verbs reported speech exercises

Reported speech - 1

Reported speech - 2

Reported speech - 3

Worksheets - handouts

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
• Indirect speech - write 1
• Indirect speech - write 2
• Indirect speech - quiz
• Reported speech - tenses
• Indirect speech – reported speech
• Reported speech – indirect speech

• Reporting verbs — Exercise 1
• 1. She agreed me with my project. (help) to help
• 2. The manager threatened the employees if they didn’t meet their targets. (fire) to fire
• 3. He convinced me the new restaurant. (try) to try
• 4. The teacher recommended speaking English every day. (practice) practicing
• 5. They accused him of the company’s funds. (steal) stealing
• 6. She warned me not him. (trust) to trust
• 7. He apologized to her for late. (be) being
• 8. She blamed her teacher for the exam. (fail) failing
• 9. She encouraged me my dreams. (pursue) to pursue
• 10. He refused the job offer. (accept) to accept
• 11. She insisted on for dinner. (pay) paying
• 12. Andrew denied anything about the missing files. (know) knowing
• 13. Charlotte persuaded him his mind. (change) to change
• 14. He advised me a different route. (take) to take
• 15. She admitted nervous before the presentation. (feel) feeling
• Reported statements — mixed tenses — Exercise 1
• Reported statements — mixed tenses — Exercise 2
• Reported statements — mixed tenses — Exercise 3
• Reported statements — mixed tenses — Exercise 4
• Reported statements — mixed tenses — Exercise 5

Reported Speech

Perfect english grammar.

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.

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

Grammar Exercise: Reported Speech Worksheet.

Choose the correct reporting verb from this list and finish the reported speech for each example.

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.

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RS010 - Reporting Verbs

Choose the correct reporting verb.

• The bank officials   accused agreed begged complained confessed convinced denied encouraged promised refused threatened warned to lend him the money.
• The burglar   accused agreed begged complained confessed convinced denied encouraged promised refused threatened warned to kill me if I screamed.
• The couple   accused agreed begged complained confessed convinced denied encouraged promised refused threatened warned doing anything that was illegal.
• The politician   accused agreed begged complained confessed convinced denied encouraged promised refused threatened warned that he had had an affair with another woman.
• My sister   accused agreed begged complained confessed convinced denied encouraged promised refused threatened warned that she always had too much work to do.
• The guide   accused agreed begged complained confessed convinced denied encouraged promised refused threatened warned us not to drink the water there because it wasn't safe.
• The teacher   accused agreed begged complained confessed convinced denied encouraged promised refused threatened warned me of cheating.
• I   accused agreed begged complained confessed convinced denied encouraged promised refused threatened warned my son that I would attend his concert.
• My dad   accused agreed begged complained confessed convinced denied encouraged promised refused threatened warned me to take the job because the pay was good.
• We   accused agreed begged complained confessed convinced denied encouraged promised refused threatened warned him to keep on practicing .
• The criminal   accused agreed begged complained confessed convinced denied encouraged promised refused threatened warned to answer any questions without a lawyer present.
• I   accused agreed begged complained confessed convinced denied encouraged promised refused threatened warned her to forgive me and told her I was so sorry.