TOPIC: REPORTING WHAT PEOPLE SAY

Objectives:
After studying this lesson, you should be able to:

 Identify direct sentence;

 Identify indirect sentence;
 Identify some changes needed in changing direct sentence into indirect sentence, vise
versa;
 Change direct sentence into indirect sentence, vise versa
 Make report using reported speech

Basic rules of reported speech:

We can report people’s speech in two main ways. We can, for example, give the exact
words spoken by them. This kind of structure is called ‘direct speech’.

 She said, ‘What do you want?’

 Suman asked, ‘Where are you going?’

We can also make the speaker’s words part of our own sentence, using conjunctions
and changing pronouns and other words where necessary. This kind of reporting is
called ‘indirect speech’ or ‘reported speech’.

 She asked what I wanted.

 Suman asked me where I was going.

Note that we cannot normally mix these two structures.

Basic rules for indirect speech

When words and thoughts are reported, there is usually a change of tenses, pronouns
and other words. These changes are mostly natural and logical.

I. Change of pronouns

A change of speaker may mean a change of pronoun. Study the following example.

o She said, ‘Where are you going?’ (Direct speech)

o She asked me where I was going. (Indirect speech)
You may have noticed that the pronoun you in the direct speech changed to I in the
indirect speech. There are no exact rules regarding the change of pronouns. It all
depends upon the context.

II. Change of tenses

A change of time may mean a change of tense. So after past reporting verbs, the
verbs of the original speech are usually made more past.

1. Simple present tense in the direct speech will become simple past tense in the
indirect speech.

2. Present continuous tense will become past continuous tense.

3. Present perfect tense will become past perfect tense.

4. Simple past tense will become past perfect tense

5. Past continuous tense will become past perfect continuous tense.

o He said that he was living in Paris.

o She said she had taken Spanish lessons before.
o She says the exam is very difficult.
o Mary said, “My husband went with me to the show yesterday.”
o He said he had gone to London the week before.
o He said he could swim when he was four.
o Mary said she wanted to go on vocation, but she didn’t know where to go.
o He said “I ought to swim.”
o He said he should call her mother.
o He said he could swim when he was four.
o Mark said “I need help with my work.”
o Michel said she liked apple.
o He said he had been walking along the Street.
o He told us that they had visited their aunt the last week.
o Hannah has said she goes school every day.
 o Mark says he is not so keen to see that film.
o She said she watched TV every day.
o She said that she was exhausted.
o She said that she always drank white chocolate mocha.
o Jack said he had been on the phone for three hours, when the call dropped.

III. Change of ‘here and now’ words

A change of place and time may mean changing words like here, this, now,
today etc. For example, here may become there in indirect speech; this may
become that; now may become then.
o He said, ‘I got my report yesterday.’ (Direct speech)
o He said that he got his report the previous day. (Indirect speech)

A. Reported Statements:

When do we use reported speech? Sometimes someone says a sentence, for

example "I'm going to the cinema tonight". Later, maybe we want to tell someone
else what the first person said.

Here's how it works:

We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'. If this verb is in the present tense, it's
easy. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence:

o Direct speech: I like ice cream.

o 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
 Tense Direct Speech Reported Speech

present
I like ice cream She said (that) she liked ice cream.
simple

present I am living in She said (that) she was living in

continuous London London.

She said (that) she had bought a car

past simple I bought a car OR She said (that) she bought a
car.

past I was walking She said (that) she had been

continuous along the street walking along the street.

present I haven't seen She said (that) she hadn't seen

perfect Julie Julie.

I had taken
She said (that) she had taken
past perfect* English lessons
English lessons before.
before

She said (that) she would see me

Will I'll see you later
later.

I would help,
would* She said (that) she would help but...
but...

I can speak She said (that) she could speak

Can
perfect English perfect English.

I could swim She said (that) she could swim

could*
when I was four when she was four.

She said (that) she would come

Shall I shall come later
later.

I should call my She said (that) she should call her

should*
mother mother

might* I might be late She said (that) she might be late

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’
For examples:

o Direct speech: I like ice cream.

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

* doesn't change.

Occasionally, we don't need to change the present tense into the past if the
information in direct speech is still true (but this is only for things which are general
facts, and even then usually we like to change the tense):

o Direct speech: The sky is blue.

o Reported speech: She said (that) the sky is/was blue.

B. Reported Questions:

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

o Direct speech: Where do you live?

How can we make the reported speech here?

In fact, it's not so different from reported statements. The tense changes are the same,
and we keep the question word. The very important thing though is that, once we tell the
question to someone else, it isn't a question any more. So we need to change the
grammar to a normal positive sentence. A bit confusing? Maybe this example will help:

 Direct speech: Where do you live?

  Reported speech: She asked me where I lived.

Do you see how I made it? The direct question is in the present simple tense. We make
a present simple question with 'do' or 'does' so I need to take that away. Then I need to
change the verb to the past simple.

Another example:

 Direct speech: Where is Julie?

 Reported speech: She asked me where Julie was.

The direct question is the present simple of 'be'. We make the question form of the
present simple of be by inverting (changing the position of)the subject and verb. So, we
need to change them back before putting the verb into the past simple.
Here are some more examples:

Direct Question Reported Question

Where is the Post Office,

She asked me where the Post Office was.
please?

What are you doing? She asked me what I was doing.

Who was that fantastic man? She asked me who that fantastic man had been.

So much for 'wh' questions. But, what if you need to report a 'yes / no' question? We
don't have any question words to help us. Instead, we use 'if':

o Direct speech: Do you like chocolate?

o Reported speech: She asked me if I liked chocolate.

Here are a few more examples:

 Direct Question Reported Question

Do you love me? He asked me if I loved him.

Have you ever been to

She asked me if I had ever been to Mexico.
Mexico?

Are you living here? She asked me if I was living here.

C. Reported Requests:

What if someone asks you to do something (in a polite way)?

For example:

o Direct speech: Close the window, please

o Or: Could you close the window please?
o Or: Would you mind closing the window please?

All of these requests mean the same thing, so we don't need to report every word when
we tell another person about it. We simply use 'ask me + to + infinitive':

o Reported speech: She asked me to close the window.

Here are a few more examples:

Direct Request Reported Request

Please help me. She asked me to help her.

Please don't smoke. She asked me not to smoke.

Could you bring my book tonight? She asked me to bring her book that
 night.

Could you pass the milk, please? She asked me to pass the milk.

Would you mind coming early She asked me to come early the next
tomorrow? day.

To report a negative request, use 'not':

 Direct speech: Please don't be late.

 Reported speech: She asked us not to be late.

Reported Orders:

And finally, how about if someone doesn't ask so politely? We can call this an 'order' in
English, when someone tells you very directly to do something. For example:

 Direct speech: Sit down!

In fact, we make this into reported speech in the same way as a request. We just use
'tell' instead of 'ask':

 Reported speech: She told me to sit down.

Direct Order Reported Order:

Go to bed! He told the child to go to bed.

Don't worry! He told her not to worry.

Be on time! He told me to be on time.

Don't smoke! He told us not to smoke.

Time Expressions with Reported Speech:

Sometimes when we change direct speech into reported speech we have to change
time expressions too. We don't always have to do this, however. It depends on when we
heard the direct speech and when we say the reported speech.

For examples:
It's Monday. Julie says "I'm leaving today".
If I tell someone on Monday, I say "Julie said she was leaving today".
If I tell someone on Tuesday, I say "Julie said she was leaving yesterday".
If I tell someone on Wednesday, I say "Julie said she was leaving on Monday".
If I tell someone a month later, I say "Julie said she was leaving that day".

So, there's no easy conversion. You really have to think about when the direct speech
was said.

Here's a table of some possible conversions:

now then / at that time

today yesterday / that day / Tuesday / the 27th of June

the day before yesterday / the day before / Wednesday / the 5th of
yesterday
December

last night the night before, Thursday night

last week the week before / the previous week

tomorrow today / the next day / the following day / Friday

CO MP L ETE EXERCISES ON REPORTED:

A. P resent
1. "I am hungry."
He says (that) ….. hungry.
2. "I don't like Peter."
She says she ….. him.
3. "My dog comes with me."
He says dog …… with ……..
4. "It was sunny and hot"
The man says it …… sunny and hot.
5. "I have your books."
Mum says she …….. books.
6. "I gave a kiss to Lucy."
Susan says she …… a kiss to ……..
7. "Somebody phoned my sister."
He says somebody phoned …….. sister.
8. "I see you from here."
He says he …….. from ……..
9. "We danced with two girls."
They say ……. danced with two girls.
10 "My son always does his homework."
He says … son always …….. his homework.

B. P ast
1. "I see many swallows."
He said he ……. many swallows
2. "We are happy."
They said they …… happy.
3. "I have bought a tie."
She said she ……. a tie.
4. "My mum sings today."
She said her mum …….. that day.
5. "My granddad was a pilot."
He said his granddad …………… a pilot.
6. "I always go by car."
He said he always ……………. by car.
7. "I didn't like the film."
She said she ……………….. the film
 8. "The cat had an accident."
Dad said the cat ……………. an accident.
9. "My sister came home late."
He said his sister ……………….. home late.
10. "We don't know where she is."
They ……………where she …………..

C. Q u estions
1. "Where is the dog?"
My father wanted to know where the dog ……
2. "What time does it start?"
My father wanted to know what time ……
3. "Who is your teacher?"
My father wanted to know who my teacher ……
4. "When did you sing?"
My father wanted to know when we …….
5. "Do you play tennis?"
My father wanted to know if I ……. tennis.
6. "Why did you smile"?
My father wanted to know why I ……..
7. "Have you closed the door?"
My father wanted to know if I ………. the door.
8. "Had you asked something else?"
My father wanted to know if I ……. something else.
9. "How many books do you have?"
My father wanted to know how many books …….
10. "Where were you yesterday?"
My father wanted to know where I …….the day before.

D. Co mpletion
1. "Are they in the garden?"
The witch wanted to know if they ..............in the garden.
2. "Who drinks water?"
The witch wanted to know who ................water.
3. "Have you won a medal?"
The witch wanted to know if I ..............a medal.
4. "How old is this pirate?"
The witch wanted to know how old that pirate ................
5. "Do you want to come?"
The witch wanted to know if I .................to go.
6. "Why is the girl crying?"
The witch wanted to know why the girl .................crying.
 7. "What has the cat done?"
The witch wanted to know what the cat ......................
8. "Where does he swim?"
The witch wanted to know where he ...................
9. "What time did you arrive?"
The witch wanted to know what time we .........................
10. "Did he have an accident?"
The witch wanted to know if he ................an accident.

E . I mp eratives
1. "Close the door."
The teacher told us ………. the door

2. "Be quiet!"
The teacher told us …………. quiet.

3. "Don't make noise here."

The teacher told us ………….. noise there.

4. "Do your work in pairs".

The teacher told us ………… our work in pairs.

5. "Open your books".

The teacher told us ………… our books.

6. "Don't talk to each other".

The teacher told us ………….. to each other.

7. "Come here".
The teacher told us ……….. there.

8. "Don't run in the corridor!"

The teacher told us ……….. in the corridor.

9. "Say it in English".
The teacher told us ………… it in English.

10. "Don't go to the playground".

The teacher told us …… the playground.

F . Mo d al Verbs
1. "Can I play here?"
He said / asked if he …………..

2. "Could you help me?"

 He said / asked if I ………..

3. "You must wash your hands."

He said / asked we ……………. hands.

4. "May I use your phone?"

She said / asked if she ……………….. phone.

5. "It won't rain tomorrow."

He said / asked it ……………...

6. "I should learn Spanish."

He said / asked he …………….. Spanish.

7. "I can't drive a lorry."

He said / asked he …………… a lorry.

8. "Must I go on foot?"
He said / asked if he ………. on foot.

9. "Will you have dinner with me?"

He said / asked if I ………….. dinner with …...

10. "Shall I carry your suitcase?"

He said / asked if he ……………….. suitcase.

G . T en ses 1

1. "I am going to do judo."

He told us he …… going to do judo

2. "Who do you play with?"

My father asked me who I ……. with.

3. "It was a wonderful time."

They said it ……… a wonderful time.

4. "I have never seen a comet."

She said she …… never seen a comet.

5. "I must help my father."

He told me he …… help his father.

6. "Who has drunk the water?"

Susan asked who ……. the water.

7. "Don't park here!"

 The police told me …….. there.

8. "You should listen to the teacher."

He said I ………. listen to the teacher.

9. "Have you got the keys?"

My mum asked if I ……… the keys.

10. "Why didn't you play with us?"

They asked why I ……….. with them.
H. T en ses 2

1. "When is your birthday?"

He asked when my birthday …….

2. "Could you help us?"

They asked if I ……… help them.

3. "Have you eaten your soup?"

Mum asked if I ……… my soup.

4. "Will you study Chinese?"

He asked me if I …… study Chinese.

5. "Who was her best friend?"

I asked who her best friend ……..

6. "Don't worry about that."

They told me …….. about that.

7. "Did you really climb Everest?"

They asked if I …… really climbed Everest.

8. "We were cooking dinner."

They said they ……….. cooking dinner.

9. "The dog didn't bark."

They said that the dog ………..

10. "I might eat more vegetables."

He said he ……… eat more vegetables.
I . Co mpletion

1. "You are taller than me."

He said I .............taller than him.

2. "I like this man."

She said she ..................that man.
 3. "I was in the concert."
He said he .................in the concert.

4. "When does the bus arrive?"

He asked when the bus ....................

5. "Who are these men?"

She asked who those men .................

6. "Don't go to the left."

The man told us ....................to the left.

7. "I will buy the food."

He said he ......................the food.

8. "We don't find the way."

They said they ....................the way.

9. "They have had a good time."

He told me they ...................a good time.

10. "Where did you work as a chef?"

He asked where I .......................as a chef.
J. W ri te the correct tense

1. "What time does the train leave?"

He asked what time the train ......................

2. "Where do you study?"

He asked us where we .....................

3. Can I go out now?"

She asked if she .........................out then.

4. "I was the best player."

He said he .........................the best player.

5. "Who had told the story?"

He asked us who ........................the story.

6. "Why are they crying?"

She asked why they ...........................crying.

7. "I have been waiting for you."

He said he ............................waiting for me.

8. "Run!"
The fireman ordered us ...........................
 9. "Why didn't Paula come?"
He asked why Paula ..............................

10 "Could you lend me your car?"

He asked if I ............................lend him my car.
K. Which is the correct ending of the sentence in Reported speech? Choose from
the drop down menu and mind the tenses of the reporting verbs.

1. Benjamin: "I often have a big hamburger."

Benjamin says (that) ……………….. .
2. Hannah: "They live in Boston."
Hannah said (that) …………………….. .
3. Tyler: "Ian doesn't invite girls to his parties."
Tyler told me (that) ……………….. .
4. Dominic: "She understands Japanese."
Dominic remarks (that) …………………. .
5. Sophia: "Bella doesn't collect stickers."
Sophia explains (that) …………………… .
6. Robert: "Dennis often downloads the latest tunes."
Robert added (that) ………………… .
7. Olivia: "Leroy is out riding his new wave-board today."
Olivia explained (that) …………………….. .
8. Luke: "I don't know what to do."
Luke added (that) …………………. .
9. Lily: "Mr Jones is rude to Samantha."
Lily thinks (that) ………………. .
10. James and David: "We have to go now."
James and David tell me (that) ……………………
.
L. Finish the sentences using Reported speech. Always change the tense,
although it is sometimes not necessary.

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 ..................................

M. Which of the alternatives is the correct way to report the italicised direct
speech?

1. "Where do you live?""

a. Miho asked me where do I live.
b. Miho asked me where I lived.
c. Miho asked me where did I live.

2. "What is the time?"

a. Can you tell me what is the time?"
b. Can you tell me what the time is?"

3. "Can you help me, please?"

a. John wanted me to help him.
b. John wanted that I helped him.
c. John wanted that I help him.

4. "When are you going back to Japan?"

a. He asked when I was going back to Japan.
b. He asked when was I going back to Japan.

5. "Do you play chess?"

a. He asked me do I play chess.
b. He asked me if I did play chess.
c. He asked me did I play chess.
d. He asked me if I played chess.
6. "Do not tell her what I said."
a. He begged me to not tell her what he had said.
b. He begged that I didn't tell her what he had said.
c. He begged me not to tell her what he had said.

7. "Where are my keys?"

a. He wanted to know where were his keys.
b. He wanted to know where his keys were.

8. "What's she doing?"

a. I wondered what was she doing.
b. I wondered what she was doing.

9. "Don't talk!"
a. The teacher told us not to talk.
b. The teacher told us to not talk.

10. "Can I use your phone?"

a. I asked her could I use her phone.
b. I asked her if I could use her phone.

11. "I'll drive you to the airport."

a. She offered that she would drive us to the airport.
b. She offered to drive us to the airport.

12. "How did you get on in this quiz?"

a. How did I get on in this quiz is my business, not yours!"
b. How I got on in this quiz is my business, not yours!"

13. "I'll give you your money back tomorrow."

a. She promised me to give the money back the next day.
b. She promised to give me back the money the next day.

14. "Never use my computer without my permission!"

a. He shouted that I should never use his computer without his permission.
b. He shouted to never use his computer without his permission.

15. "Be quiet!"

a. I told her be quiet.
b. I told her to be quiet.

16. "Why don't you start again?"

a. He suggested me to start again.
b. He suggested that I started again.
c. He suggested why didn't I start again.
 17. "Why did he say that?"
a. I would like to know why he said that.
b. I would like to know why did he say that.

18. "Do we have a test tomorrow?"

a. I've forgotten do we have a test tomorrow?"
b. I've forgotten if we have a test tomorrow.
c. I've forgotten have we a test tomorrow?"

19. "Why did you have to wait so long?"

a. She wanted to know why we had to wait so long.
b. She wanted to know why did we have to wait so long.

20. "Have you finished with the computer?"

a. She asked if had I finished with the computer.
b. She asked if I had finished with the computer.

N. Make the direct speech into reported speech.

It's the same day, so you don't need to change the time expressions.

1. "We're working."
He tells me .........................

2. "She's coming to the party."

He tells me .........................

3. "She's talking on the telephone."

He tells me .........................

4. "Lucy is reading a book in front of the fire."

He tells me .........................

5. "I'm not going out."

He tells me .........................

6. "We are not visiting Paris during our trip."

He tells me .........................

7. "I'm listening to my new CD."

He tells me .........................

8. "John is working in a bar for the summer."

He tells me .........................

9. "I'm not going to go on holiday."

 He tells me .........................

10. "He isn't living in Beijing."

He tells me .........................

11. "I'm taking the train to Berlin."

He tells me .........................

12. "She is never coming back."

He tells me .........................

13. "Jill is studying a lot."

He tells me .........................

14. "I'm not meeting Julie."

He tells me .........................

15. "We aren't renting a flat."

He tells me .........................

16. "They are visiting the museum."

He tells me .........................

17. "She's eating dinner."

He tells me .........................

18. "We aren't going to the library."

He tells me .........................

19. "I'm coming."

He tells me .........................

20. "I'm sleeping."

He tells me .........................
O. Choose the correct answer.

1. I have no idea ____.

a. where she's
b. where she is
c. where is she
2. Could you tell me ____ gone?
a. where she's
b. where is she
c. where has she
3. I asked them where ____ going.
 a. were they
b. they were
4. Can you tell me how much ____ cost?
a. will it
b. it will
5. Do you have any idea how long ____ me to do it?
a. did it take
b. it took
c. took it
6. Has she told you whether ____ help?
a. will she
b. she will
7 - Can you explain why ____ so expensive?
a. is it
b. it's
8. She asked me where ____ from.
a. do I come
b. come I
c. I come
9. I was wondering why ____ take the train; it'll be quicker.
a. don't we
b. we don't
10. Can you remember _____?
a. what did she say
b. what she said

P. Choose the most likely reported speech alternative in the given context.
Note: The accepted answers are not based on mandatory backshift.

1. Sang-Jae: Do we have a test tomorrow? (Sang-Jae asked you this question this
morning. You report it to your friend in the afternoon.)
a. Sang-Jae wanted to know if we have a test tomorrow.
b. Sang-Jae wanted to know if we had a test tomorrow.

2. Alex: What will you buy if you won €10,000? (He asked you last week.)
a. Alex asked me what I would buy if I won €10,000.
b. Alex asked me what I would have bought if I had won €10,000.

3. Mary: John's not very well! (Two hours after Mary tells you this, you see John
jogging in the park.)
a. Mary said you don't feel well, so how come you're out running?
b. Mary said you didn't feel well, so how come you're out running?

4. Sally: I don't eat chocolate. (Sally tells you this at 10.15. Twenty minutes later
you see her eating a chocolate bar.)
a. You just told me that you don't eat chocolate!
 b. You just told me that you didn't eat chocolate.

5. You: Who's taken my pencil? (You said this in class yesterday, and report it to
your friend today.)
a. I wanted to know who took my pencil.
b. I wanted to know who had taken my pencil.

6. Joo-Hi: I'm playing tennis after work today. Do you want to play too? (Your
friend said this to you this morning.)
a. Joo-Hi said she's playing tennis after work today and asked if I wanted to
play too.
b. Joo-Hi said she was playing tennis after work today and asked if I want to
play too.
c. Joo-Hi said she's playing tennis after work today and asked if I want to play
too.

7. Yuki: I don't like Japanese food. (You don't believe her. She's Japanese!)
a. Yuki said she doesn't like Japanese food.
b. Yuki said she didn't like Japanese food.

8. You: How is Christy today? (Your friend Christy has been sick. You report to her
today the question you asked yourself yesterday.)
a. I wondered how you were.
b. I wondered how you are.

9. You: Why is he late? (This is what you are thinking now.)

a. I wonder why he was late.
b. I wonder why he is late.

10. Teacher: Come here please. (The teacher says this to you in the classroom.
You report it to your friend in the playground.)
a. The teacher told me to come here.
b. The teacher told me to go to him.

11. Mary: I've lost my dictionary! (You report this just after you hear it. You know it
is still true.)
a. Mary said that she's lost her dictionary. Can you help us find it?
b. Mary said that she'd lost her dictionary. Can you help us find it?

12. Prime minister in a TV broadcast: Unemployment has fallen. (You simply

report what you heard. You neither want to imply that you believe the
information nor that you disbelieve it.)
a. The Prime Minister said that unemployment had fallen.
b. The Prime Minister said that unemployment has fallen.
13. Frank: I promise not to fall asleep next lesson. (You heard Frank say this to
the teacher in class two days ago.)
 a. Frank promised not to fall asleep next lesson.
b. Frank promised not to fall asleep the next lesson.

14. Mimmi: Sorry. I can't play tennis. I'm too busy. (She said this last week.)
a. Mimmi said that she had been too busy and couldn't play tennis.
b. Mimmi said that she was too busy and couldn't play tennis.

15. John: I'm 37. (You don't believe him.)

a. He said he was 37, but he looks much older.
b. He said he's 37, but he looks much older.

16. Teacher: You have a grammar test tomorrow. (Your teacher told you this last
week.)
a. The teacher told us that we had a test the next day, but I forgot to study.
b. The teacher told us that we have a test tomorrow, but I forgot to study.

17. Miho: I'm flying back to Japan tomorrow. (Miho told you this last week.)
a. Miho told me that she was flying back to Japan the next day.
b. Miho told me that she's flying back to Japan tomorrow.

18. Maria: Have you seen Filip? (Maria asked you this question yesterday.)
a. Maria wanted to know if I saw Filip.
b. Maria wanted to know if I had seen Filip.

19. Akiko: Were you in school yesterday. (Akiko asks you the question 10 minutes
before you report it to Yuta.)
a. Akiko asked me if I were in school yesterday.
b. Akiko asked me if I was in school the day before.
c. Akiko asked me if I was in school yesterday.
d. Akiko asked me if I had been in school yesterday.

20. Gloria: I can speak 6 languages. (You have heard that Gloria does not always
tell the truth.)
a. Gloria said that she can speak 6 languages.
b. Gloria said that she could speak 6 languages.

21. This test will be easy! (The test was last week.)
a. I thought the test would be easy, but I was wrong!
b. I thought the test will be easy, but I was wrong!

22. Harry: I didn't do my homework. (He told you this 3 days ago.)
a. Harry said that he hadn't done his homework.
b. Harry said that he didn't do his homework.

23. You: Where is Noriko? (You asked this question yesterday. Today you ask
your friend .. )
 a. Did you know where Noriko is?
b. Did you know where Noriko was?
c. Did you know where Noriko has been?
d. Did you know where Noriko had been?

24. Filip: I saw her in the cafeteria an hour ago. (Filip told you this 15 minutes ago,
and you now report it to the teacher.)
a. Filip said that he's seen her in the cafeteria an hour ago.
b. Filip said that he saw her in the cafeteria an hour ago.
c. Filip said that he'd seen her in the cafeteria an hour before.

25. Mitch: Who's going to the party on Friday? (Mitch asked this question on
Tuesday in the week of the party. You reported the question the same day.)
a. Mitch asked me who was going to the party that Friday.
b. Mitch asked me who is going to the party this Friday.
26. Jae-Hun: I played tennis yesterday. (Jae-Hun tells you this today, and you
report it to Mike today.)
a. Jae-Hun said that he had played tennis the day before.
b. Jae-Hun said that he played tennis yesterday.
c. Jae-Hun said that he had played tennis yesterday.

27. You think: Why is she not talking to me? (You report your thoughts to your
friend the next day.)
a. I wondered why she isn't talking to me.
b. I wondered why she wasn't talking to me.
c. I wondered why she hadn't talked to me.

28. Mother: What have you been doing all day? (Your mother asked you this
yesterday.)
a. My mother wanted to know what I was doing all day.
b. My mother wanted to know what I had been doing all day.
c. My mother wanted to know what I have been doing all day.

29. Hee-Yoon: I don't like the new science teacher. (You report this a few weeks
after hearing it, but you know it is still true.)
a. Hee-Yoon told me that she doesn't like the science teacher.
b. Hee-Yoon told me that she didn't like the science teacher.

30. Yuto: I come to school by bus. (Yuto is in your class and you believe what he
says.)
a. Yuto said he comes to school by bus.
b. Yuto said he came to school by bus.

Q. Transform the following orders into Reported Speech.

 1. "Sit down Tom."
He told Tom .........................
2. "Don't go near the sea, children."
The children's mother warned them ......................near the sea.
3. "Don't be late, Tim."
Tim's father told him ..............................
4. "Be quiet, children."
She told the children .............................
5. "Don't shoot, men!"
The office ordered the men ...............................
6. "Have your tickets ready, please."
The inspector told us ..........................our tickets ready.
7. "Don't use the phone after eleven o'clock."
She told us ........................the phone after eleven o’clock.
8. "Leave your keys on the desk, please,"
The receptionist told us ......................our keys on the desk.
9. "Have your passports ready, please."
The customs officer told us .........................our passports ready.
10. "Finish the job tonight, please."
My boss told me ............................the job tonight.
11. "Run!"
The general ordered the soldiers ...............................
12. "Open the door, please,"
My mother told me .........................the door.
13. "Don't spend too much money on your holiday."
My father told me ...............................too much money on our holiday.
14. "Hurry up."
He told me ........................up.
15. "Don't be frightened." she told, me.
She told me ....................................

R. 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 ..............................

S. Make reported speech from the direct speech.

It's the same day, so you don't need to change the time expressions.

1. "She has visited Paris three times."

She says.....................

2. "He has read War and Peace."

She says.....................
3. "I haven't seen Julie for ages."
She says.....................

4. "He hasn't been to school this week."

She says.....................

5. "We haven't seen The Lord of the Rings."

She says.....................

6. "They've eaten in a lot of different restaurants."

She says.....................

7. "I've never tried skateboarding."

She says.....................

8. "Lucy has drunk six cups of coffee today."

She says.....................

9. "Mr Black has written three books."

She says.....................

10. "It hasn't rained much this year."

She says.....................

11. "She has never swum in the sea."

She says.....................

12. "He has studied Latin."

She says.....................

13. "I've been sick all week."

She says.....................

14. "Robert has been to China five times."

She says.....................

15. "I haven't met Richard before."

She says.....................

16. "Julie has never studied music."

She says.....................

17. "He has eaten too much chocolate."

She says.....................

18. "We haven't seen the new play."

 She says.....................

19. "I haven't tried the new restaurant yet."

She says.....................

20. "I've never been to Brazil."

She says...............

T. Put the sentences into reported speech.

1. Mr Brown said, "I was watching TV last night."

Mr. Brown said (that) ......................................
2. Sandy explained, "I saw the accident at the corner of High Street."
Sandy explained (that) .....................................
3. Bob said, "We had a wonderful time at Peter's party."
Bob said (that) ..............................................
4. The farmer said, "I didn't see her."
The farmer said (that) ...................................
5. Will and Tim said, "We were very happy about the present."
Will and Tim said (that) ...........................................
6. Mr Jones said, "As a young boy I collected stickers."
Mr Jones said (that) .....................................
7. Peter reported, "We played a lot of tennis last year."
Peter reported (that) ..........................................
8. Mother said, "I have a headache."
Mother said (that) ..................................
9. The Clarks told us, "We drove right down to Athens last summer."
The Clarks told us (that) ............................................
10. Helen said, "I'm watching the late-night show."
Helen said (that) ......................................
11. Peter said, "They were interested in other countries."
Peter said (that) .........................................
 12. Mr Cooper said, "I take my medicine regularly."
Mr Cooper said (that) ......................................
13. Mrs Miller said, "I don't feel better now."
Mrs Miller said (that) .......................................
14. Sarah said, "My father takes me to school every day."
Sarah said (that) ....................................
15. He said to the reporters, "I'm a farmer in Cornwall."
He said to the reporters (that) ................................

U. Put the sentences into reported speech.

1. Mary said, "I like ice cream."

Mary said (that) .............................
2. The Browns said, "We are on time."
The Browns said (that) ...................................
3. Sue said, "He is sitting on the table."
Sue said (that) ........................................
4. Mother said, "Bill always goes to bed early."
Mother said (that) .................................
5. Mrs Smith said, "I often drive to London ."
Mrs Smith said (that) ......................................
6. Bill said, "I'm going to answer the phone."
Bill said (that) ......................................
7. The girl said, "I'm not doing my homework now."
The girl said (that) ....................................
8. The gardener said, "I always sell all my flowers."
The gardener said (that) .....................................
9. Mother said, "You can help me with the dishes."
Mother said (that) ...............................
10. He said, "I meet him every Friday."
 He said (that) ...............................
11. Jim told me, "I leave tonight."
Jim told me (that) .............................
12. He said, "I'm watching TV."
He said (that) ..............................
13. She told them, "She likes roast beef."
She told them (that) ..................................
14. Our neighbours said, "We buy a newspaper every day."
Our neighbours said (that) ....................................
15. They told me, "We are flying to New York."
They told me (that) ..........................................

V. Put the sentences into reported speech.

1. He said, "I'm looking forward to my holidays."

He said (that) ...................................................
2. She said, "We had a day away at the beach."
She said (that) ......................................................
3. He said, "My mum took us to an alligator farm."
He said (that) .........................................................
4. She said, "There is a big pool with lots of alligators."
She said (that) ..................................................
5. She said, "I don't like alligator meat."
She said (that) .........................................
6. He said, "We have never seen such a beautiful view."
He said (that) .............................................
7. She said, "My dad works in town."
She said (that) .......................................
8. They told us, "We spend our holidays on a farm every year."
They told us (that) ........................................
9. She said, "We went for a picnic."
She said (that) ......................................
10. He said, "My brother came home late."
He said (that) .....................................
11. Bill said, "I'm looking for my key."
Bill said (that) ....................................
12. She said, "They bought a farmhouse in the country."
She said (that) ....................................
13. He said, "I have been to the top of the Empire State Building."
He said (that) ........................................
14. Betty said, "I forgot to give him my address."
Betty said (that) ......................................
15. Bobby said, "I like science fiction books."
Bobby said (that) ..................................................