REPORTED SPEECH

Reported speech - simple statements - Exercise 1

Explanation: Reported speech - statements, sentences
Statements
1) If the sentence starts in the present, there is no backshift of tenses in Reported speech.
Example: Susan: "I work in an office." Susan says that she works in an office.

2) If the sentence starts in the past, there is often backshift of tenses in Reported speech. (see: Note)
Example: Susan: "I work in an office." Susan said that she worked in an office.

Backshift of tenses
from

to

Simple Present

Simple Past

Simple Past
Present Perfect

Past Perfect

Past Perfect
will

would

Progressive forms
am/are/is

was/were

was/were
has been

had been

had been

Backshift of tenses
from

to

Peter: "I work in the garden."

Peter said that he worked in the garden.

Peter: "I worked in the garden."

Peter: "I have worked in the garden."

Peter said that he had worked in the garden.

Peter: "I had worked in the garden."

Peter: "I will work in the garden."

Peter said that he would work in the garden.

Peter: "I can work in the garden."

Peter said that he could work in the garden.

Peter: "I may work in the garden."

Peter said that he might work in the garden.

Peter: "I would work in the garden."

(could, might, should, ought to)

Peter said that he would work in the garden.

(could, might, should, ought to)

Progressive forms
Peter: "I'm working in the garden."

Peter said that he was working in the garden.

Peter: "I was working in the garden."

Peter: "I have been working in the garden."

Peter said that he had been working in the garden.

Peter: "I had been working in the garden."

If the sentence contains an expression of time, you must change it as well.

Peter: "I worked in the garden yesterday."
Peter said that he had worked in the garden the day before.
Shifting of expressions of time

this (evening)

that (evening)

today/this day

that day

these (days)

those (days)

now

then

(a week) ago

(a week) before

last weekend

the weekend before / the previous weekend

yesterday

the day before

the day before yesterday

two days before

here

there

next (week)

the following (week)

tomorrow

the next/following day

the day after tomorrow

in two days time

Note:
In some cases the backshift of tenses is not necessary, e.g. when statements are still true.
John: "My brother is at Leipzig university."
John said that his brother was at Leipzig university. or
John said that his brother is at Leipzig university.
or
Mandy: "The sun rises in the East."
Mandy said that the sun rose in the East. or
Mandy said that the sun rises in the East.

Finish the sentences using Reported speech. Always change the tense, although it is sometimes not necessary.
Example: Peter: "I clean the black shoes."
Peter told me that ____________________________
Answer: Peter told me that he cleaned the black shoes.

1) John: "Mandy is at home."

John said that
2) Max: "Frank often reads a book."

Max told me that

3) Susan: "I'm watching TV."

Susan said to me that

4) Simon: "David was ill."

Simon said that

5) Peggy: "The girls helped in the house."

Peggy told me that

6) Richard: "I am going to ride a skateboard."

Richard said to me that

7) Stephen and Claire: "We have cleaned the windows."

Stephen and Claire told me that

8) Charles: "I didn't have time to do my homework."

Charles remarked that

9) Mrs Jones: "My mother will be 50 years old."

Mrs Jones told me that

10) Jean: "The boss must sign the letter."

Jean said that

Reported speech - simple statements - Exercise 1

1) John:"Mandy is at home."
John said that Mandy was at home.
2) Max:"Frank often reads a book."
Max told me that Frank often read a book.
3) Susan:"I'm watching TV."
Susan said to me that she was watching TV.
4) Simon:"David was ill."
Simon said that David had been ill.
5) Peggy:"The girls helped in the house."
Peggy told me that the girls had helped in the house.
6) Richard:"I am going to ride a skateboard."
Richard said to me that he was going to ride a skateboard.
7) Stephen and Claire:"We have cleaned the windows."
Stephen and Claire told me that they had cleaned the windows.
8) Charles:"I didn't have time to do my homework."
Charles remarked that he hadn't had time to do his homework.
9) Mrs Jones:"My mother will be 50 years old."
Mrs Jones told me that her mother would be 50 years old.
10) Jean:"The boss must sign the letter."
Jean said that the boss had to sign the letter.

Reported speech - statements with expressions of time - Exercise 2

Explanation: Reported speech - statements, sentences

If you put a question into Reported speech there are some steps which are the same like in statements: (changing of the person, backshift of tenses,
changing of expressions of time).
In Reported speech there is no question anymore, the sentence becomes a statement.
That's why the word order is: subject - verb
Question without question words (yes/no questions):
Peter: "Do you play football?" - Peter asked me whether (if) I played football.
Question with question words:
Peter: "When do you play football?" - Peter asked me when I played football.

Finish the sentences using Reported speech. Always change the tense, although it is sometimes not necessary.
Example: Peter: "I clean the black shoes yesterday."
Peter told me that _________________________________
Answer: Peter told me that he cleaned the black shoes the day before.

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

Reported speech - statements with expressions of time - Exercise 2

1) Emily:"Our teacher will go to Leipzig tomorrow."

Emily said that their teacher would go to Leipzig the next day.
2) Helen:"I was writing a letter yesterday."
Helen told me that she had been writing a letter the day before.
3) Robert:"My father flew to Dallas last year."
Robert told me that his father had flown to Dallas the year before.
4) Lisa:"Tim went to the stadium an hour ago."
Lisa said that Tim had gone to the stadium an hour before.
5) Patricia:"My mother will celebrate her birthday next weekend."
Patricia said that her mother would celebrate her birthday the following weekend.
6) Michael:"I am going to read a book this week."
Michael said to me that he was going to read a book that week.
7) Jason and Victoria:"We will do our best in the exams tomorrow."
Jason and Victoria told me that they would do their best in the exams the next day.
8) Andrew:"We didn't eat fish two days ago."
Andrew remarked that they hadn't eaten fish two days before.
9) Alice:"I spent all my pocket money on Monday."
Alice complained that she had spent all her pocket money on Monday.
10) David:"John had already gone at six."
David said that John had already gone at six.

Explanation: Reported commands

Reported commands
If you put a command into Reported speech there are some steps which are the same like in statements: (changing of the person, backshift of
tenses, changing of expressions of time).
The form is mostly: form of to tell + to + infinitive.

Affirmative commands

Negative commands

Father: "Do your homework."

Teacher. "Don't talk to your neighbour."

Father told me to do my homework.

The teacher told me not to talk to my neighbour.

Finish the sentences using Reported speech. Always change the tense, although it is sometimes not necessary.
Example: Peter: "Clean the black shoes!"
Peter told me _________________________
Answer: Peter told me to clean the black shoes.

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

Reported commands, affirmative sentences - Exercise 2

1) Andrew:"Clean the blue bike!"

Andrew told me to clean the blue bike.
2) Jessica:"Write a text message!"
Jessica told me to write a text message.
3) Nelly:"Help Peter's sister!"
Nelly told me to help Peter's sister.
4) Fred:"Wash your hands!"
Fred told me to wash my hands.
5) Anna:"Open the window!"
Anna told me to open the window.
6) Tom:"Come at 8!"
Tom told me to come at 8.
7) Teacher:"Do your homework!"
The teacher told me to do my homework.
8) Doris:"Dance with me!"
Doris told me to dance with her.
9) Sabine:"Meet Sandy at the station!"
Sabine told me to meet Sandy at the station.
10) Victoria:"Check your e-mails!"
Victoria told me to check my e-mails.

Negative Imperatives
Explanation: Reported commands

If you put a command into Reported speech there are some steps which are the same like in statements: (changing of the person, backshift of
tenses, changing of expressions of time).
The form is mostly: form of to tell + to + infinitive.

Affirmative commands

Negative commands

Father: "Do your homework."

Teacher. "Don't talk to your neighbour."

Father told me to do my homework.

The teacher told me not to talk to my neighbour.

Finish the sentences using Reported speech. Always change the tense, although it is sometimes not necessary.
Example: Peter: "Don't clean the black shoes!"
Peter told me _________________________
Answer: Peter told me not to clean the black shoes.

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

KEY
1) Karen:"Don't play football in the garden!"
Karen told me not to play football in the garden.
2) Teacher:"Don't forget your homework!"
The teacher reminded me not to forget my homework.
3) Mike:"Don't shout at Peter!"
Mike told me not to shout at Peter.
4) Yvonne:"Don't talk to your neighbour!"
Yvonne told me not to talk to my neighbour.
5) Denise:"Don't open the door!"
Denise told me not to open the door.
6) Marcel:"Don't sing that song!"
Marcel reminded me not to sing that song.
7) Jane:"Don't watch the new film!"
Jane advised me not to watch the new film.
8) Walter:"Don't ring Romy on Sunday!"
Walter told me not to ring Romy on Sunday.
9) Lisa:"Don't fly via Paris!"
Lisa advised me not to fly via Paris.
10) Jamie:"Don't eat so much junk food!"
Jamie reminded me not to eat so much junk food.

Reported questions explanatio

When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:

pronouns

present tense verbs (3rd person singular)

place and time expressions

tenses (backshift)
Also note that you have to:

transform the question into an indirect question (statement)

use the interrogative (where, why, when, etc) or if / whether

Direct Speech

Reported Speech

statement

He said: She lives in London.

He said that she lived in London

question with interrogative

He asked:Where does she live?

He asked where she lived.

question without interrogative He asked: Does she live in London? He asked whether she lived in London.
He asked if she lived in London.
It is also important that you use an indirect question in reported speech, i.e. after the interrogative or whether /
if you continue the sentence as if it were a statement (subject-verb etc.). The auxiliary verb do is not used in
indirect questions.

Example:
He asked: Where does she live? He asked where she lived.

Reported questions - Exercise 1

Explanation: Reported questions

Finish the sentences using Reported speech. Always change the tense, although it is sometimes not necessary.
Example: Peter: "Did John clean the black shoes?"
Peter asked me _________________________________
Answer: Peter asked me if John had cleaned the black shoes.

1) Christopher: "Do you want to dance?"

Christopher asked me
2) Betty: "When did you come?"

Betty wanted to know

3) Mark: "Has John arrived?"

Mark asked me
4) Ronald: "Where does Maria park her car?"

Ronald asked me
5) Elisabeth: "Did you watch the latest film?"

Elisabeth asked me
6) Mandy: "Can I help you?"

Mandy wanted to know

7) Andrew: "Will Mandy have lunch with Sue?"

Andrew asked me
8) Justin: "What are you doing?"

Justin asked me
9) Frank: "How much pocket money does Lisa get?"

Frank wanted to know

10) Anne: "Must I do the shopping?"
Anne asked

1) Christopher:"Do you want to dance?"

Christopher asked me if I wanted to dance.
2) Betty:"When did you come?"
Betty wanted to know when I had come.
3) Mark:"Has John arrived?"
Mark asked me if John had arrived.
4) Ronald:"Where does Maria park her car?"
Ronald asked me where Maria parked her car.
5) Elisabeth:"Did you watch the latest film?"
Elisabeth asked me if I had watched the latest film.
6) Mandy:"Can I help you?"
Mandy wanted to know if she could help me.
7) Andrew:"Will Mandy have lunch with Sue?"
Andrew asked me if Mandy would have lunch with Sue.
8) Justin:"What are you doing?"
Justin asked me what I was doing.
9) Frank:"How much pocket money does Lisa get?"
Frank wanted to know how much pocket money Lisa got.
10) Anne:"Must I do the shopping?"
Anne asked if she had to do the shopping.

Reported questions - Exercise 2

Explanation: Reported questions

Finish the sentences using Reported speech. Always 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 if John had cleaned the black shoes the day before.

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

Reported questions - Exercise 2

1) Mandy:"Are the boys reading the book?"

Yesterday Mandy asked me if the boys were reading the book.
2) Jason:"Who gave you the laptop?"
Yesterday Jason wanted to know who had given me the laptop.
3) Robert:"Is Tim leaving on Friday?"
Yesterday Robert asked me if Tim was leaving on Friday.
4) Daniel:"Will it rain tomorrow?"
Yesterday Daniel asked me if it would rain today.
5) Jennifer:"Where do you play football today?"
Yesterday Jennifer wanted to know where I played football.
6) Nancy:"Why didn't Nick go to New York last summer?"
Yesterday Nancy wanted to know why Nick hadn't gone to New York the summer before.
7) Barbara:"Must I do my homework this afternoon?"
Yesterday Barbara asked me if she had to do her homework that afternoon.
8) Linda:"Did Max fly to London two weeks ago?"
Yesterday Linda wanted to know if Max had flown to London two weeks before.
9) Grandmother:"Where are my glasses?"
Yesterday Grandmother asked me where her glasses were.
10) A man:"When does the train to Liverpool leave?"
Yesterday a man asked me when the train to Liverpool left.

MoExercise on Reported Speech

Reported Speech without backshift Change of Pronouns
Helen is in front of the class holding a presentation on London. As Helen is rather shy, she speaks with a very
low voice. Your classmate Gareth does not understand her, so you have to repeat every sentence to him.
Complete the sentences in reported speech (no backshift). Note the change of pronouns and verbs.

Helen: I want to tell you something about my holiday in London.

Gareth: What does she say?

You: She says that

Helen: I went to London in July.

Gareth: What does she say?

You: She says that

Helen: My parents went with me.

Gareth: What does she say?

You: She says that

Helen: We spent three days in London.

Gareth: What does she say?

You: She says that

Helen: London is a multicultural place.

Gareth: What does she say?

You: She says that

Helen: I saw people of all colours.

Gareth: What does she say?

You: She says that

Helen: Me and my parents visited the Tower.

Gareth: What does she say?

You: She says that

Helen: One evening we went to see a musical.

Gareth: What does she say?

You: She says that

Helen: I love London.

Gareth: What does she say?

You: She says that

Helen: The people are so nice there.

Gareth: What does she say?

You: She says that

Helen: I want to tell you something about my holiday in London.

Gareth: What does she say?

You: She says that she wants to tell us something about her holiday in London.

Helen: I went to London in July.

Gareth: What does she say?

You: She says that she went to London in July.

Helen: My parents went with me.

Gareth: What does she say?

You: She says that her parents went with her.

Helen: We spent three days in London.

Gareth: What does she say?

You: She says that they spent three days in London.

Helen: London is a multicultural place.

Gareth: What does she say?

You: She says that London is a multicultural place.

Helen: I saw people of all colours.

Gareth: What does she say?

You: She says that she saw people of all colours.

Helen: Me and my parents visited the Tower.

Gareth: What does she say?

You: She says that she and her parents visited the Tower.

Helen: One evening we went to see a musical.

Gareth: What does she say?

You: She says that one evening they went to see a musical.

Helen: I love London.

Gareth: What does she say?

You: She says that she loves London.

Helen: The people are so nice there.

Gareth: What does she say?

You: She says that the people are so nice there.

Reported Speech without backshift Change of Pronouns and Places

Your friend is an exchange student in the USA at the moment. You are speaking with him on the phone and your
friend Sue is standing next to you. She is very excited - you have to repeat every sentence to her.
Complete the sentences in reported speech (no backshift). Note the change of pronouns, places and verbs.

Tom: I'm fine.

Sue: What does he say?

You: He says that

Tom: The weather here is great.

Sue: What does he say?

You: He says that

Tom: My host family is very nice.

Sue: What does he say?

You: He says that

Tom: I have my own room.

Sue: What does he say?

You: He says that

Tom: We have a national park here.

Sue: What does he say?

You: He says that

Tom: We went there yesterday.

Sue: What does he say?

You: He says that

Tom: It was great.

Sue: What does he say?

You: He says that

Tom: I'd love to go there again.

Sue: What does he say?

You: He says that

Tom: The teachers at my school are very nice.

Sue: What does he say?

You: He says that

Tom: My English has improved.

Sue: What does he say?

You: He says that

Complete the sentences in reported speech (no backshift). Note the change of pronouns, places and verbs.

Tom: I'm fine.

Sue: What does he say?

You: He says that he's fine.

Tom: The weather here is great.

Sue: What does he say?

You: He says that the weather there is great.

Tom: My host family is very nice.

Sue: What does he say?

You: He says that his host family is very nice.

Tom: I have my own room.

Sue: What does he say?

You: He says that he has his own room.

Tom: We have a national park here.

Sue: What does he say?

You: He says that they have a national park there.

Tom: We went there yesterday.

Sue: What does he say?

You: He says that they went there yesterday.

Tom: It was great.

Sue: What does he say?

You: He says that it was great.

Tom: I'd love to go there again.

Sue: What does he say?

You: He says that he'd love to go there again.

Tom: The teachers at my school are very nice.

Sue: What does he say?

You: He says that the teachers at his school are very nice.

Tom: My English has improved.

Sue: What does he say?

You: He says that his English has improved.

Rewrite the sentences in reported speech. Change pronouns and time expressions where necessary.
1.

She said, "I am reading."

She said that

2.

she w as reading

They said, "We are busy."

They said that

3.

He said, "I know a better restaurant."

He said that

4.

She said, "I woke up early."

She said that

5.

He said, "I will ring her."

He said that

6.

They said, "We have just arrived."

They said that

7.

He said, "I will clean the car."

He said that

8.

She said, "I did not say that."

She said that

9.

She said, "I don't know where my shoes are."

She said that

10.

He said: "I won't tell anyone."

He said that

Rewrite the sentences in reported speech. Change pronouns and time expressions where necessary.
1.

She said, "I am reading."

She said that she was reading.

2.

They said, "We are busy."

They said that they were busy.

3.

He said, "I know a better restaurant."

He said that he knew a better restaurant.

4.

She said, "I woke up early."

She said that she had woken up early.

5.

He said, "I will ring her."

He said that he would ring her.

6.

They said, "We have just arrived."

They said that they had just arrived.

7.

He said, "I will clean the car."

He said that he would clean the car.

8.

She said, "I did not say that."

She said that she had not said that.

9.

She said, "I don't know where my shoes are."

She said that she did not know where her shoes were.

10.

He said: "I won't tell anyone."

He said that he would not tell anyone.

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.
1.

They said, "This is our book."

They said

2.

She said, "I went to the cinema yesterday."

She said

3.

He said, "I am writing a test tomorrow."

He said

4.

You said, "I will do this for him."

You said

5.

She said, "I am not hungry now."

She said

6.

They said, "We have never been here before."

They said

7.

They said, "We were in London last week."

They said

8.

He said, "I will have finished this paper by tomorrow."

He said

9.

He said, "They won't sleep."

He said

10.

She said, "It is very quiet here."

She said

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.
1.

They said, "This is our book."

They said that was their book.

2.

She said, "I went to the cinema yesterday."

She said that she had gone to the cinema the day before.

3.

He said, "I am writing a test tomorrow."

He said that he was writing a test the next day.

4.

You said, "I will do this for him."

You said that you would do that for him.

5.

She said, "I am not hungry now."

She said that she was not hungry then.

6.

They said, "We have never been here before."

They said that they had never been there before.

7.

They said, "We were in London last week."

They said that they had been in London the week before.

8.

He said, "I will have finished this paper by tomorrow."

He said that he would have finished that paper by the next day.

9.

He said, "They won't sleep."

He said that they wouldn't sleep.

10.

She said, "It is very quiet here."

She said that it was very quiet there.

Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note the change of pronouns and tenses.
1.

"Where is my umbrella?" she asked.

She asked

2.

"How are you?" Martin asked us.

Martin asked us

3.

He asked, "Do I have to do it?"

He asked

4.

"Where have you been?" the mother asked her daughter.

The mother asked her daughter

5.

"Which dress do you like best?" she asked her boyfriend.

She asked her boyfriend

6.

"What are they doing?" she asked.

She wanted to know

7.

"Are you going to the cinema?" he asked me.

He wanted to know

8.

The teacher asked, "Who speaks English?"

The teacher wanted to know

9.

"How do you know that?" she asked me.

She asked me

10.

"Has Caron talked to Kevin?" my friend asked me.

My friend asked me

Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note the change of pronouns and tenses.
1.

"Where is my umbrella?" she asked.

She asked where her umbrella was.

2.

"How are you?" Martin asked us.

Martin asked us how we were.

3.

He asked, "Do I have to do it?"

He asked if he had to do it.

4.

"Where have you been?" the mother asked her daughter.

The mother asked her daughter where she had been.

5.

"Which dress do you like best?" she asked her boyfriend.

She asked her boyfriend which dress he liked best.

6.

"What are they doing?" she asked.

She wanted to know what they were doing.

7.

"Are you going to the cinema?" he asked me.

He wanted to know if I was going to the cinema.

8.

The teacher asked, "Who speaks English?"

The teacher wanted to know who spoke English.

9.

"How do you know that?" she asked me.

She asked me how I knew that.

10.

"Has Caron talked to Kevin?" my friend asked me.

My friend asked me if Caron had talked to Kevin.

Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note the change of pronouns and tenses.
1.

"What's the time?" he asked.

He wanted to know

2.

"When will we meet again?" she asked me.

She asked me

3.

"Are you crazy?" she asked him.

She asked him

4.

"Where did they live?" he asked.

He wanted to know

5.

"Will you be at the party?" he asked her.

He asked her

6.

"Can you meet me at the station?" she asked me.

She asked me

7.

"Who knows the answer?" the teacher asked.

The teacher wanted to know

8.

"Why don't you help me?" she asked him.

She wanted to know

9.

"Did you see that car?" he asked me.

He asked me

10.

"Have you tidied up your room?" the mother asked the twins.
The mother asked the twins

Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note the change of pronouns and tenses.
1.

"What's the time?" he asked.

He wanted to know what the time was.

2.

"When will we meet again?" she asked me.

She asked me when we would meet again.

3.

"Are you crazy?" she asked him.

She asked him if he was crazy.

4.

"Where did they live?" he asked.

He wanted to know where they had lived.

5.

"Will you be at the party?" he asked her.

He asked her if she would be at the party.

6.

"Can you meet me at the station?" she asked me.

She asked me if I could meet her at the station.

7.

"Who knows the answer?" the teacher asked.

The teacher wanted to know who knew the answer.

8.

"Why don't you help me?" she asked him.

She wanted to know why he didn't help her.

9.

"Did you see that car?" he asked me.

He asked me if I had seen that car.

10.

"Have you tidied up your room?" the mother asked the twins.
The mother asked the twins if they had tidied up their room.

Exercise 1 Requests (positive)

Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note the change of pronouns in some sentences.
1.

"Stop talking, Joe," the teacher said.

The teacher told Joe

2.

"Be patient," she said to him.

She told him

3.

"Go to your room," her father said to her.

Her father told her

4.

"Hurry up," she said to us.

She told us

5.

"Give me the key," he told her.

He asked her

6.

"Play it again, Sam," she said.

She asked Sam

7.

"Sit down, Caron" he said.

He asked Caron

8.

"Fill in the form, Sir," the receptionist said.

The receptionist asked the guest

9.

"Take off your shoes," she told us.

She told us

10.

"Mind your own business," she told him.

She told him

Exercise 1 Requests (positive)

Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note the change of pronouns in some sentences.
1.

"Stop talking, Joe," the teacher said.

The teacher told Joe to stop talking.

2.

"Be patient," she said to him.

She told him to be patient.

3.

"Go to your room," her father said to her.

Her father told her to go to her room.

4.

"Hurry up," she said to us.

She told us to hurry up.

5.

"Give me the key," he told her.

He asked her to give him the key.

6.

"Play it again, Sam," she said.

She asked Sam to play it again.

7.

"Sit down, Caron" he said.

He asked Caron to sit down.

8.

"Fill in the form, Sir," the receptionist said.

The receptionist asked the guest to fill in the form.

9.

"Take off your shoes," she told us.

She told us to take off our shoes.

10.

"Mind your own business," she told him.

She told him to mind his own business.

Exercise 2 Requests (negative)

Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note the change of pronouns in some sentences.
1.

"Don't touch it," she said to him.

She told him

2.

"Don't do that again," he said to me.

He told me

3.

"Don't talk to me like that," he said.

He told her

4.

"Don't repair the computer yourself," she warned him.

She warned him

5.

"Don't let him in," she said.

She told me

6.

"Don't go out without me," he begged her.

He begged her

7.

"Don't forget your bag," she told me.

She told me

8.

"Don't eat in the lab," the chemistry teacher said.

The chemistry teacher told his students

9.

"Don't give yourself up," he advised her.

He advised her

10.

"Don't hurt yourselves, boys," she said.

She told the boys

Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note the change of pronouns in some sentences.
1.

"Don't touch it," she said to him.

She told him not to touch it.

2.

"Don't do that again," he said to me.

He told me not to do that again.

3.

"Don't talk to me like that," he said.

He told her not to talk to him like that.

4.

"Don't repair the computer yourself," she warned him.

She warned him not to repair the computer himself.

5.

"Don't let him in," she said.

She told me not to let him in.

6.

"Don't go out without me," he begged her.

He begged her not to go out without him.

7.

"Don't forget your bag," she told me.

She told me not to forget my bag.

8.

"Don't eat in the lab," the chemistry teacher said.

The chemistry teacher told his students not to eat in the lab.

9.

"Don't give yourself up," he advised her.

He advised her not to give herself up.

10.

"Don't hurt yourselves, boys," she said.

She told the boys not to hurt themselves.

Exercise 3 Requests (mixed)

Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note the change of pronouns in some sentences.
1.

She said, "Go upstairs."

She told me

2.

"Close the door behind you," he told me.

He told me

3.

"Don't be late," he advised us.

He advised us

4.

"Stop staring at me," she said.

She told him

5.

"Don't be angry with me," he said.

He asked her

6.

"Leave me alone," she said.

She told me

7.

"Don't drink and drive," she warned us.

She warned us

8.

"John, stop smoking," she said.

She told John

9.

"Don't worry about us," they said.

They told her

10.

"Meet me at the cinema." he said.

He asked me
Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note the change of pronouns in some sentences.

1.

She said, "Go upstairs."

She told me to go upstairs.

2.

"Close the door behind you," he told me.

He told me to close the door behind me.

3.

"Don't be late," he advised us.

He advised us not to be late.

4.

"Stop staring at me," she said.

She told him to stop staring at her.

5.

"Don't be angry with me," he said.

He asked her not to be angry with him.

6.

"Leave me alone," she said.

She told me to leave her alone.

7.

"Don't drink and drive," she warned us.

She warned us not to drink and drive.

8.

"John, stop smoking," she said.

She told John to stop smoking.

9.

"Don't worry about us," they said.

They told her not to worry about them.

10.

"Meet me at the cinema." he said.

He asked me to meet him at the cinema.

Mixed Exercise 1
Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note whether the sentence is a request, a statement or a question.
1.

He said, "I like this song."

He said

2.

"Where is your sister?" she asked me.

She asked me

3.

"I don't speak Italian," she said.

She said

4.

"Say hello to Jim," they said.

They asked me

5.

"The film began at seven o'clock," he said.

He said

6.

"Don't play on the grass, boys," she said.

She told the boys

7.

"Where have you spent your money?" she asked him.

She asked him

8.

"I never make mistakes," he said.

He said

9.

"Does she know Robert?" he wanted to know.

He wanted to know

10.

"Don't try this at home," the stuntman told the audience.

The stuntman advised the audience

Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note whether the sentence is a request, a statement or a question.
1.

He said, "I like this song."

He said that he liked that song.

2.

"Where is your sister?" she asked me.

She asked me where my sister was.

3.

"I don't speak Italian," she said.

She said that she didn't speak Italian.

4.

"Say hello to Jim," they said.

They asked me to say hello to Jim.

5.

"The film began at seven o'clock," he said.

He said that the film had begun at seven o'clock.

6.

"Don't play on the grass, boys," she said.

She told the boys not to play on the grass.

7.

"Where have you spent your money?" she asked him.

She asked him where he had spent his money.

8.

"I never make mistakes," he said.

He said that he never made mistakes.

9.

"Does she know Robert?" he wanted to know.

He wanted to know if she knew Robert.

10.

"Don't try this at home," the stuntman told the audience.

The stuntman advised the audience not to try that at home.

Mixed Exercise 2
Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note whether the sentence is a request, a statement or a question and
whether you have to change the tenses or not.
1.

"I was very tired," she said.

She said

2.

"Be careful, Ben," she said.

She told Ben

3.

"I will get myself a drink," she says.

She says

4.

"Why haven't you phoned me?" he asked me.

He wondered

5.

"I cannot drive them home," he said.

He said

6.

"Peter, do you prefer tea or coffee?" she says.

She asks Peter

7.

"Where did you spend your holidays last year?" she asked me.
She asked me

8.

He said, "Don't go too far."

He advised her

9.

"Have you been shopping?" he asked us.

He wanted to know

10.

"Don't make so much noise," he says.

He asks us

Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note whether the sentence is a request, a statement or a question and
whether you have to change the tenses or not.
1.

"I was very tired," she said.

She said that she had been very tired.

2.

"Be careful, Ben," she said.

She told Ben to be careful.

3.

"I will get myself a drink," she says.

She says that she will get herself a drink.

4.

"Why haven't you phoned me?" he asked me.

He wondered why I hadn't phoned him.

5.

"I cannot drive them home," he said.

He said that he could not drive them home.

6.

"Peter, do you prefer tea or coffee?" she says.

She asks Peter if he prefers tea or coffee.

7.

"Where did you spend your holidays last year?" she asked me.
She asked me where I had spent my holidays the year before.

8.

He said, "Don't go too far."

He advised her not to go too far.

9.

"Have you been shopping?" he asked us.

He wanted to know if we had been shopping.

10.

"Don't make so much noise," he says.

He asks us not to make so much noise.