reported speech exercises c1 level

Reported Speech – Free Exercise

Write the following sentences in indirect speech. Pay attention to backshift and the changes to pronouns, time, and place.

• Two weeks ago, he said, “I visited this museum last week.” → Two weeks ago, he said that   . I → he simple past → past perfect this → that last …→ the … before
• She claimed, “I am the best for this job.” → She claimed that   . I → she simple present→ simple past this→ that
• Last year, the minister said, “The crisis will be overcome next year.” → Last year, the minister said that   . will → would next …→ the following …
• My riding teacher said, “Nobody has ever fallen off a horse here.” → My riding teacher said that   . present perfect → past perfect here→ there
• Last month, the boss explained, “None of my co-workers has to work overtime now.” → Last month, the boss explained that   . my → his/her simple present→ simple past now→ then

Rewrite the question sentences in indirect speech.

• She asked, “What did he say?” → She asked   . The subject comes directly after the question word. simple past → past perfect
• He asked her, “Do you want to dance?” → He asked her   . The subject comes directly after whether/if you → she simple present → simple past
• I asked him, “How old are you?” → I asked him   . The subject comes directly after the question word + the corresponding adjective (how old) you→ he simple present → simple past
• The tourists asked me, “Can you show us the way?” → The tourists asked me   . The subject comes directly after whether/if you→ I us→ them
• The shop assistant asked the woman, “Which jacket have you already tried on?” → The shop assistant asked the woman   . The subject comes directly after the question word you→ she present perfect → past perfect

Rewrite the demands/requests in indirect speech.

• The passenger said, “Stop the car.” → The passenger asked the taxi driver   . to + same wording as in direct speech
• The mother told her son, “Don’t be so loud.” → The mother told her son   . not to + same wording as in direct speech, but remove don’t
• The policeman told us, “Please keep moving.” → The policeman told us   . to + same wording as in direct speech ( please can be left off)
• She told me, “Don’t worry.” → She told me   . not to + same wording as in direct speech, but remove don’t
• The zookeeper told the children, “Don’t feed the animals.” → The zookeeper told the children   . not to + same wording as in direct speech, but remove don’t

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Reported Speech Exercises

Perfect english grammar.

Here's a list of all the reported speech exercises on this site:

( Click here to read the explanations about reported speech )

Reported Statements:

• Present Simple Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here)
• Present Continuous Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here)
• Past Simple Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here)
• Present Perfect Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here)
• Future Simple Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here)
• Mixed Tense Reported Statement Exercise (intermediate) (in PDF here)
• 'Say' and 'Tell' (quite easy) (in PDF here)

Reported Questions:

• Present Simple Reported Yes/No Question Exercise (intermediate) (in PDF here)
• Present Simple Reported Wh Question Exercise (intermediate) (in PDF here)
• Mixed Tense Reported Question Exercise (intermediate) (in PDF here)

Reported Orders and Requests:

• Reported Requests and Orders Exercise (intermediate) (in PDF here)
• Reported Speech Mixed Exercise 1 (difficult) (in PDF here)
• Reported Speech Mixed Exercise 2 (difficult) (in PDF here)

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English Grammar Online Exercises and Downloadable Worksheets

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• Reported Speech

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• RS005 - Reported Speech - Introductory Verbs Advanced
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Learning english, reporting verbs, how difficult was this activity.

Practise using reporting verbs such as threaten, deny and advise. Read the sentences and choose the correct part of speech to follow the reporting verb.

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Choose which parts of these sentences have been left out

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Reported speech - 1

Reported speech - 2

Reported speech - 3

Worksheets - handouts

Reported speech

Worksheets - pdf exercises.

• Reported statements - worksheet
• Worksheet - reported questions
• Reported yes/no questions
• Worksheet - reported speech
• Reported speech - exercises pdf
• Indirect speech - exercises
• Reported speech - exercises
• Mixed reported speech 1
• Mixed reported speech 2
• Reported speech 1 
• Reported speech 2  
• Reported speech 3 
• Reported speech 4
• Reported speech 5
• Reported wh- questions
• Reported speech - worksheet 
• Reported commands
• Reported questions
• Reported speech 1
• Reported speech 2
• Reported requests and orders
• Reported speech exercise
• Reported questions - worksheet
• Indirect speech - worksheet
• Worksheets pdf - print
• Grammar worksheets - handouts

Grammar - lessons

• Reported speech - grammar notes
• How to use reported speech - lesson
• Tense changes - grammar

Grammar lesson plan: Reported speech, for levels C1+

Though a fastidious grammar point, accurate use of reported speech is essential to daily life. C1 students will have a strong grasp of this form. However, they may not know all the conventions.

Write this sentence on the whiteboard:

“In a village at the base of a mountain, there is a barber who cuts the hair of everyone who does not cut their own hair. Does the barber cut his own hair?”

Set a two minute time limit and have the students discuss in pairs. Walk around the room and ask them questions like:

TEACHER (to A) : What did B say in response to this question?

A : B said that the barber gets his hair cut by another barber in the neighboring village.

TEACHER (to B) : What did A say?

B : A thinks that if the barber were bald then he wouldn’t need to cut his hair.

Just remember: whenever Direct Speech is changed into Reported Speech, move the tense back one position.

Present Simple

“He is here.” →

He said he was here.

is + -ing → was + -ing

“He is running late.” →

He said he was running late.

Past Simple

Was – had been

was/were + -ing →

had been + -ing

modal of certainty

Will → would

Can → could

“I can’t do it.” →

He said he couldn’t do it.

3. Practice activity

Students work in pairs and are assigned  A (job interview) / B (first date). They ask each other questions and record each other’s responses. Ask students to ensure their responses are brief but creative. After each has recorded their partner’s responses, pairs work together to convert their responses from Direct Speech to Reported Speech.

Use these questions, and accelerated learners to create their own questions if they prefer.

Job interview questions

First date questions

What was the last job you had?

Have you ever been in a long term relationship?

What positions have you had?

Do you smoke?

Possible responses:

Job interview responses

First date responses

“I worked in online marketing.”

“In my twenties, I was in a long-term relationship for five years.”

“I was an administrative assistant. Now I’m a marketing consultant.”

“I used to smoke, but I gave it up.”

Possible Reported Speech responses:

B said she had worked in online marketing.

A had been in a long-term relationship in her twenties.

B had been an administrative assistant. Now she said she was a marketing consultant.

A confessed to having been a smoker.

Here’s a breakdown of how pair interaction should go:

A asks B first date questions .

B asks A interview questions .

B responds in Direct Speech . A records the answer.

A responds in Direct Speech . B records the answer.

A rewrites B’s answer in Reported Speech .

B rewrites A’s answer in Reported Speech .

Teacher monitors and corrects answers.

4. Production activity: “While You Were Away”

Students write a script beginning with “While you were away…”

In new pairs, students create a list of messages that they recorded for their partner while he/she was away.

Example: (can be given to students as a model and read aloud)

FRED : “Hi Elizabeth. It’s Fred from the office. Is Jackie there?”

ELIZABETH : “No, I’m afraid she’s popped out for a moment. Can I take a message?”

F : “Yes. Do you mind telling her that the meeting tomorrow has been pushed from ten to one. She doesn’t need to bring lunch as the company will provide it.”

E : “Meeting is now at one and lunch will be provided.”

F : “Perfect. Oh, and one more thing.”

E : “Sure.”

F: “Remind Jackie not to forget her trainers. A few of us are going on a run after work.”

E : “Remember trainers. Got it.”

F : “Thanks a million, Lizzie. Bye-bye!”

E : “Bye, Fred.”

Part 1: Their main task is to compose what the caller is saying. The person taking the message doesn’t have a complex speaking part. “Can I take a message?” is all that they need to say.

Part 2: After that, pairs in the classroom exchange their scripts. They must take the script and write a new one. This script is between the person who recorded the messages and the person for whom the messages are.

ELIZABETH : “Hi Jackie! I’ve got a few messages for you from Fred.”

JACKIE : “What are they?”

E : “Well, Fred said that the meeting tomorrow had been pushed from ten to one. He also said that they would provide lunch.”

J : “Excellent. Free lunch! Anything else?”

E : “Yes. Fred asked me to remind you to bring your trainers because a few of the office staff would be going on a run after work.”

J : “You’re an angel, Lizzie. Thanks!”

E : “No problem.”

5. Wrap-up:

Assign some homework where they must use the following sentences in conversations:

“So what you’re saying is…”

“I heard you say you like ice-skating…” Etc.

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Grammar Exercises - Advanced Level

• Conditionals, Inversion, Tenses, Causative, Comparatives/Superlatives
• Page Two - this page
• Reported Speech, Future Continuous, Used To, Modal Verbs, Modals of Deduction
• Quantifiers, Articles, Despite/Although, Relative Pronouns, Gerund or Infinitive, Purpose/Reason/Result, Miscellaneous

Reported Speech

Grammar Reference >>> Reported Speech Reported Questions

Say / Tell Error Correction Don't get your "tell somebody something" confused with your "say something to somebody"! Exercise Number: 4G10

Reporting Verbs Exercise Choose from reporting verbs such as tell, suggest and warn to complete each sentence. Exercise Number: 4G11

'Say' and 'Tell' Gap Fill Exercise Sentences and expressions using 'say' and 'tell'. Exercise Number: 4G17

Reported Questions, Extra Word Exercise Find the extra word in each of these reported questions sentences. Exercise Number: 4G30

Reported Questions Error Correction Look at these reported question sentences. Are they correct or wrong? Exercise Number: 4G29

Reported Questions Re-Ordering Put the words into the correct order to make sentences with reported questions. Exercise Number: 4G25

Reported Speech Re-Ordering Exercise Re-order the words to make sentences using reported speech. Exercise Number: 3G91

Direct To Reported Speech Gap Fill Transform the direct speech to reported speech. Exercise Number: 4G47

Future Continuous

Grammar Reference >>> Future Continuous Structure Future Continuous Use

Future Continuous / Future Perfect Look at Jack's itinerary for tomorrow and complete the sentences using either Future Continuous or Future Perfect. Exercise Number: 4G9

Future Continuous Error Correction Are these sentences that contain the Future Continuous correct or not? Exercise Number: 4G19

Future Continuous Re-Ordering Quiz Put the words into the correct order to make sentences using the future continuous. Exercise Number: 4G18

'At The Station' Future Continuous Matching Quiz I will be waiting for you at the station. What will I be wearing? What will I be doing? Exercise Number: 4G40

Grammar Reference >>> Used To Be Used To

Used To / Be Used To The difference between these two can often be confusing. This exercise looks at the difference. Exercise Number: 4G68

Used To / Be Used To Error Correction Are theses sentences that use "used to" and "be used to" correct or wrong? Exercise Number: 4G16

Be Used To Re-Ordering Exercise Put the words in the correct order to make "be used to" sentences. Exercise Number: 3G92

Modal Verbs

Past Modal Verb Matching Exercise An exercise to practice using 'should', shouldn't', 'have to' and 'didn't have to'. Exercise Number: 4G89

Open Cloze Exercises

The Last 'Snoopy' Cartoon - Open Close Exercise Read this text about the final Snoopy cartoon and fill in the gaps. Exercise Number: 4G94

Modals of Deductions

Grammar Reference >>> Modals of Deduction

Modal Verbs of Deduction Practice using modal verb structures such as "she must be married" and "he can't have gone to work". Exercise Number: 4G3

Past Modals Exercise Choose from "must have", "can't have", "should have" or "might have" to complete each sentence. Exercise Number: 4G66

Past Modals Of Deduction - The Titanic Read the sentences about the construction and only voyage of the Titanic ship. Which of the sentences contain errors in the use of past modals of deduction? Exercise Number: 4G90

Modal Verbs of Deduction Re-Ordering Quiz Put the words into the correct order to make sentences using modal verbs of deduction. Exercise Number: 4G44

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Reported Speech 1

• "She lives alone," he said.
• "She is living alone," he said.
• "She has lived/lived alone," he said.
• "She was living/has been living ," he said.
• "She will live alone," he said.
• "She will be living alone," he said.
• "She can live alone," he said.
• "She may live alone," he said.
• "She must live alone," he said.
• "She will have lived alone," he said.
• He said that she had been living alone.
• He said that she could live alone.
• He said that she must/had to live alone.
• He said that she had lived alone.
• He said that she would have lived alone.
• He said that she lived alone.
• He said that she might live alone.
• He said that she would live alone.
• He said that she was living alone.
• He said that she would be living alone.

Reported Speech for C1 Level - Free PDF Worksheets

Reported Speech

A transformation activity to practice reported speech.

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Reported Speech - Level 1 - Quiz 2

#esl #efl #englishgrammar #reported speech

Created by: mr_xopkins

Language: English

Reported Speech (C1 level)

• Game Code: 586603
•  English     30      Public Reported speech
•   Play   Study   Slideshow   Share  Thirsty Horse  1,031 #Advanced #C1 #reported speech #cambridge #cambridge exams

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• What form does "will" take in reported speech? would
• How do the following three modal verbs change in reported speech? can / may / must could / might / had to
• What two words must be used in reported yes / no questions? if / whether

• Rosie _____________ for a chat the following afternoon. (MEETING) Rosie suggested meeting up for a chat the following afternoon.

• Rita agreed that _____________. Rita agreed that she could really relate to that.

• Maria _____________ do that again. (PROMISED) Maria promised never to / (that) she would never

• Alexei ______________ job. (ADVISED) Alexei advised me to apply for that job.

• Simon _________________ ever thought of starting my own business. (ASKED) Simone asked (me) if / whether I had ever thought of starting my own business.

• Svetlana _________________ day. (SUGGESTED) Svetlana suggested meeting the following / suggested (that) we (should) meet the following day.

• The police officer ____________ if he was driving. (WARNED) The police officer warned the driver not to drink if he was driving.

• Tom and Alexis _____________ in May. (ANNOUNCED) Tom and Alexis announced that they were getting married in May.
• "I wish I'd been advised to buy my tickets 24hrs in advance!" said Pau Pau said (that) he wished he had been advised to buy his tickets 24hrs in advance.
• The travel agent said their company's flights are the cheapest in the UK. "Our company's flights are the cheapest in the UK".
• He asked how many years I had lived in Madrid. "How many years did you live in Madrid?"
• Jay said she had been in Indonesia eight years earlier. "I was in Indonesia eight years ago".
• Bin and Hua said that they had decided to buy a new house. "We have decided to buy a new house".

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C1. Reported speech

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