speech an indirect speech?
In reported or indirect speech, you are retelling or reporting what someone said using your own words. The tense of the reported speech is usually shifted back one tense from the tense used in the original statement. For example, if someone said, “I am going to the store,” in reported speech you would say, “He/she said that he/she was going to the store.”
The main difference between reported speech and indirect speech is that reported speech usually refers to spoken language, while indirect speech can refer to both spoken and written language. Additionally, indirect speech is a broader term that includes reported speech as well as other ways of expressing what someone else has said, such as paraphrasing or summarizing.
Examples of direct speech to reported
Direct speech: “I am hungry,” she said. Reported speech: She said she was hungry.
Direct speech: “Can you pass the salt, please?” he asked. Reported speech: He asked her to pass the salt.
Direct speech: “I will meet you at the cinema,” he said. Reported speech: He said he would meet her at the cinema.
Direct speech: “I have been working on this project for hours,” she said. Reported speech: She said she had been working on the project for hours.
Direct speech: “What time does the train leave?” he asked. Reported speech: He asked what time the train left.
Direct speech: “I love playing the piano,” she said. Reported speech: She said she loved playing the piano.
Direct speech: “I am going to the grocery store,” he said. Reported speech: He said he was going to the grocery store.
Direct speech: “Did you finish your homework?” the teacher asked. Reported speech: The teacher asked if he had finished his homework.
Direct speech: “I want to go to the beach,” she said. Reported speech: She said she wanted to go to the beach.
Direct speech: “Do you need help with that?” he asked. Reported speech: He asked if she needed help with that.
Direct speech: “I can’t come to the party,” he said. Reported speech: He said he couldn’t come to the party.
Direct speech: “Please don’t leave me,” she said. Reported speech: She begged him not to leave her.
Direct speech: “I have never been to London before,” he said. Reported speech: He said he had never been to London before.
Direct speech: “Where did you put my phone?” she asked. Reported speech: She asked where she had put her phone.
Direct speech: “I’m sorry for being late,” he said. Reported speech: He apologized for being late.
Direct speech: “I need some help with this math problem,” she said. Reported speech: She said she needed some help with the math problem.
Direct speech: “I am going to study abroad next year,” he said. Reported speech: He said he was going to study abroad the following year.
Direct speech: “Can you give me a ride to the airport?” she asked. Reported speech: She asked him to give her a ride to the airport.
Direct speech: “I don’t know how to fix this,” he said. Reported speech: He said he didn’t know how to fix it.
Direct speech: “I hate it when it rains,” she said. Reported speech: She said she hated it when it rained.
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Reported Speech (Part 2) – Requests, Orders, and Questions
Read Reported Speech (Part 1) to learn how to make reported statements.
In Part 2, we will focus on requests, orders, and questions.
“Please make 10 copies of this report.” She asked me to make 10 copies of the report.“Go to the bank.” He told me to go to the bank.
“Are you coming to the party?” He asked if I was coming to the party.“Has John seen the new movie?” She asked if John had seen the new movie.
“When was the company founded?” She asked when the company was founded.“What kind of car do you drive?” He wanted to know what kind of car I drive.
1. Requests/orders
“Asked me to” is used for requests.
“Told me to” is stronger; it is used for orders/commands.
The main verb stays in the infinitive: She asked me to make copies. He told me to go to the bank.
2. Yes/no questions
“Asked if” and “wanted to know if” are equal.
The main verb changes according to the rules for reported statements : “ Did you turn off the TV?” (past simple) She asked if I had turned off the TV (past perfect)
We don’t use the auxiliary verbs “do/does/did” in the reported question.
3. Other questions
“Asked” and “wanted to know” are equal.
We don’t use the auxiliary verb “do” or “does” in the reported question: “Where does he work?” She wanted to know where he works .
In questions with the verb “to be,” the word order changes in the reported question: “Where were you born?” (Question word + [to be] + subject) He asked where I was born (Question word + subject + [to be]) He asked where was I born
Reported Speech (Part 2) Quiz
Master the details of English grammar:
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Reported speech: indirect speech
Indirect speech focuses more on the content of what someone said rather than their exact words. In indirect speech , the structure of the reported clause depends on whether the speaker is reporting a statement, a question or a command.
direct
indirect
reported clause
statement
) Iwas tired.
-clause
question
. .
clause clause
clause
command
.
-infinitive clause
Indirect speech: reporting statements
Indirect reports of statements consist of a reporting clause and a that -clause. We often omit that , especially in informal situations:
The pilot commented that the weather had been extremely bad as the plane came in to land. (The pilot’s words were: ‘The weather was extremely bad as the plane came in to land.’ )
I told my wife I didn’t want a party on my 50th birthday. ( that -clause without that ) (or I told my wife that I didn’t want a party on my 50th birthday .)
Indirect speech: reporting questions
Reporting yes-no questions and alternative questions.
Indirect reports of yes-no questions and questions with or consist of a reporting clause and a reported clause introduced by if or whether . If is more common than whether . The reported clause is in statement form (subject + verb), not question form:
She asked if [S] [V] I was Scottish. (original yes-no question: ‘Are you Scottish?’ )
The waiter asked whether [S] we [V] wanted a table near the window. (original yes-no question: ‘Do you want a table near the window? )
He asked me if [S] [V] I had come by train or by bus. (original alternative question: ‘Did you come by train or by bus?’ )
Questions: yes-no questions ( Are you feeling cold? )
Reporting wh -questions
Indirect reports of wh -questions consist of a reporting clause, and a reported clause beginning with a wh -word ( who, what, when, where, why, how ). We don’t use a question mark:
He asked me what I wanted.
Not: He asked me what I wanted?
The reported clause is in statement form (subject + verb), not question form:
She wanted to know who [S] we [V] had invited to the party.
Not: … who had we invited …
Who , whom and what
In indirect questions with who, whom and what , the wh- word may be the subject or the object of the reported clause:
I asked them who came to meet them at the airport. ( who is the subject of came ; original question: ‘Who came to meet you at the airport?’ )
He wondered what the repairs would cost. ( what is the object of cost ; original question: ‘What will the repairs cost?’ )
She asked us what [S] we [V] were doing . (original question: ‘What are you doing?’ )
Not: She asked us what were we doing?
When , where , why and how
We also use statement word order (subject + verb) with when , where, why and how :
I asked her when [S] it [V] had happened (original question: ‘When did it happen?’ ).
Not: I asked her when had it happened?
I asked her where [S] the bus station [V] was . (original question: ‘Where is the bus station?’ )
Not: I asked her where was the bus station?
The teacher asked them how [S] they [V] wanted to do the activity . (original question: ‘How do you want to do the activity?’ )
Not: The teacher asked them how did they want to do the activity?
Questions: wh- questions
Indirect speech: reporting commands
Indirect reports of commands consist of a reporting clause, and a reported clause beginning with a to -infinitive:
The General ordered the troops to advance . (original command: ‘Advance!’ )
The chairperson told him to sit down and to stop interrupting . (original command: ‘Sit down and stop interrupting!’ )
We also use a to -infinitive clause in indirect reports with other verbs that mean wanting or getting people to do something, for example, advise, encourage, warn :
They advised me to wait till the following day. (original statement: ‘You should wait till the following day.’ )
The guard warned us not to enter the area. (original statement: ‘You must not enter the area.’ )
Verbs followed by a to -infinitive
Indirect speech: present simple reporting verb
We can use the reporting verb in the present simple in indirect speech if the original words are still true or relevant at the time of reporting, or if the report is of something someone often says or repeats:
Sheila says they’re closing the motorway tomorrow for repairs.
Henry tells me he’s thinking of getting married next year.
Rupert says dogs shouldn’t be allowed on the beach. (Rupert probably often repeats this statement.)
Newspaper headlines
We often use the present simple in newspaper headlines. It makes the reported speech more dramatic:
JUDGE TELLS REPORTER TO LEAVE COURTROOM
PRIME MINISTER SAYS FAMILIES ARE TOP PRIORITY IN TAX REFORM
Present simple ( I work )
Reported speech
Reported speech: direct speech
Indirect speech: past continuous reporting verb
In indirect speech, we can use the past continuous form of the reporting verb (usually say or tell ). This happens mostly in conversation, when the speaker wants to focus on the content of the report, usually because it is interesting news or important information, or because it is a new topic in the conversation:
Rory was telling me the big cinema in James Street is going to close down. Is that true?
Alex was saying that book sales have gone up a lot this year thanks to the Internet.
‘Backshift’ refers to the changes we make to the original verbs in indirect speech because time has passed between the moment of speaking and the time of the report.
direct speech
indirect speech
not very happy at work.’
not very happy at work.
going home.’
going home.
be late.’
be late.
beenworking,’ she said.
.
to make her so angry?’ he asked.
to make her so angry.
In these examples, the present ( am ) has become the past ( was ), the future ( will ) has become the future-in-the-past ( would ) and the past ( happened ) has become the past perfect ( had happened ). The tenses have ‘shifted’ or ‘moved back’ in time.
direct
indirect
present simple
→
past simple
present continuous
→
past continuous
present perfect simple
→
past perfect simple
present perfect continuous
→
past perfect continuous
past simple
→
past perfect simple
past continuous
→
past perfect continuous
future (will)
→
future-in-the-past (would)
past perfect
↔
past perfect (no change)
The past perfect does not shift back; it stays the same:
Direct speech
Indirect speech
already left.
Modal verbs
Some, but not all, modal verbs ‘shift back’ in time and change in indirect speech.
direct speech
indirect speech
change
be there,’ he promised.
be there.
becomes
need more money.’ I open it?’ she asked.
need more money. open it.
usually becomes
in reported questions, becomes
see you at 2.30,’ he added.
see me at 2.30.
becomes
be back later,’ she said. wait in the hallway,’ he said.
be back later. wait in the hallway.
(possibility) becomes
(permission) becomes
pay by 30th April.’ be awful to live in such a noisy place,’ she said.
pay by 30th April. be awful to live in such a noisy place.
(obligation) usually becomes
(speculation) does not change
sell it for about 2,000 euros,’ he said.
sell it for about 2,000 euros.
no change
go there immediately,’ she said.
go there immediately.
no change
buy it if I had the money,’ he said.
buy it if he had the money.
no change
snow tonight,’ he warned.
snow that night.
no change
come till six o’clock,’ he said.
come till six o’clock.
no change
We can use a perfect form with have + - ed form after modal verbs, especially where the report looks back to a hypothetical event in the past:
He said the noise might have been the postman delivering letters. (original statement: ‘The noise might be the postman delivering letters.’ )
He said he would have helped us if we’d needed a volunteer. (original statement: ‘I’ll help you if you need a volunteer’ or ‘I’d help you if you needed a volunteer.’ )
Used to and ought to do not change in indirect speech:
She said she used to live in Oxford. (original statement: ‘I used to live in Oxford.’ )
The guard warned us that we ought to leave immediately. (original statement: ‘You ought to leave immediately.’ )
No backshift
We don’t need to change the tense in indirect speech if what a person said is still true or relevant or has not happened yet. This often happens when someone talks about the future, or when someone uses the present simple, present continuous or present perfect in their original words:
He told me his brother works for an Italian company. (It is still true that his brother works for an Italian company.)
She said she ’s getting married next year. (For the speakers, the time at the moment of speaking is ‘this year’.)
He said he ’s finished painting the door. (He probably said it just a short time ago.)
She promised she ’ll help us. (The promise applies to the future.)
Indirect speech: changes to pronouns
Changes to personal pronouns in indirect reports depend on whether the person reporting the speech and the person(s) who said the original words are the same or different.
direct
indirect
don’t want to shock people,’ Tom said.
said he didn’t want to shock people.
different speakers ( changes to )
’ll look after Toby,’ I said.
said I would look after Toby.
same speaker (no change)
need to be here at nine o’clock,’ George told Beatrice.
told Beatrice she needed to be there at nine o’clock.
different speakers ( changes to )
hope you will join us tonight,’ I said to James.
told James I hoped he would join us that night.
same speaker (no change to ; changes to )
Indirect speech: changes to adverbs and demonstratives
We often change demonstratives ( this, that ) and adverbs of time and place ( now, here, today , etc.) because indirect speech happens at a later time than the original speech, and perhaps in a different place.
direct speech
indirect speech
.’
the next/following day.
this moment in time.’
.
.”
.
,’ the boy protested.
.
Typical changes to demonstratives, adverbs and adverbial expressions
direct
indirect
Indirect speech: typical errors
The word order in indirect reports of wh- questions is the same as statement word order (subject + verb), not question word order:
She always asks me where [S] [V] I am going .
Not: She always asks me where am I going .
We don’t use a question mark when reporting wh- questions:
I asked him what he was doing.
Not: I asked him what he was doing?
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Home of English Grammar
Reported speech worksheet
Sentences are given in direct speech. Change them into indirect speech.
1. The teacher said to the boys, ‘Have you done your homework?’
2. The little girl asked the man, ‘Will you help me?’
3. Janaki said, ‘I have been reading this book.’
4. Mother said to the daughter, ‘Go and change your dress.’
5. Susie said, ‘I had read this book before I gave it to you.’
6. Mike said, ‘I will bring my piano.’
7. The officer told the clerk, ‘Bring me that file.’
8. Jane asked, ‘Have you read that book?’
9. Malathi asked, ‘Where is your watch?’
10. Sophia said, ‘I watched this movie last week.’
11. Mother asked, ‘What is the matter?’
12. Shyam said, ‘I can solve this problem.’
1. The teacher asked the boys if they had done their homework.
2. The little girl asked the man if he would help her.
3. Janaki said that she had been reading that book.
4. Mother told the daughter to go and change her dresses.
5. Susie said that she had read that book before she gave it to me.
6. Mike said that he would bring his piano.
7. The officer told the clerk to bring him that file.
8. Jane asked if I had read that book.
9. Malathi asked where my watch was.
10. Sophia said that she had watched that movie the previous week.
11. Mother asked what the matter was.
12. Shyam said that he could solve that problem .
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How to use reported speech.
Learn about Reported Speech in English grammar. Clear and simple explanation of meaning and use, with examples.
Forming reported speech
Direct speech: “I’m not playing football.” Reported later: “He said that he wasn’t playing football.”
Direct speech: Jane: “I don’t like living here.” (Jane is referring to herself) Reported speech: Jane said (that) she didn’t like living here. (The pronoun she refers to Jane )
Direct speech: “I like this car.” Reported speech: He said (that) he liked that car.
Direct speech: “I went to Tokyo last week .” Reported speech: She said (that) she’d been to Tokyo the week before .
We use reported speech to tell someone what another person said:
Jim says to you:
“I don’t feel well.” “I can’t drive.” “My parents have gone on holiday.” “I’m going out now so you will have to wait until I get back.” “I’ll help you.”
Later, you tell your friend what Jim said:
Jim said (that) he didn’t feel well. He said (that) he couldn’t drive. He said (that) his parents had gone on holiday. He said (that) he was going out now so I would have to wait until he got back. He said that he would help me .
Additional points
Direct speech: “My car is bigger than yours.”
Reported speech: He said his car is/was bigger than mine.
Direct speech: “The earthquake happened at half past seven.”
Reported speech: The radio said that the earthquake happened at half past seven.
Direct speech: “I should go to the dentist.”
Reported speech: He said that he should go to the dentist.
Pronunciation
See the phonemic chart for IPA symbols used below.
If we use that in reported speech, we pronounce the weak form.
I said that he’d do it: /ðət/
Related grammar points
Reported Questions Reporting Verbs Say and Tell
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16 comments
I give the students comic strips from the funny pages, and they have to summarize the direct speech. There are always lots of questions, and that makes especially good practice.
I ask students to tell their partner three secrets. Then, this student tells other students in the class (a good way to explain the word: gossip!). This activity helps students practice reporting but in a fun way!
I ask students to think of a fun sentence. I put them all in a line and the student at the end whispers their sentence to the one beside them, this student then reports the sentence to the following student, and so on. The last student says the sentence aloud and we see if they did it correctly… it is like the “telefono descompuesto” in Spanish.
I put students in groups of three. Two in the group are a couple quarrelling, but who will not speak to each other. The middle man/woman receives information from one and uses reported speech to relay the message(s).
I showed some slides about a fire at a petrol station and the group had to make up a conversation between two witnesses to the fire. We then wrote it as a newspaper report.
I show them some debate shows on the Internet after advising them to make notes of the main points. Then I ask them to report what different participants opined. SBS insight has nice discussions to be used for this purpose.
If you have the resources, you can play a short listening/video about an important event, news, etc. Students then have to report to the teacher what they heard.
I have students make 10 questions they would ask their favourite actor or actress. Then, they use these questions to interview another partner who pretends to be that famous person. He or she will answer those questions the same way the famous person would. Students end up reporting their answers to the teacher. In that way, they can practice reported speech in an interesting form.
I did a “Find someone who…” mingling activity with my students and then divided the group into two teams. I asked a member from the first team to report one of the replies to a question they had asked. If their reply was correctly put into reported speech, they got a point for their team. I repeated the process until I had covered all the responses from the activity. The team with the most points won the game and was rewarded with cream eggs!
Cut a dialogue into four parts. Paste it on four walls. Students work in pairs. One of them is the messenger and the other one is a receiver. The messenger runs to the walls and remembers the sentences, comes back and narrates the same to the receiver.
I prepare cards with several questions in different tenses, such as:
“What were you doing yesterday at 6?” “How long have you been studying English?” “Will you do your homework for tomorrow?”
I put my students in pairs and ask them to interview each other using the questions on the cards. Once they’ve got their answers, they change partners and share everything they’ve learnt about the previous student.
I tell students to think about what happened to them before they came to class. For example, “what did your mom, dad, husband, wife say to them? They write down the direct speech and then the reported speech.
I ask one of my students to introduce him/herself (name, age, hobbies)… and ask other students to take notes. When they are finished, I ask “What did he say?”
Hello, I’m not a teacher, I’m an ESL class student. So, I’m here to ask you guys a question about wich is still making me to be confused. I asked my teacher, ”if you say, ”I am a teacher”, should I make it a reported speech as ” she said she was a teacher?”. she answered that I needed to say ,” she said she is a teacher”. One more thing: I found a sentence in worksheet written , ”He told his birthday is next week”. Is it correct? I thought it had to be ” he told his birhday would be next week” So, is this modern English rule? Is that a difference? Can you pleeease, explain and help me to make sure to correct this hesitation.
Thanks for your questions.
1. “She said she was a teacher” and “She said she is a teacher” are both correct. Often we don’t change the tense if the fact that we are reporting is still true. So, if it is still true that she is a teacher, then she can report it with “She said she is a teacher” (see Additional point number 1 above).
2. “He told his birthday is next week”. First of all, if you use “told” then you must add a direct object, like this: “He told me his birthday is next week”.
Now, let’s look at the different ways we can use reported speech for this. If the person says “My birthday is next week” then we can report it like this: – He told me his birthday was next week – He told me his birthday is next week (it’s still true so we don’t need to change the tense)
If the person says “My birthday will be next week” then we can report it like this: – He told me his birthday would be next week.
I hope that helps!
This is what I wanted to know. Thanks a lot!
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Exercise on Reported Speech
Backshift and place expressions.
Imagine you want to repeat sentences that you heard two weeks ago in another place. Rewrite the sentences in reported speech. Change pronouns and expressions of time and place where necessary.
They said, "This is our book." → They said
She said, "I went to the cinema yesterday." → She said
He said, "I am writing a test tomorrow." → He said
You said, "I will do this for him." → You said
She said, "I am not hungry now." → She said
They said, "We have never been here before." → They said
They said, "We were in London last week." → They said
He said, "I will have finished this paper by tomorrow." → He said
He said, "They won't sleep." → He said
She said, "It is very quiet here." → She said
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Reported Speech Statements Exercise
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Reported Speech Exercise 2
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She told them she could do a double back flip 😱
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COMMENTS
Reported Speech Exercise 3
Reported Requests and Orders 1. Make reported requests or orders. Start each sentence with 'she asked me' or 'she told me'. It's the same day, so you don't need to change the time expressions. 1) "Please help me carry this." [ . 2) "Please come early." [ . 3) "Please buy some milk."
Reported Speech or Indirect Speech
June told me (that) she loved English. Modal Verbs and Reported Speech. Must, might, could, would, should, and ought to stay the same in reported speech. ... "Do your homework. Don't use a dictionary!!" He told me to do to my homework and not to use a dictionary. Reporting Suggestions.
REPORTED SPEECH
Tom told me . 7) Teacher: "Do your homework!" The teacher told me . 8) Doris: "Dance with me!" Doris told me . 9) Sabine: "Meet Sandy at the station!" Sabine told me . 10) Victoria: "Check your e-mails!" Victoria told me . Finish the sentences using Reported speech. Always change the tense, although it is sometimes not necessary.
Change these direct questions into reported speech:
11. She told me to do my homework. 12. She told me to go to bed. 13. She told me not to be late. 14. She told me not to smoke. 15. She told me to tidy my room. 16. She told me to wait here (there). 17. She told me not to do that. 18. She told me to eat my dinner. 19. She told me not to make a mess. 20. She told me to do the washing-up.
100 Reported Speech Examples: How To Change Direct Speech ...
Direct: "We have finished our homework." Reported: They told me they had finished their homework. Direct: "I do my exercises every morning." Reported: He explained that he did his exercises every morning. Direct: "She is going to start a new job." Reported: He heard she was going to start a new job. Direct: "I can solve this ...
What is Reported Speech and How to Use It? with Examples
Reported speech: She said she was going to the store then. In this example, the pronoun "I" is changed to "she" and the adverb "now" is changed to "then.". 2. Change the tense: In reported speech, you usually need to change the tense of the verb to reflect the change from direct to indirect speech. Here's an example:
Indirect speech
Exercises: 1 2 3. Indirect speech - reported speech. Exercise 1. Choose the correct form to complete the sentences below. 1 'I work in a bank.' ⇒ He said that he in a bank. 2 'I am working today.' ⇒ She told us she that day. 3 'I've been ill for a couple of weeks.' ⇒ He told me he for a couple of weeks.
Reported Speech (Part 2)
Requests/orders. "Asked me to" is used for requests. "Told me to" is stronger; it is used for orders/commands. She asked me to make copies. He told me to go to the bank. 2. Yes/no questions. "Asked if" and "wanted to know if" are equal. We don't use the auxiliary verbs "do/does/did" in the reported question.
Reported speech: indirect speech
Reported speech: indirect speech - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary
PDF 1. Rewrite these sentences using reported speech.
1. Jessica told me not to play football in the garden. 2. She told me not to sing that song. 3. Hanna told me not to go to the cinema. 4. Tom told me not to ring him on Sunday. 5. The teacher told me to do my homework. 6. Andrew told me to wash the dishes. 7. Jessica told me to write a letter. 8. Sarah told me to help Peter´s sister. 9.
Reported speech
Exactly. Verbs in the present simple change to the past simple; the present continuous changes to the past continuous; the present perfect changes to the past perfect; can changes to could; will changes to would; etc. She said she was having the interview at four o'clock. (Direct speech: 'I'm having the interview at four o'clock.') They said they'd phone later and let me know.
Reported speech worksheet
The teacher asked the boys if they had done their homework. 2. The little girl asked the man if he would help her. 3. Janaki said that she had been reading that book. 4. Mother told the daughter to go and change her dresses. 5. Susie said that she had read that book before she gave it to me.
Reported Speech Exercise 1
Reported Statements 1. Change the direct speech into reported speech. Use 'she said' at the beginning of each answer. It's the same day, so you don't need to change the time expressions. 1) "He works in a bank." [ . Check. Show.
How to use Reported Speech in English Grammar, with examples
Thanks for your questions. 1. "She said she was a teacher" and "She said she is a teacher" are both correct. Often we don't change the tense if the fact that we are reporting is still true. So, if it is still true that she is a teacher, then she can report it with "She said she is a teacher" (see Additional point number 1 above). 2.
Reported Speech
Direct : Mr. Jones said to me, "I educated myself by reading widely." Indirect : Mr. Jones told me that he had educated himself by reading widely. Direct: The teacher said to her, "You have done your homework well." Indirect: The teacher told her that she had done her homework well. Direct: Mr. Woods said, "There are many boats in the harbor."
Reported Speech
Reported speech: She told me to sit down. Direct Order: Reported Order: Go to bed! He told the child to go to bed. Don't worry! He told her not to worry. Be on time! He told me to be on time. Don't smoke! He told us not to smoke. Click here for an exercise to practise reported requests and orders.
Reported speech
Choose the correct reported speech forms to complete the sentences below. 1 'I'm really tired' ⇒ She said that she _____ really tired. 2 'I don't want any trouble.' ⇒ He told me he _____ any trouble. 3 'I'll be at home all afternoon.' ⇒ She said she _____ at home all afternoon. 4 'I love my family.' ⇒ He told me that _____ loved ...
Exercise on Reported Speech
"Hurry up," she said to us. → She told us "Give me the key," he told her. → He asked her "Play it again, Sam," she said. → She asked Sam "Sit down, Caron" he said. → He asked Caron "Fill in the form, Sir," the receptionist said. → The receptionist asked the guest "Take off your shoes," she told us. → She told us "Mind your own ...
Exercise on Reported Speech
Exercise 2 - Requests (negative) Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note the change of pronouns in some sentences. "Don't touch it," she said to him. "Don't do that again," he said to me. "Don't talk to me like that," he said. "Don't repair the computer yourself," she warned him. "Don't let him in," she said. "Don't go out without me ...
Exercise on Reported Speech
Rewrite the sentences in reported speech. Change pronouns and expressions of time and place where necessary. They said, "This is our book." → They said. She said, "I went to the cinema yesterday." → She said. He said, "I am writing a test tomorrow." → He said. You said, "I will do this for him."
Reported Speech Statement Exercise
See the Video Exercise. Convert the sentences below from direct to indirect speech (reported speech statements). 1. Lena said, "I will invite you to my birthday party.". 2. Anderson said, "I will turn twenty today.". 3. Daniel said, "Things will get better.". 4.
Reported Speech Exercise 2
English grammar exercise about reported speech - in this case reported questions
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Reported Requests and Orders 1. Make reported requests or orders. Start each sentence with 'she asked me' or 'she told me'. It's the same day, so you don't need to change the time expressions. 1) "Please help me carry this." [ . 2) "Please come early." [ . 3) "Please buy some milk."
June told me (that) she loved English. Modal Verbs and Reported Speech. Must, might, could, would, should, and ought to stay the same in reported speech. ... "Do your homework. Don't use a dictionary!!" He told me to do to my homework and not to use a dictionary. Reporting Suggestions.
Tom told me . 7) Teacher: "Do your homework!" The teacher told me . 8) Doris: "Dance with me!" Doris told me . 9) Sabine: "Meet Sandy at the station!" Sabine told me . 10) Victoria: "Check your e-mails!" Victoria told me . Finish the sentences using Reported speech. Always change the tense, although it is sometimes not necessary.
11. She told me to do my homework. 12. She told me to go to bed. 13. She told me not to be late. 14. She told me not to smoke. 15. She told me to tidy my room. 16. She told me to wait here (there). 17. She told me not to do that. 18. She told me to eat my dinner. 19. She told me not to make a mess. 20. She told me to do the washing-up.
Direct: "We have finished our homework." Reported: They told me they had finished their homework. Direct: "I do my exercises every morning." Reported: He explained that he did his exercises every morning. Direct: "She is going to start a new job." Reported: He heard she was going to start a new job. Direct: "I can solve this ...
Reported speech: She said she was going to the store then. In this example, the pronoun "I" is changed to "she" and the adverb "now" is changed to "then.". 2. Change the tense: In reported speech, you usually need to change the tense of the verb to reflect the change from direct to indirect speech. Here's an example:
Exercises: 1 2 3. Indirect speech - reported speech. Exercise 1. Choose the correct form to complete the sentences below. 1 'I work in a bank.' ⇒ He said that he in a bank. 2 'I am working today.' ⇒ She told us she that day. 3 'I've been ill for a couple of weeks.' ⇒ He told me he for a couple of weeks.
Requests/orders. "Asked me to" is used for requests. "Told me to" is stronger; it is used for orders/commands. She asked me to make copies. He told me to go to the bank. 2. Yes/no questions. "Asked if" and "wanted to know if" are equal. We don't use the auxiliary verbs "do/does/did" in the reported question.
Reported speech: indirect speech - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary
1. Jessica told me not to play football in the garden. 2. She told me not to sing that song. 3. Hanna told me not to go to the cinema. 4. Tom told me not to ring him on Sunday. 5. The teacher told me to do my homework. 6. Andrew told me to wash the dishes. 7. Jessica told me to write a letter. 8. Sarah told me to help Peter´s sister. 9.
Exactly. Verbs in the present simple change to the past simple; the present continuous changes to the past continuous; the present perfect changes to the past perfect; can changes to could; will changes to would; etc. She said she was having the interview at four o'clock. (Direct speech: 'I'm having the interview at four o'clock.') They said they'd phone later and let me know.
The teacher asked the boys if they had done their homework. 2. The little girl asked the man if he would help her. 3. Janaki said that she had been reading that book. 4. Mother told the daughter to go and change her dresses. 5. Susie said that she had read that book before she gave it to me.
Reported Statements 1. Change the direct speech into reported speech. Use 'she said' at the beginning of each answer. It's the same day, so you don't need to change the time expressions. 1) "He works in a bank." [ . Check. Show.
Thanks for your questions. 1. "She said she was a teacher" and "She said she is a teacher" are both correct. Often we don't change the tense if the fact that we are reporting is still true. So, if it is still true that she is a teacher, then she can report it with "She said she is a teacher" (see Additional point number 1 above). 2.
Direct : Mr. Jones said to me, "I educated myself by reading widely." Indirect : Mr. Jones told me that he had educated himself by reading widely. Direct: The teacher said to her, "You have done your homework well." Indirect: The teacher told her that she had done her homework well. Direct: Mr. Woods said, "There are many boats in the harbor."
Reported speech: She told me to sit down. Direct Order: Reported Order: Go to bed! He told the child to go to bed. Don't worry! He told her not to worry. Be on time! He told me to be on time. Don't smoke! He told us not to smoke. Click here for an exercise to practise reported requests and orders.
Choose the correct reported speech forms to complete the sentences below. 1 'I'm really tired' ⇒ She said that she _____ really tired. 2 'I don't want any trouble.' ⇒ He told me he _____ any trouble. 3 'I'll be at home all afternoon.' ⇒ She said she _____ at home all afternoon. 4 'I love my family.' ⇒ He told me that _____ loved ...
"Hurry up," she said to us. → She told us "Give me the key," he told her. → He asked her "Play it again, Sam," she said. → She asked Sam "Sit down, Caron" he said. → He asked Caron "Fill in the form, Sir," the receptionist said. → The receptionist asked the guest "Take off your shoes," she told us. → She told us "Mind your own ...
Exercise 2 - Requests (negative) Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note the change of pronouns in some sentences. "Don't touch it," she said to him. "Don't do that again," he said to me. "Don't talk to me like that," he said. "Don't repair the computer yourself," she warned him. "Don't let him in," she said. "Don't go out without me ...
Rewrite the sentences in reported speech. Change pronouns and expressions of time and place where necessary. They said, "This is our book." → They said. She said, "I went to the cinema yesterday." → She said. He said, "I am writing a test tomorrow." → He said. You said, "I will do this for him."
See the Video Exercise. Convert the sentences below from direct to indirect speech (reported speech statements). 1. Lena said, "I will invite you to my birthday party.". 2. Anderson said, "I will turn twenty today.". 3. Daniel said, "Things will get better.". 4.
English grammar exercise about reported speech - in this case reported questions