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Reported speech - 1

Reported speech - 2

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Worksheets - handouts

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

English Grammar Online Exercises and Downloadable Worksheets

  • Reported Speech

All downloads are in PDF Format and consist of a worksheet and answer sheet to check your results.

Levels of Difficulty : Elementary Intermediate Advanced

  • RS002 - Reported Speech - Questions Intermediate
  • RS003 - Reported Speech - Questions Intermediate
  • RS004 - Reported Speech - Indirect Commands Intermediate

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Reported Speech

Perfect english grammar.

reported speech theory and exercises pdf

Reported Statements

Here's how it works:

We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'. ( Click here for more about using 'say' and 'tell' .) If this verb is in the present tense, it's easy. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence:

  • Direct speech: I like ice cream.
  • Reported speech: She says (that) she likes ice cream.

We don't need to change the tense, though probably we do need to change the 'person' from 'I' to 'she', for example. We also may need to change words like 'my' and 'your'. (As I'm sure you know, often, we can choose if we want to use 'that' or not in English. I've put it in brackets () to show that it's optional. It's exactly the same if you use 'that' or if you don't use 'that'.)

But , if the reporting verb is in the past tense, then usually we change the tenses in the reported speech:

  • Reported speech: She said (that) she liked ice cream.

* doesn't change.

  • Direct speech: The sky is blue.
  • Reported speech: She said (that) the sky is/was blue.

Click here for a mixed tense exercise about practise reported statements. Click here for a list of all the reported speech exercises.

Reported Questions

So now you have no problem with making reported speech from positive and negative sentences. But how about questions?

  • Direct speech: Where do you live?
  • Reported speech: She asked me where I lived.
  • Direct speech: Where is Julie?
  • Reported speech: She asked me where Julie was.
  • Direct speech: Do you like chocolate?
  • Reported speech: She asked me if I liked chocolate.

Click here to practise reported 'wh' questions. Click here to practise reported 'yes / no' questions. Reported Requests

There's more! What if someone asks you to do something (in a polite way)? For example:

  • Direct speech: Close the window, please
  • Or: Could you close the window please?
  • Or: Would you mind closing the window please?
  • Reported speech: She asked me to close the window.
  • Direct speech: Please don't be late.
  • Reported speech: She asked us not to be late.

Reported Orders

  • Direct speech: Sit down!
  • Reported speech: She told me to sit down.
  • Click here for an exercise to practise reported requests and orders.
  • Click here for an exercise about using 'say' and 'tell'.
  • Click here for a list of all the reported speech exercises.

Seonaid Beckwith

Hello! I'm Seonaid! I'm here to help you understand grammar and speak correct, fluent English.

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Read more about our learning method

Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)

Exercises on reported speech.

If we report what another person has said, we usually do not use the speaker’s exact words (direct speech), but reported (indirect) speech. Therefore, you need to learn how to transform direct speech into reported speech. The structure is a little different depending on whether you want to transform a statement, question or request.

When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:

  • present tense verbs (3rd person singular)
  • place and time expressions
  • tenses (backshift)

→ more on statements in reported speech

When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:

Also note that you have to:

  • transform the question into an indirect question
  • use the interrogative or if / whether

→ more on questions in reported speech

→ more on requests in reported speech

Additional Information and Exeptions

Apart from the above mentioned basic rules, there are further aspects that you should keep in mind, for example:

  • main clauses connected with and / but
  • tense of the introductory clause
  • reported speech for difficult tenses
  • exeptions for backshift
  • requests with must , should , ought to and let’s

→ more on additional information and exeptions in reported speech

Statements in Reported Speech

  • no backshift – change of pronouns
  • no backshift – change of pronouns and places
  • with backshift
  • with backshift and change of place and time expressions

Questions in Reported Speech

Requests in reported speech.

  • Exercise 1 – requests (positive)
  • Exercise 2 – requests (negative)
  • Exercise 3 – requests (mixed)

Mixed Exercises on Reported Speech

  • Exercise on reported speech with and without backshift

Grammar in Texts

  • „ The Canterville Ghost “ (highlight direct speech and reported speech)

Learn English Team

Reported Speech with Examples and Test (PDF)

Reported speech is used when we want to convey what someone else has said to us or to another person. It involves paraphrasing or summarising what has been said , often changing verb tenses , pronouns and other elements to suit the context of the report.

*doesn’t change

Formula of Reported Speech

The formula for reported speech involves transforming direct speech into an indirect form while maintaining the meaning of the original statement. In general, the formula includes:

  • Choosing an appropriate reporting verb (e.g., say, tell, mention, explain).
  • Changing pronouns and time expressions if necessary.
  • Shifting the tense of the verb back if the reporting verb is in the past tense.
  • Using reporting clauses like “that” or appropriate conjunctions.
  • Adjusting word order and punctuation to fit the structure of the reported speech.

Here’s a simplified formula:

Reporting Verb + Indirect Object + Conjunction + Reported Clause

For example:

  • She said (reporting verb) to me (indirect object) that (conjunction) she liked ice cream (reported clause).

reported speech theory and exercises pdf

Here’s how we use reported speech:

Reporting Verbs: We use verbs like ‘say’ or ‘tell’ to introduce reported speech. If the reporting verb is in the present tense, the tense of the reported speech generally remains the same.

If the reporting verb is in the past tense , the tense of the reported speech often shifts back in time.

Tense Changes: Tense changes are common in reported speech. For example, present simple may change to past simple, present continuous to past continuous, etc. However, some verbs like ‘would’, ‘could’, ‘should’, ‘might’, ‘must’, and ‘ought to’ generally don’t change.

Reported Questions: When reporting questions, we often change them into statements while preserving the meaning. Question words are retained, and the tense of the verbs may change.

Reported Requests and Orders: Requests and orders are reported similarly to statements. Reported requests often use ‘asked me to’ + infinitive, while reported orders use ‘told me to’ + infinitive.

Time Expressions: Time expressions may need to change depending on when the reported speech occurred in relation to the reporting moment. For instance, ‘today’ may become ‘that day’ or ‘yesterday’, ‘yesterday’ might become ‘the day before’, and so forth.

Reported Speech with Examples PDF

  Reported Speech PDF – download

Reported Speech Test

  Reported Speech A2 – B1 Test – download

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IMAGES

  1. reported-speech-exercise-lesson

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  2. Reported Speech Practice Exercises By English With Simo.pdf

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  3. Reported speech advanced exercises pdf

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  4. Reported speech said and told exercises pdf

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  5. Reported Speech: How To Use Reported Speech

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  6. Reported speech statements exercises pdf

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VIDEO

  1. Reported speech exercises/ أ. أيمن سعادة

  2. Direct speech & indirect speech

  3. The science behind emotional award acceptance speeches

  4. Reported speech

  5. What is Direct Indirect Reported Speech? Basic Rules and Examples

  6. Reported Speech Test

COMMENTS

  1. PDF Unit 12A Grammar: Reported Speech(1

    Reported Speech. Greg: "I am cooking dinner Maya.". Maya: "Greg said he was cooking dinner.". So most often, the reported speech is going to be in the past tense, because the original statement, will now be in the past! *We will learn about reporting verbs in part 2 of this lesson, but for now we will just use said/told.

  2. Reported speech

    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.

  3. Reported Speech Exercises

    Perfect English Grammar. Here's a list of all the reported speech exercises on this site: ( Click here to read the explanations about reported speech ) Reported Statements: Present Simple Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here) Present Continuous Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy)

  4. PDF Reported Speech (Intermediate ­ Advanced)

    Reported Speech (Intermediate ­ Advanced) Exercises and Practice A. Change each direct speech example into the reported speech . The first one has been done for you. 1. Michelle said, "I love my Chihuahua, Daisy." Michelle said that she loved her Chihuahua, Daisy. 2.

  5. Reported Speech (B1)

    RS008 - Reported Questions. RS007 - Reported Speech. RS006 - Reported Speech. RS005 - Reported Speech. RS004 - Reported Speech. RS003 - Reported Speech. RS002 - Reported Speech - Mixed Exercises. RS001 - Reported Speech - Mixed Exercises. Adjective and Adverbs - Downloadable PDF Worksheets for English Language Learners - Intermediate Level (B1)

  6. PDF Lesson 9. Reported Speech

    Lesson 9. Reported Speech Reporting Statements -Tenses 2. Tenses If the sentence starts in the present, there is no backshift of tenses in reported speech. If the sentence starts in the past, there is often backshift of tenses in reported speech. Backshift You must change the tense if the introductory clause is in a past tense (e. g. He said).

  7. PDF Reported Speech

    She told him to wait until she got back. My sister said, "I always eat lots of fresh fruit and salad." She said that she always ate lots of fresh fruit and salad. The workers said, "We won't have enough time to finish the job."

  8. PDF REPORTED SPEECH RS 2

    Reported Speech - English Grammar PDF Exercises Author: Klaus Rosmanitz Subject: Reported Speech and reported questions - An English Grammar PDF worksheet Keywords: reported speech, reported questions Created Date: 5/4/2012 4:21:24 PM

  9. PDF Grammar videos: Reported speech exercises

    Grammar videos: Reported speech - exercises 1. Check your grammar: matching Draw a line to match the direct and indirect (reported) speech forms. Direct speech Reported speech 1. Present simple o o a. Past perfect 2. Present continuous o o b. Past simple 3. Past simple o o c. Past continuous 4. 'will' o o d.

  10. PDF B1 Reported Speech RS011

    Title: Reported Speech - PDF Grammar Worksheet - B1 - RS011 Author: Nikolaus ROSMANITZ Subject: Reported Speech - PDF Grammar Worksheet - B1 \(Intermediate\)

  11. Reported Speech

    Reported Speech. All downloads are in PDF Format and consist of a worksheet and answer sheet to check your results. Levels of Difficulty : Elementary Intermediate Advanced. RS002 - Reported Speech - Questions Intermediate. RS003 - Reported Speech - Questions Intermediate. RS004 - Reported Speech - Indirect Commands Intermediate.

  12. Reported Speech

    Watch my reported speech video: Here's how it works: We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'. ( Click here for more about using 'say' and 'tell' .) If this verb is in the present tense, it's easy. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence: Direct speech: I like ice cream. Reported speech: She says (that) she likes ice cream.

  13. PDF Reported speech

    4 Report these commands using ask or tell. 'Buy the tickets online to avoid the queues,' the tour guide told the visitors. 'Don't touch the sculptures!' the museum staff told the tourists. 'Write an accurate description of the painting,' the teacher asked her students. 'Play one more song,' the audience asked the band.

  14. Reported Speech Exercises (With Printable PDF)

    Reported Speech Exercises (With Printable PDF) 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 ...

  15. PDF Unit 9 Reported Speech A)

    Reported speech may or may not need a change in verbal tenses when converted from direct speech: NO CHANGE: As previously mentioned, at times, the reporting verb (e.g. he says, he tells me, etc.) is in the present. In this case, pronouns will change in indirect speech, but the tenses in the reported clause stay the same. ...

  16. PDF Reported Speech

    The twins said that they were five years old. Mum said, "You will have to get up early for the trip tomorrow." Mum said that we (I, they,he,she) would have to get up early for the trip the following day. The teacher told her, "You speak English very well." The teacher told her that she spoke English very well.

  17. Reported Speech

    Exercises on Reported Speech. If we report what another person has said, we usually do not use the speaker's exact words (direct speech), but reported (indirect) speech. Therefore, you need to learn how to transform direct speech into reported speech. The structure is a little different depending on whether you want to transform a statement ...

  18. Reported Speech with Examples and Test (PDF)

    Reported Speech (Reporting verb in past tense) "I eat breakfast at 8 AM.". She said (that) she ate breakfast at 8 AM. "We are going to the beach.". They told me (that) they were going to the beach. "He speaks Spanish fluently.". She said (that) he spoke Spanish fluently. "She cooks delicious meals.".

  19. PDF Reported Speech

    reporting a statement that someone makes very often, e.g. Tom says that he'll never get married. When the introductory verb is in a present, present perfect or future tense we can report the direct 2 speech without any change of tense: PAUL (phoning from the station): I'm trying to get a taxi.

  20. PDF Reported Speech

    My mother said, "Close you eye and open your hands." My mother told me to close my eyes and open my hands. I said to the host, "Can I have another piece of cake." asked the host if I could have another piece of cake.

  21. PDF Direct & Reported Speech

    Read how to punctuate direct speech below. Insert the first set of quotation marks. Begin the sentence or phrase inside the quotation marks with a capital letter. Place the correct punctuation (period, question mark, exclamation point, etc.) at the end of the sentence. Insert the second set of quotation marks after the punctuation.

  22. Unit 7

    Unit 7 - Exercise 1 - Reported speech. Rewrite the direct speech as reported speech to complete the sentences. Use contractions where possible.