ENGLISH 4U English Language Learning
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1. He told me (that) they had been dancing all the time. 2. Mum asked me if I had seen her glasses. 3. He asked me who had cleaned the pool. 4. Marilyn said (that) she always ate (eats) cornflakes in the morning. 5. He told her to give up smoking. 6. Father said (that) mum was tired then. 7. Phil asked me if I had been at the party, too. 8. He said (that) he had been waiting for me for an hour. 9. Ann asked Kate if she had really written that story. 10. Tim asked who had taken his ruler. 11. Bill said (that) he would take the car because he was late. 12. He told them not to tell him such nonsense. 13. Debby told me (that) she would meet him at the station the following morning. 14. The mother asked him why his clothes were so dirty. 15. He asked her if she had sold her car.
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What is reported speech, changing direct speech to reported speech, changing the tense (backshifting), no change of tenses, questions in reported speech, demands/requests, expressions with who/what/how + infinitive, typical changes to time and place markers.
Reported speech is when we repeat what another person has said but instead of using their exact words in quotation marks (direct speech), we use subordinate clause introduced by a reporting verb like the ones below:
Often, we have to change the tense, pronouns and time markers in reported speech.
Learn the rules for writing indirect speech in English with Lingolia’s simple explanation. In the exercises, you can test your grammar skills.
“I’ve prepared a presentation about the product, if you’re interested?” “I would love to see it. … This product is exactly what my company has been looking for! Is there any room to negotiate on price?” “I’m happy to hear that. Unfortunately, pricing is fixed.” “That’s a shame, but I appreciate your transparency. Could you send me a written offer?” “Yes, I will contact you tomorrow to finalise the details.” |
I had an appointment with a new client yesterday. I told him that and he said . |
When turning direct speech into reported speech, we may have to change all or some of the following:
If the reporting verb is in the simple past (e.g. said, told, asked, replied … ), the tense has to be set back by one degree (see the table below). This is known as backshifting .
Direct Speech | Reported Speech | |
---|---|---|
simple present | → | simple past |
present progressive | → | past progressive |
simple past | → | past perfect simple |
present perfect simple | ||
past perfect simple | ||
past progressive | → | past perfect progressive |
present perfect progressive | ||
past perfect progressive | ||
future with going to | → | was / were going to |
future with will | → | conditional (would) |
would |
The verbs could, should, would, might, must, needn’t, ought to, used to normally do not change.
If the reporting verb is in the simple present (e.g. says, tells, asks, replies … ), then the tense remains unchanged.
While the tense remains unchanged, we often still have to change the verb form to match the new pronouns.
We often omit the word that after a reporting verb, especially in spoken language and informal contexts.
When turning questions into reported speech, we follow the same rules as for declarative sentences: we change the pronouns as well as the time and place markers and backshift the tense as needed.
In addition, we also have to bear in mind the following:
Questions in reported speech do not end in a question mark.
When turning orders, demands and requests into reported speech, we only need to change the pronouns and the time and place information.
We don’t have to pay attention to the tense – we simply use an infinitive rather than a conjugated verb.
If the imperative is negated, then we use not + infinitive .
To express what someone should or can do in reported speech, we leave out the subject and the modal verb and instead we use the construction who/what/where/how + infinitive .
Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
---|---|
today | that day |
now | then at that moment/time |
yesterday | the day before |
… days ago | … days before |
last week | the week before |
next year | the following year |
tomorrow | the next day the following day |
here | there |
this | that |
these | those |
The words say and tell are not interchangeable.
Head over to the vocabulary section to learn more about the difference between say and tell .
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Complete the reported questions.
"What did you say?" he asked me. He asked me what I had said.
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"Where are you, Paul?" asked me my friend. My friend asked me |
"What will you choose?" they asked me after a while. After a while they asked me |
"Are you flying to New York soon?" he wanted to know. He wanted to know |
"May I help you with the luggage?" asked me the porter. The porter asked me |
"Have you set your alarm clock for 6.30?" he asked me. He asked me |
"Is Prague the capital of the Czech Republic?" we needed to know. We needed to know whether |
"Would you rather dance, Sarah?" Peter asked me. Peter asked me |
"How long have you been standing in the queue?" he wanted to know. He wanted to know how long |
"What do you do for a living?" she wondered. She wondered |
"Do you want to change your job?" asked me Joe. Joe asked me |
"Where did you live before that?" they wanted to know. They wanted to know |
"Why are you reading this magazine?" he was curious to know. He was curious to know |
Reported speech exercises Questions, commands and statements.
For intermediate and advanced learners of English.
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Article level 3, article level 4, conversations.
Listening Practice Through Dictation with Transcripts
1 ‘You must take these tablets twice a day.’
The doctor says I ………………………………………….
2 ‘I’m going to the gym tomorrow.’
Ben told me ………………………………………….
3 ‘You don’t have to wait for me.’
Liz said that I ………………………………………….
4 ‘I took my final exam yesterday.’
Jack told me ………………………………………….
5 ‘I haven’t told you the complete truth.’
Pablo said ………………………………………….
6 ‘I’ll meet you later today.’
Jim tells me ………………………………………….
7 ‘I prefer this café to the one opposite.’
Julia says ………………………………………….
8 ‘I’ll always remember meeting you.’
Ann told me ………………………………………….
1 must take these tablets twice a day.
2 (that) he was going to the gym the next day.
3 didn’t have to wait for her.
4 (that) he had taken his final exam the day before.
5 (that) he hadn’t told me the complete truth.
6 (that) he’ll meet me later today.
7 (that) she prefers this café to the one opposite.
8 (that) she would always remember meeting me.
1 Will asked us …………………………… (time / game / start) the next day.
2 The assistant asked him if …………………………… (he / like / try) on a smaller jacket.
3 My teacher asked me …………………………… (I / finish) the exercise and I said I hadn’t.
4 I asked Maria …………………………… (which / film / seen) the night before.
5 The dentist asked …………………………… (me / why) never used an electric toothbrush before.
6 She asked him if …………………………… (he / going) the park and he said he wasn’t.
7 I asked the policeman whether …………………………… (he / help / us) and he said he could.
1 what time the game started 2 he would like to try
3 if I had finished 4 which film she had seen
5 me why I had 6 he was going to 7 he could help us
1 ‘Why are you home so late?’
…………………………………..
2 ‘Did you leave school on time today?’
3 ‘You’ve got lots of homework to do, haven’t you?’
4 ‘When are you doing to tidy your room?’
5 ‘Have you seen your brother this afternoon?’
6 ‘Will you help me with the shopping tomorrow?’
7 ‘Would you like me to give you some money for a pizza?’
…………………………………..
1 My mum asked me why I was home so late.
2 … if I had left school on time that day.
3 … if I had (got) lots of homework to do.
4 … when I was going to tidy my room.
5 … if I had seen my brother that afternoon.
6 … if I’d help her with the shopping the next day.
7 … if I’d like her to give me some money for a pizza.
Dan Are you going to the concert tomorrow evening?
Zoe No, I’m not. I haven’t got any money.
Dan I’ll lend you some. How much do you need?
Zoe That’s really kind of you, but I have to finish my homework too.
Dan Would you like me to help you finish it?
Zoe Do you speak German?
Dan No, I don’t. Your cousin does, doesn’t she?
Zoe Yes, she does. Perhaps I should ask her.
……………………………………………
Dan asked Zoe if she was going to the concert the next evening. Zoe said she wasn’t. She said she didn’t have any money. Dan said he’d lend her some. He asked her how much she needed. Zoe said that was really kind of him, but she had to finish her homework too. Dan asked her if she’d like him to help her finish it. Zoe asked him if he spoke German. Dan said he didn’t. He asked her if her cousin did. Zoe said she did. She said perhaps she should ask her.
1 ‘Do you know the answer to these questions?’ Sally asked me. (if)
……………………………………………
2 ‘I mustn’t be late for the trip tomorrow,’ said Bella. (next)
3 ‘Have you heard the band’s new album yet?’ asked Kostas. (me)
4 ‘I won’t be at school next week,’ said Mark. (says)
5 ‘Will you be getting a new phone soon?’ asked Harry. (whether)
6 ‘My plane arrives at ten in the morning,’ said Andrew. (tells)
1 Sally asked me if I knew the answer to the / those questions.
2 Bella said that she mustn’t be late for the trip the next day.
3 Kostas asked me if I’d heard the band’s new album yet.
4 Mark says that he won’t be at school next week.
5 Harry asked (me) whether I’d be getting a new phone soon.
6 Andrew tells me that his plane arrives at ten in the morning.
1 ‘I’ll never wear this outfit again.’
Monica said ……………………………………..
2 ‘I don’t believe you.’
My dad told my sister ……………………………………..
3 ‘I’ve been talking to Frank.’
Susanna tells me ……………………………………..
4 ‘You mustn’t tell anyone.’
Harry told me ……………………………………..
5 ‘I’ll give you an answer tomorrow.’
Jenny told Tom ……………………………………..
6 ‘I was at a friend’s house yesterday.’
Lisa said ……………………………………..
1 (that) she would never wear that outfit again
2 (that) he didn’t believe her
3 (that) she’s been talking to Frank
4 (that) I mustn’t tell anyone
5 (that) she would give him an answer the next day
6 (that) she had been at a friend’s house the day before
1 ‘Did you see the football match yesterday?’
Jimmy asked me ……………………………………..
2 ‘You’ve ordered the pizzas, haven’t you?’
I asked Eddie ……………………………………..
3 ‘What languages do you speak?’
The tourist asked me ……………………………………..
4 ‘You’re going out later, aren’t you?’
My dad asked me ……………………………………..
5 ‘Do you like Indian food?’ ‘Yes, I do’
They asked me ……………………………………..
6 ‘Where does your brother work?’
I asked Emma ……………………………………..
7 ‘Were you late for school this morning?’
My mum asked my sister ……………………………………..
8 ‘Are you tired?’ ‘No, I’m not.’
We asked him ……………………………………..
1 if / whether I had seen the football match the day before.
2 if / whether he had ordered the pizzas
3 what languages I spoke
4 if / whether I was going out later
5 if / whether I liked Indian food and I said I did
6 where her brother worked
7 if / whether she had been late for school that morning
8 if / whether he was tired and he said that he wasn’t
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Reported speech - 1
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Reported speech - 3
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Exercises. Write the following sentences in indirect speech. Pay attention to backshift and the changes to pronouns, time, and place. Example: He said, "I will call tomorrow.". → He said that he would call the following day. Two weeks ago, he said, "I visited this museum last week.". → Two weeks ago, he said that . I → he.
English grammar exercise about reported speech - in this case reported questions. Login Contact Courses Membership Speaking Explanations Exercises Method. Reported Speech Exercise 2. Perfect English Grammar. Here's an exercise about reported questions. Review reported questions here;
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)
Reported questions in English, Questions, Question, Online Exercise. Task No. 2323. Finish the sentences using Reported speech. Always change the tense, although it is sometimes not necessary.. Show example
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.
Questions - Exercise 1. Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note the change of pronouns and tenses. "Where is my umbrella?" she asked. → She asked "How are you?" Martin asked us. → Martin asked us He asked, "Do I have to do it?" → He asked "Where have you been?" the mother asked her daughter. → The mother asked her daughter
Exercises: 1 2 3. Reported speech - indirect speech. Exercise 1. Choose say/said or tell/told to complete the following sentences in reported speech. 1 He me that he didn't have enough money. 2 I the waiter the soup was cold. 3 Everybody that I had been great. 4 She I was her favourite student. 5 Victor he would change the windows.
Harold said, "Don't bring sodas near the computers!". A. Harold told us not to bring sodas near the computers. B. Harold asked us if we were bringing sodas near the computers. C. Harold told to us that we had bringed sodas near the computers. D. Harold said to bring sodas near the computers. Robert said, "I want to renew my domain.".
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.
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.
Mixed Exercise 1. Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note whether the sentence is a request, a statement or a question. He said, "I like this song." → He said "Where is your sister?" she asked me. → She asked me "I don't speak Italian," she said. → She said "Say hello to Jim," they said. → They asked me
Yes, and you report it with a reporting verb. He said he wanted to know about reported speech. I said, I want and you changed it to he wanted. 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 ...
Reported Speech - Exercise 6. Put the sentences into reported speech. 1. He told me, "We have been dancing all the time." He told me (that) . 2. Mum asked me, "Have you seen my glasses?"
Exercises: indirect speech. Reported speech - present. Reported speech - past. Reported speech - questions. Reported questions - write. Reported speech - imperatives. Reported speech - modals. Indirect speech - tenses 1. Indirect speech - tenses 2.
Reported speech is when we repeat what another person has said but instead of using their exact words in quotation marks (direct speech), we use subordinate clause introduced by a reporting verb like the ones below: He says/said …. She explains/explained …. She tells/told me …. He asks/asked …. Often, we have to change the tense ...
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.
Exercise 7: reported speech. Make reported questions. Example: Where are you? - He asked me where I was. Reported speech questions: exercises with answers. menu. English grammar PDF; PDF books; PDF worksheets; Mixed PDF tests ... Reported speech exercises Questions, commands and statements.
1 must take these tablets twice a day. 2 (that) he was going to the gym the next day. 3 didn't have to wait for her. 4 (that) he had taken his final exam the day before. 5 (that) he hadn't told me the complete truth. 6 (that) he'll meet me later today. 7 (that) she prefers this café to the one opposite. 8 (that) she would always remember meeting me.
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.
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."
Here's another mixed exercise about reported speech - it includes statements, questions, orders and requests. Review reported statments, questions, orders and requests; Download this quiz in PDF here; More reported speech exercises here
Here's a mixed exercise about reported speech - it includes statements, questions, orders and requests. Review all reported statments, questions, orders and requests here; Download this quiz in PDF here; More reported speech exercises here