reported speech worksheet pdf with answers

Reported speech - 1

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Reported speech

Worksheets - pdf exercises.

• Reported statements - worksheet
• Worksheet - reported questions
• Reported yes/no questions
• Worksheet - reported speech
• Reported speech - exercises pdf
• Indirect speech - exercises
• Reported speech - exercises
• Mixed reported speech 1
• Mixed reported speech 2
• Reported speech 1 
• Reported speech 2  
• Reported speech 3 
• Reported speech 4
• Reported speech 5
• Reported wh- questions
• Reported speech - worksheet 
• Reported commands
• Reported questions
• Reported speech 1
• Reported speech 2
• Reported requests and orders
• Reported speech exercise
• Reported questions - worksheet
• Indirect speech - worksheet
• Worksheets pdf - print
• Grammar worksheets - handouts

Grammar - lessons

• Reported speech - grammar notes
• How to use reported speech - lesson
• Tense changes - grammar

Direct and indirect speech exercises PDF

• English grammar PDF
• PDF worksheets
• Mixed PDF tests
• Present tenses
• Past tenses
• Future tenses
• Present perfect
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• Modal verbs
• If-conditional
• Passive voice
• Reported speech
• Time clauses
• Relative clauses
• Indirect questions
• Question tags
• Imperative sentence
• Gerund and infinitive
• Direct | indirect object

Direct and indirect speech

• Online exercises
• Grammar rules PDF

English grammar books PDF

PDF book 1: English grammar exercises PDF

PDF book 2: English grammar rules PDF

Direct and indirect speech exercises

Reported speech exercises PDF

• Learn how to change tenses, pronouns, expressions of time and place in the reported speech.

Reported questions + commands exercises PDF

• Practise the difference between the direct and indirect speech in questions, commands and requests.

Online exercises with answers:

Direct - indirect speech exercise 1 Rewrite sentences in the reported speech.

Direct - indirect speech exercise 2 Report a short dialogue in the reported speech.

Direct - indirect speech exercise 3 Find and correct mistakes in the reported speech.

Direct - indirect speech exercise 4 Choose correct answers in a multiple choice test.

Indirect - direct speech exercise 5 Rewrite sentences from the reported speech to direct speech.

Reported questions, commands and requests:

Reported questions exercise 6 Change the reported questions and orders into direct questions and orders.

Reported questions exercise 7 Change direct questions into reported questions.

Reported commands exercise 8 Make reported commands and requests.

Grammar rules PDF:

Reported speech rules PDF Changes of tenses, pronouns, time and place in reported statements, questions and commands.

English grammar PDF All PDF rules with examples on e-grammar.org.

Direct + indirect speech

See also: Reported questions + commands

The direct and indirect speech are used to say what other people said, thought or felt. "I like it," he said. - He said that he liked it. "Dan will come," she hoped. - She hoped Dan would come.

The reported (indirect) speech is typically introduced by verbs such as say, tell, admit, complain, explain, remind, reply, think, hope, offer, refuse etc. in the past tense. He said (that) he didn't want it. She explained that she had been at the seaside.

If these verbs are in the past tense, we change the following: a) verb tenses and verb forms b) pronouns c) the adverbs of time and place

A) Verb tenses

We change the tenses in the following way:

• Present - past "I never understand you," she told me. - She told me she never understood me. "We are doing exercises," he explained. - He explained that they were doing exercises.
• Present perfect - past perfect "I have broken the window," he admitted. - He admitted that he had broken the window. "I have been waiting since the morning," he complained. - He complained that he had been waiting since the morning.
• Past - past perfect "She went to Rome," I thought. - I thought that she had gone to Rome. "He was thinking of buying a new car," she said. - She said he had been thinking of buying a new car.
• Will - conditional Will changes into the conditional. I will come on Sunday," he reminded me. - He reminded me that he would come on Sunday.

As you can see, both the past tense and the present perfect change into the past perfect.

Notes 1. I shall, we shall usually become would . "I shall appreciate it," he said. - He said he would appreciate it. 2. I should, we should usually change into would . "We should be really glad," she told us. - She told us they would be really glad. 3. May becomes might . "I may write to him," she promised. - She promised that she might write to him.

The verb forms remain the same in the following cases:

• If we use the past perfect tense. Eva: "I had never seen him." - Eva claimed that she had never seen him.
• If the reporting verb is in the present tense. Bill: "I am enjoying my holiday." - Bill says he is enjoying his holiday. Sandy: "I will never go to work." - Sandy says she will never go to work.
• When we report something that is still true. Dan: "Asia is the largest continent." - Dan said Asia is the largest continent. Emma: "People in Africa are starving." - Emma said people in Africa are starving.
• When a sentence is made and reported at the same time and the fact is still true. Michael: "I am thirsty." - Michael said he is thirsty.
• With modal verbs would, might, could, should, ought to, used to. George: "I would try it." - George said he would try it. Mimi: "I might come." - Mimi said she might come. Steve: "I could fail." - Steve said he could fail. Linda: "He should/ought to stay in bed." - Linda said he should/ought to stay in bed. Mel: "I used to have a car." - Mel said he used to have a car.
• After wish, would rather, had better, it is time. Margo: "I wish they were in Greece." - Margo said she wished they were in Greece. Matt: "I would rather fly." - Matt said he would rather fly. Betty: "They had better go." - Betty said they had better go. Paul: "It is time I got up." - Paul said it was time he got up.
• In if-clauses. Martha: "If I tidied my room, my dad would be happy." - Martha said that if she tidied her room, her dad would be happy.
• In time clauses. Joe: "When I was staying in Madrid I met my best friend." - He said that when he was staying in Madrid he met his best friend.
• We do not change the past tense in spoken English if it is clear from the situation when the action happened. "She did it on Sunday," I said. - I said she did it on Sunday. We must change it, however, in the following sentence, otherwise it will not be clear whether we are talking about the present or past feelings. "I hated her," he said. - He said he had hated her.
• We do not usually change the modal verbs must and needn't . But must can become had to or would have to and needn't can become didn't have to or wouldn't have to if we want to express an obligation. Would/wouldn't have to are used to talk about future obligations. "I must wash up." - He said he must wash up/he had to wash up. "I needn't be at school today." - He said he needn't be/didn't have to be at school that day. "We must do it in June." - He said they would have to do it in June. If the modal verb must does not express obligation, we do not change it. "We must relax for a while." (suggestion) - He said they must relax for a while. "You must be tired after such a trip." (certainty) - He said we must be tired after such a trip.

B) Pronouns

We have to change the pronouns to keep the same meaning of a sentence. "We are the best students," he said. - He said they were the best students. "They called us," he said. - He said they had called them. "I like your jeans," she said. - She said she liked my jeans. "I can lend you my car," he said. - He said he could lend me his car.

Sometimes we have to use a noun instead of a pronoun, otherwise the new sentence is confusing. "He killed them," Kevin said. - Kevin said that the man had killed them. If we only make mechanical changes (Kevin said he had killed them) , the new sentence can have a different meaning - Kevin himself killed them.

This and these are usually substituted. "They will finish it this year," he said. - He said they would finish it that year. "I brought you this book," she said. - She said she had brought me the book. "We want these flowers," they said. - They said they wanted the flowers.

C) Time and place

Let's suppose that we talked to our friend Mary on Friday. And she said: "Greg came yesterday."  It means that Greg came on Thursday. If we report Mary's sentence on Sunday, we have to do the following: Mary: "Greg came yesterday." - Mary said that Greg had come the day before. If we say: Mary said Greg had come yesterday , it is not correct, because it means that he came on Saturday.

The time expressions change as follows. now - then, today - that day, tomorrow - the next day/the following day, the day after tomorrow - in two days' time, yesterday - the day before, the day before yesterday - two days before, next week/month - the following week/month, last week/month - the previous week/month, a year ago - a year before/the previous year

Bill: "She will leave tomorrow." - Bill said she would leave the next day. Sam: "She arrived last week." - Sam said she had arrived the previous week. Julie: "He moved a year ago." - Julie said he had moved a year before.

Note If something is said and reported at the same time, the time expressions can remain the same. "I will go on holiday tomorrow," he told me today. - He told me today he would go on holiday tomorrow. "We painted the hall last weekend," she told me this week. - She told me this week they had painted the hall last weekend. On the other hand, if something is reported later, the time expressions are different in the indirect speech. Last week Jim said: "I'm playing next week." If we say his sentence a week later, we will say: Jim said he was playing this week.

Here usually becomes there . But sometimes we make different adjustments. At school: "I'll be here at 10 o'clock," he said. - He said he would be there at 10 o'clock. In Baker Street: "We'll meet here." - He said they would meet in Baker Street.

• All PDF exercises and grammar rules from this website.

Reported Speech Exercises (With Printable PDF)

| Candace Osmond

| Grammar , Quizzes

Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.

In English grammar, reported speech is used to tell someone what another person said. It takes another person’s words (direct speech) to create a report of what they said (indirect speech.) With the following direct and indirect speech exercises, it will be easier to understand how reported speech works.

Reported Speech Exercise #1

Complete the sentence in the reported speech.

Reported Speech Exercise #2

Fill in the gaps below with the correct pronouns required in reported speech. Ex. Mary said: “I love my new dress!” Sentence: Mary said ____ love ____ new dress. Answer: she, her

Reported Speech Exercise #3

Choose the correct reported speech phrase to fill in the sentences below.

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Reported Speech Exercises – Reported Speech Worksheet

Strengthening your understanding of reported speech is key to effective communication in English. Our specially designed worksheet provides a thorough exploration of reported speech, featuring a variety of exercises that will help you practice and master the concept of relaying information as it was spoken by others.

Remember to go back and study the articles mentioned below to better your knowledge of reported speech

• Direct Speech
• Direct and Indirect Speech
• No Change in Verb Tenses
• Changes in Time and Place
• Introductory Verbs
• Pronouns in Reported Speech
• Reported Questions
• Reported Commands & Requests

Reported Speech Worksheet

Reported Speech Exercises

Reported speech exercise 1: converting direct speech to reported speech.

• “I am going to the market,” said John.
• “We have finished our homework,” the students said.
• “Will you join us for dinner?” she asked.
• “I can’t drive you to the airport tomorrow,” he told her.
• “I saw a strange animal in the forest,” the hiker reported.
• “I will help you with your project,” Tom promised.
• “I don’t like spicy food,” she admitted.
• “I didn’t hear the doorbell,” he explained.
• “I’ll be moving to a new city next month,” Anna announced.
• “We won’t be able to attend the meeting,” the delegates stated.
• “I have been feeling unwell since yesterday,” the patient told the doctor.
• “I used to live in Spain,” he mentioned.
• “I may start a new course in September,” she pondered.
• “I must finish this assignment by tomorrow,” the student realized.
• “I can meet you at 3 PM,” she offered.
• “We should have taken a different route,” the driver suggested.
• “I would like to visit Japan one day,” he dreamed.
• “I have never seen such a beautiful sunset,” she exclaimed.
• “I might go for a hike if the weather is nice,” he thought aloud.
• “We did not understand the instructions,” they complained.
• John said that he was going to the market.
• The students said that they had finished their homework.
• She asked if I/you/he/she would join them for dinner.
• He told her that he couldn’t drive her to the airport the next day/tomorrow.
• The hiker reported that he had seen a strange animal in the forest.
• Tom promised that he would help me/you/us with my/your/our project.
• She admitted that she didn’t like spicy food.
• He explained that he hadn’t heard the doorbell.
• Anna announced that she would be moving to a new city the following month.
• The delegates stated that they wouldn’t be able to attend the meeting.
• The patient told the doctor that he had been feeling unwell since the day before.
• He mentioned that he used to live in Spain.
• She pondered starting a new course in September.
• The student realized that he must finish his assignment by the next day.
• She offered to meet me/you at 3 PM.
• The driver suggested that they should have taken a different route.
• He dreamed that he would like to visit Japan one day.
• She exclaimed that she had never seen such a beautiful sunset.
• He thought aloud that he might go for a hike if the weather was nice.
• They complained that they had not understood the instructions.

Reported Speech Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with the correct pronouns

• Sarah said, “I am going to the store.” Sarah said that ___ was going to the store.
• Mike told me, “You can come over tomorrow.” Mike told me that ___ could come over the next day.
• “He doesn’t like the movie,” said Jane. Jane said that ___ didn’t like the movie.
• The teacher told the class, “You must submit your homework.” The teacher told the class that ___ must submit ___ homework.
• “We will finish the project on time,” the group leader announced. The group leader announced that ___ would finish the project on time.
• “She will be here soon,” Tom thought to himself. Tom thought to himself that ___ would be there soon.
• “It’s not my book,” said the boy. The boy said that it was not ___ book.
• “They have been to the new museum,” Emily told her mother. Emily told her mother that ___ had been to the new museum.
• “I don’t want to go outside,” the child told her father. The child told her father that ___ didn’t want to go outside.
• “You should wait here,” the officer told the citizens. The officer told the citizens that ___ should wait there.
• “I will handle the situation,” Mark promised. Mark promised that ___ would handle the situation.
• “You need to finish your assignment,” the tutor said to Jake. The tutor told Jake that ___ needed to finish ___ assignment.
• “We are not ready to present,” the students admitted to the professor. The students admitted to the professor that ___ were not ready to present.
• “She can join us for dinner,” they insisted. They insisted that ___ could join them for dinner.
• “I have seen that movie several times,” she mentioned. She mentioned that ___ had seen that movie several times.
• “You must apologize to your sister,” Mom instructed. Mom instructed that ___ must apologize to ___ sister.
• “They won’t be able to come to the party,” John said. John said that ___ wouldn’t be able to come to the party.
• “It might rain later,” the weatherman predicted. The weatherman predicted that ___ might rain later.
• “I’m feeling very tired today,” the athlete confessed. The athlete confessed that ___ was feeling very tired that day.
• “You shouldn’t believe everything you read on the internet,” the teacher warned the students. The teacher warned the students that ___ shouldn’t believe everything ___ read on the internet.

Reported Speech Exercise 3: Multiple Choices

Reported Speech Exercise

Choose the correct reported speech form for each sentence.

1. He said, “I am watching a movie.”

• A) He said he was watching a movie.
• B) He said I am watching a movie.
• C) He said he is watching a movie.

2. She said, “I will call you tomorrow.”

• A) She said she would call me tomorrow.
• B) She said she will call you the next day.
• C) She said she would call you the next day.

3. “I have finished my homework,” he told her.

• A) He told her he had finished his homework.
• B) He told her he finished his homework.
• C) He told her he has finished his homework.

4. They said, “We are going to the market.”

• A) They said they were going to the market.
• B) They said they are going to the market.
• C) They said they go to the market.

5. “Do you like pizza?” she asked him.

• A) She asked him if he liked pizza.
• B) She asked him does he like pizza.
• C) She asked him if he likes pizza.

6. “Why did you go out last night?” the mother asked.

• A) The mother asked why had he gone out last night.
• B) The mother asked why he had gone out the night before.
• C) The mother asked why did he go out last night.

7. “Can you help me with my project?” he asked his friend.

• A) He asked his friend if he could help him with his project.
• B) He asked his friend can you help me with my project.
• C) He asked his friend if he can help him with his project.

8. “I might visit France this summer,” she mentioned.

• A) She mentioned that she might visit France this summer.
• B) She mentioned that she might visit France the coming summer.
• C) She mentioned that she may visit France that summer.

9. “We have been waiting here for over an hour!” they exclaimed.

• A) They exclaimed that they have been waiting there for over an hour.
• B) They exclaimed that they had been waiting there for over an hour.
• C) They exclaimed that they were waiting there for over an hour.

10. “Don’t touch that!” he warned.

• A) He warned not to touch that.
• B) He warned to not touch that.
• C) He warned not to touch it.

11. “I have lost my keys,” she said.

• A) She said she had lost her keys.
• B) She said she has lost her keys.
• C) She said she lost her keys.

12. “We didn’t go to school yesterday,” the boys said.

• A) The boys said they didn’t go to school the day before.
• B) The boys said they hadn’t gone to school yesterday.
• C) The boys said they hadn’t gone to school the day before.

13. “I will be traveling to Japan next year,” he told his colleagues.

• A) He told his colleagues he will be traveling to Japan next year.
• B) He told his colleagues he would be traveling to Japan the following year.
• C) He told his colleagues he would be traveling to Japan next year.

14. “You should try the new restaurant,” she suggested.

• A) She suggested that I should try the new restaurant.
• B) She suggested that you should try the new restaurant.
• C) She suggested that you tried the new restaurant.

15. “I can’t attend the meeting tomorrow,” John informed his boss.

• A) John informed his boss that he can’t attend the meeting tomorrow.
• B) John informed his boss that he couldn’t attend the meeting the next day.
• C) John informed his boss that he could not attend the meeting tomorrow.

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Reported Speech Exercises 1

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Fill in the blanks with the correct form of reported speech

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