Direct and indirect speech Exercises with answers and grammar rules.
Reported speech worksheets PDF exercises with answers.
Reported questions, commands and requests Exercises and grammar rules.
In the reported speech we usually change tenses (one tense back), pronouns, time and place.
"I admire you," said Sarah. Sarah said she admired me.
"We came back yesterday," they told me. They told me they had come the day before.
"Peter has put it here," he thought. He thought that Peter had put it there.
"I'm afraid that your parents won't like me," said George. George said he was afraid that my parents wouldn't like him.
How to avoid the shift of tenses:
It is simple to avoid shift of tenses in the reported speech if you use the reporting verb in the present simple tense instead of the past simple tense.
"I admire you," said Sarah. Sarah says she admires me.
"I'm afraid that your parents won't like me," said George. George says that he is afraid that my parents won't like him.
Direct speech, changing the tense (backshift), no change of tenses, question sentences, demands/requests, expressions with who/what/how + infinitive, typical changes of time and place, introduction.
In English grammar, we use reported speech to say what another person has said. We can use their exact words with quotation marks , this is known as direct speech , or we can use indirect speech . In indirect speech , we change the tense and pronouns to show that some time has passed. Indirect speech is often introduced by a reporting verb or phrase such as ones below.
Learn the rules for writing indirect speech in English with Lingolia’s simple explanation. In the exercises, you can test your grammar skills.
Mandy is sitting in the café where James works. He tells her, “I work in this café almost every day. But yesterday I saw a famous TV presenter here for the first time. She was eating an ice-cream at the table where you are sitting now.” |
A week later, Mandy is speaking to a friend on the phone, “I saw James at the café last week. He said that .” |
When turning direct speech into indirect speech, we need to pay attention to the following points:
If the introductory clause is in the simple past (e.g. He said ), the tense has to be set back by one degree (see the table). The term for this in English is backshift .
direct speech | indirect speech |
---|---|
simple present | simple past |
present progressive | past progressive |
simple past | past perfect simple |
present perfect simple | |
past perfect simple | |
past progressive | past perfect progressive |
present perfect progressive | |
past perfect progressive | |
future (going to) | was / were going to |
future (will) | conditional (would) |
conditional (would) |
The verbs could, should, would, might, must, needn’t, ought to, used to normally do not change.
If the introductory clause is in the simple present , however (e.g. He says ), then the tense remains unchanged, because the introductory clause already indicates that the statement is being immediately repeated (and not at a later point in time).
In some cases, however, we have to change the verb form.
When turning questions into indirect speech, we have to pay attention to the following points:
We don’t just use indirect questions to report what another person has asked. We also use them to ask questions in a very polite manner.
When turning demands and requests into indirect speech, we only need to change the pronouns and the time and place information. We don’t have to pay attention to the tenses – we simply use an infinitive .
If it is a negative demand, then in indirect speech we use not + infinitive .
To express what someone should or can do in reported speech, we leave out the subject and the modal verb and instead we use the construction who/what/where/how + infinitive.
direct speech | indirect speech |
---|---|
today | that day |
now | then at that moment/time |
yesterday | the day before |
… days ago | … days before |
last week | the week before |
next year | the following year |
tomorrow | the next day the following day |
here | there |
this | that |
these | those |
The words say and tell are not interchangeable. say = say something tell = say something to someone
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Grammar exercise - reported speech, do the exercise below on reported speech and click on the button to check your answers., complete the sentences in reported speech., related materials:.
English grammar practice exercise, upper-intermediate.
In this exercise you will practise reported speech.
Rewrite the following using reported speech:
Structure of reported speech | |
direct speech | |
reported speech | to wait. |
direct speech | |
reported speech | to Spain. |
Reported speech – common mistakes | ||
Common mistakes | Correct version | Why? |
She said me that she wasn't able to do it. | She me that she wasn't able to do it. | After we mention the listener. After we don't mention the listener. |
She told me that she is looking for her handbag. He told me he hasn't seen her before. She told me she will see him later. | She told me that she for her handbag. He told me her before. She told me she see him later. | If the reporting verb (in this case ) is in the past tense, we usually change the tense of the verb which follows: ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ |
I told him don't go there. | I told him there. | When we report a command or warning, we use . |
Anonymous - November 3, 2020, 6:18 am Reply
Good exercise.
Anonymous - November 20, 2022, 6:26 pm Reply
Great excercise
casdoij - April 23, 2024, 11:25 am Reply
Yesss!!! Very GReAT!!11!11!! 11/10
ihsdhf - April 23, 2024, 11:34 am Reply
Very honestly 100% good exercise.
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Mixed exercises to practise reported, or indirect speech.
Multiple choice
Filling gaps
Try our “total recall” course.
Reported speech is a specific issue in English grammar. There are special rules on how to transfer statements, questions and demands from direct to indirect speech. These exercises are composed for revision and systematization of your knowledge on reported speech. We recommend to do them after you have studied all smaller topics related to reported speech. The links to the explanations and exercises are below.
He said he'd come — Reported statements
I asked her where she lived — Reported questions
I told him to stop — Reported requests & orders
Past simple
I was doing — Past continuous
I had done — How to form past perfect
I had been doing — How to form past perfect continuous
Irregular verbs
Conditionals (If I knew, I'd tell you)
Get on, turn up... — Phrasal verbs
Modal verbs (can, must, should etc.)
Present perfect vs. Past simple
Present simple and continuous for the future, to be going to
Passive voice (I was told)
At 2 o'clock on Sunday — Prepositions of time
Mixed exercise 1.
Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note whether the sentence is a request, a statement or a question.
|
Home of English Grammar
Can you report questions, statements, requests and commands correctly? Test your understanding of direct and indirect speech with this interactive grammar exercise.
After a past reporting verb, we normally use a past tense in the reported speech.
3. the boy said that the horse .............................. in the night..
Simple past in the direct speech becomes past perfect in the indirect speech.
5. he ........................ that he is glad to be here this evening..
We use a present tense in the reported speech only when the reporting verb is in the present tense.
Do is not used in reported questions.
Will in the direct speech becomes would in the indirect speech.
We use to-infinitives to report commands, orders, requests etc.
Present tenses in the direct speech become corresponding past tenses in the indirect speech.
11. he asked me .................................
In reported questions we do not use do. does or did.
1. The girl said that she was unwell. 2. He said that his master was having his dinner. 3. The boy said that the horse had died in the night. 4. She told me that she did not trust me. 5. He says that he is glad to be here this evening. 6. The stranger asked where I lived. 7. My mother asked me whether I would trust a man like him. 8. The visitor requested the girl to bring him a glass of water. 9. The mother wrote that she was waiting and longing for her son’s return. 10. I told him that I had not seen his friend for months. 11. He asked me what I wanted. 12. The speaker said that it gave him great pleasure to be there that evening.
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Article level 3, article level 4, conversations.
Listening Practice Through Dictation with Transcripts
1 ‘You must take these tablets twice a day.’
The doctor says I ………………………………………….
2 ‘I’m going to the gym tomorrow.’
Ben told me ………………………………………….
3 ‘You don’t have to wait for me.’
Liz said that I ………………………………………….
4 ‘I took my final exam yesterday.’
Jack told me ………………………………………….
5 ‘I haven’t told you the complete truth.’
Pablo said ………………………………………….
6 ‘I’ll meet you later today.’
Jim tells me ………………………………………….
7 ‘I prefer this café to the one opposite.’
Julia says ………………………………………….
8 ‘I’ll always remember meeting you.’
Ann told me ………………………………………….
1 must take these tablets twice a day.
2 (that) he was going to the gym the next day.
3 didn’t have to wait for her.
4 (that) he had taken his final exam the day before.
5 (that) he hadn’t told me the complete truth.
6 (that) he’ll meet me later today.
7 (that) she prefers this café to the one opposite.
8 (that) she would always remember meeting me.
1 Will asked us …………………………… (time / game / start) the next day.
2 The assistant asked him if …………………………… (he / like / try) on a smaller jacket.
3 My teacher asked me …………………………… (I / finish) the exercise and I said I hadn’t.
4 I asked Maria …………………………… (which / film / seen) the night before.
5 The dentist asked …………………………… (me / why) never used an electric toothbrush before.
6 She asked him if …………………………… (he / going) the park and he said he wasn’t.
7 I asked the policeman whether …………………………… (he / help / us) and he said he could.
1 what time the game started 2 he would like to try
3 if I had finished 4 which film she had seen
5 me why I had 6 he was going to 7 he could help us
1 ‘Why are you home so late?’
…………………………………..
2 ‘Did you leave school on time today?’
3 ‘You’ve got lots of homework to do, haven’t you?’
4 ‘When are you doing to tidy your room?’
5 ‘Have you seen your brother this afternoon?’
6 ‘Will you help me with the shopping tomorrow?’
7 ‘Would you like me to give you some money for a pizza?’
…………………………………..
1 My mum asked me why I was home so late.
2 … if I had left school on time that day.
3 … if I had (got) lots of homework to do.
4 … when I was going to tidy my room.
5 … if I had seen my brother that afternoon.
6 … if I’d help her with the shopping the next day.
7 … if I’d like her to give me some money for a pizza.
Dan Are you going to the concert tomorrow evening?
Zoe No, I’m not. I haven’t got any money.
Dan I’ll lend you some. How much do you need?
Zoe That’s really kind of you, but I have to finish my homework too.
Dan Would you like me to help you finish it?
Zoe Do you speak German?
Dan No, I don’t. Your cousin does, doesn’t she?
Zoe Yes, she does. Perhaps I should ask her.
……………………………………………
Dan asked Zoe if she was going to the concert the next evening. Zoe said she wasn’t. She said she didn’t have any money. Dan said he’d lend her some. He asked her how much she needed. Zoe said that was really kind of him, but she had to finish her homework too. Dan asked her if she’d like him to help her finish it. Zoe asked him if he spoke German. Dan said he didn’t. He asked her if her cousin did. Zoe said she did. She said perhaps she should ask her.
1 ‘Do you know the answer to these questions?’ Sally asked me. (if)
……………………………………………
2 ‘I mustn’t be late for the trip tomorrow,’ said Bella. (next)
3 ‘Have you heard the band’s new album yet?’ asked Kostas. (me)
4 ‘I won’t be at school next week,’ said Mark. (says)
5 ‘Will you be getting a new phone soon?’ asked Harry. (whether)
6 ‘My plane arrives at ten in the morning,’ said Andrew. (tells)
1 Sally asked me if I knew the answer to the / those questions.
2 Bella said that she mustn’t be late for the trip the next day.
3 Kostas asked me if I’d heard the band’s new album yet.
4 Mark says that he won’t be at school next week.
5 Harry asked (me) whether I’d be getting a new phone soon.
6 Andrew tells me that his plane arrives at ten in the morning.
1 ‘I’ll never wear this outfit again.’
Monica said ……………………………………..
2 ‘I don’t believe you.’
My dad told my sister ……………………………………..
3 ‘I’ve been talking to Frank.’
Susanna tells me ……………………………………..
4 ‘You mustn’t tell anyone.’
Harry told me ……………………………………..
5 ‘I’ll give you an answer tomorrow.’
Jenny told Tom ……………………………………..
6 ‘I was at a friend’s house yesterday.’
Lisa said ……………………………………..
1 (that) she would never wear that outfit again
2 (that) he didn’t believe her
3 (that) she’s been talking to Frank
4 (that) I mustn’t tell anyone
5 (that) she would give him an answer the next day
6 (that) she had been at a friend’s house the day before
1 ‘Did you see the football match yesterday?’
Jimmy asked me ……………………………………..
2 ‘You’ve ordered the pizzas, haven’t you?’
I asked Eddie ……………………………………..
3 ‘What languages do you speak?’
The tourist asked me ……………………………………..
4 ‘You’re going out later, aren’t you?’
My dad asked me ……………………………………..
5 ‘Do you like Indian food?’ ‘Yes, I do’
They asked me ……………………………………..
6 ‘Where does your brother work?’
I asked Emma ……………………………………..
7 ‘Were you late for school this morning?’
My mum asked my sister ……………………………………..
8 ‘Are you tired?’ ‘No, I’m not.’
We asked him ……………………………………..
1 if / whether I had seen the football match the day before.
2 if / whether he had ordered the pizzas
3 what languages I spoke
4 if / whether I was going out later
5 if / whether I liked Indian food and I said I did
6 where her brother worked
7 if / whether she had been late for school that morning
8 if / whether he was tired and he said that he wasn’t
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ENGLISH 4U English Language Learning
Change of the tenses.
If the reporting verb is in the past form (said, told,...), you have to change the tense .
Direct speech Present simple Present progressive Past simple Past progressive Present perfect simple Present perfect progr. Future |
| Direct Speech go am/is/are going went was/were going has/have gone has/have been going will go |
|
Example: Peter said, "Carol is a nice girl." Peter said (that) Carol was a nice girl.
Don't change these verbs: might, could, would, should
He said, "I might arrive late." He said (that) he might arrive late.
It isn't necessary to change the present tense into the past tense if the information in the direct speech is still true or a general statement .
Frank said, "My sister is a secretary." Frank said (that) his sister is (was) a secretary.
He told us, "The sun rises in the east." He told us that the sun rises (rose) in the east.
When you form the reported speech, you have to pay attention that the pronouns refer to the correct persons.
Susan said, " My parents are clever scientists." Susan said (that) her parents were clever scientists.
Tom said, " I like PE best." Tom said (that) he liked PE best.
They said, " We went swimming with our friends." They said (that) they had gone swimming with their friend.
Betty said, "Sam told me the truth." Betty said (that) Sam had told her the truth.
Direct speech | Indirect speech | |
She said | I - my - me | she - her - her |
He said | I - my - me | he - his - him |
They said | we - our - us | they - their - them |
You and your:
They told her / him / me / them / us , "George likes you ."
They told her / him / me / them / us (that) George liked her / him / me / them / us .
They told her / him / me / them / us ,"George likes your sister."
They told her / him / me / them / us (that) George likes her / his / my / their / our sister.
They told her / him / me / them / us ," You are clever."
They told her / him / me / them / us (that) she / he / I / they / we was / were clever.
Direct speech | |
now | |
today | |
yesterday | |
tomorrow | |
last week, month,... | |
next week, month,... | |
a (week,...) ago | |
here | |
this | |
these |
Example: She said, "I have already seen Carol today ." She said (that) she had already seen Carol that day .
If there is a question word , we keep it.
They asked me, " Where is the next supermarket?" They asked me where the next supermarket was.
She asked them, " How often do you play golf?" She asked them how often they played golf.
If there is no question word , we start the reported speech with if or whether .
She asked me, "Do you like some tea?" She asked me if/whether I liked some tea.
We asked them, "Did she arrive in time?" We asked them if/whether she had arrived in time.
If someone asks you in a polite way, use (not) to + infinitive
He asked her, "Could you close the door, please?" He asked her to close the door.
She asked them, "Help me, please." She asked them to help her.
If someone doesn't ask you politely or gives you an order, use (not) to + infinitive .
She told us, "Don't stay up too late!" She told us not to stay up too late.
Reported Speech Exercise 1 - statements - mixed tenses
Reported Speech Exercise 2 - statements - present tense
Reported Speech Exercise 3 - statements - present tense
Reported Speech Exercise 4 - statements - mixed tenses
Reported Speech Exercise 5 - statements - mixed tenses
Reported Speech Exercise 6 - statements, questions, commands
Reported Speech Exercise 7 - statements, questions, commands
Reported Speech Exercise 8 - questions, commands
Reported Speech Exercise 9 - questions, commands
Reported Speech Exercise 10 - statements, questions, commands
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In English grammar, reported speech is used to tell someone what another person said. It takes another person’s words (direct speech) to create a report of what they said (indirect speech.) With the following direct and indirect speech exercises, it will be easier to understand how reported speech works.
Complete the sentence in the reported speech.
Fill in the gaps below with the correct pronouns required in reported speech. Ex. Mary said: “I love my new dress!” Sentence: Mary said ____ love ____ new dress. Answer: she, her
Choose the correct reported speech phrase to fill in the sentences below.
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Reported speech - 2
Reported speech - 3
Worksheets - handouts
Perfect english grammar.
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RS006 - Reported Speech Intermediate. RS005 - Reported Speech - Introductory Verbs Advanced. RS004 - Reported Speech Intermediate. RS003 - Reporting Verbs Intermediate. RS002 - Reported Speech Intermediate. RS001 - Reported Speech Intermediate. Reported Speech - English Grammar Exercises.
Lots of reported speech exercises - practise using free interactive quizzes.
Reported speech - indirect speech. Reporting statements, questions and commands. Reporting verbs. English intermediate grammar exercises.
Exercises Write the following sentences in indirect speech. Pay attention to backshift and the changes to pronouns, time, and place.
Reported Statements 1. Change the direct speech into reported speech. Use 'she said' at the beginning of each answer. It's the same day, so you don't need to change the time expressions. 1) "He works in a bank." [ .
Learn how to use reported speech with clear explanations and lots of exercises. Perfect English Grammar helps you master grammar skills.
Exercises with answers, PDF worksheets and grammar rules. Rewrite the sentences in the reported speech. 'It is too late.' - I said it was too late.
Reported Speech (Indirect Speech) If we report what another person has said, we usually do not use the speaker's exact words (direct speech), but reported (indirect) speech. Therefore, you need to learn how to transform direct speech into reported speech. The structure is a little different depending on whether you want to transform a statement, question or request.
In English grammar, we use reported speech to say what another person has said. In reported speech, we change the tense and pronouns to show that some time has passed. Learn all about reported speech in English with Lingolia, then test your knowledge in the interactive exercises.
Do the exercise below on reported speech and click on the button to check your answers. (Before doing the exercises you may want to read the lesson on reported speech)
English grammar practice exercise, upper-intermediate.In this exercise you will practise reported speech. Exercise instructions Rewrite the following using reported speech: questions go herescore g…
Reported speech is a specific issue in English grammar. There are special rules on how to transfer statements, questions and demands from direct to indirect speech. These exercises are composed for revision and systematization of your knowledge on reported speech. We recommend to do them after you have studied all smaller topics related to ...
Exercises. 2315 Backshift of tenses in Reported speech - Exercise. 2321 Conversion of time phrases in Reported speech - Exercise. 2317 Pronouns in Reported speech - Exercise. 2327 Reported commands - affirmative sentences - Exercise. 2329 Reported commands - negations - Exercise. 2323 Reported questions - Exercise.
Exercise on Reported Speech - 10 :: Learn English online - free exercises, explanations, games, teaching materials and plenty of information on English language. :: page 10
Can you report questions, statements, requests and commands correctly? Test your understanding of direct and indirect speech with this interactive grammar exercise.
We use reported speech when we want to tell someone what someone said. We usually use a reporting verb (e.g. say, tell, ask, etc.) and then change the tense of what was actually said in direct speech.
4. Report the dialogue using say or ask in the past simple. Dan Are you going to the concert tomorrow evening? Zoe No, I'm not. I haven't got any money. Dan I ...
Reported speech, explanation, rules and examples how to use the indirect speech with online exercises.
In English grammar, reported speech is used to tell someone what another person said. It takes another person's words (direct speech) to create a report of what they said (indirect speech.) With the following direct and indirect speech exercises, it will be easier to understand how reported speech works.
English grammar exercise about reported speech - in this case reported questions
Reported speech exercises. Reported statements in English. Direct and indirect speech exercises for esl.
English grammar exercise about reported speech - in this case reported orders and requests
Here's another mixed exercise about reported speech - it includes statements, questions, orders and requests.