Reported Speech
Exercise 1. Reported
Statements: Present Simple
1.
“I live in New York”
She
said ________________________________________________________
2.
“He works in a bank”
She
told me _____________________________________________________
3.
“Julie doesn’t like going out much”
She
said ________________________________________________________
4.
“I don’t have a computer”
She
said ________________________________________________________
5.
“They never arrive on time”
She
said ________________________________________________________
6.
“We often meet friends in London at the weekend”
He
told me _____________________________________________________
7.
“David doesn’t have any children”
She
said ________________________________________________________
8.
“I don’t go to the gym very often”
She
said ________________________________________________________
9.
“Lucy owns three flats in the city”
She
said ________________________________________________________
10.
“I never get up early on Sundays”
She
said ________________________________________________________
11.
“She meets her boyfriend at the cinema every Friday night”
He
said ________________________________________________________
12.
“We don’t travel much”
She
said ________________________________________________________
13.
“John doesn’t live in Japan any more”
She
said ________________________________________________________
14.
“They work in Hong Kong”
She
told me _____________________________________________________
15.
“I have to work until seven or eight pm every night”
She
said ________________________________________________________
16.
“I don’t want to go to the theatre next weekend”
She
said ________________________________________________________
17.
“We like working in Paris”
She
said ________________________________________________________
18.
“She doesn’t have enough time to do everything”
She
said ________________________________________________________
19.
“Tony hates mushrooms”
She
told me _____________________________________________________
20.
“They often go on holiday in July”
She
said ________________________________________________________
Exercise 2. Reported Statements: Present Continuous
1. “I'm
sleeping”
She told me
_____________________________________________________
2. “We’re working”
She told me
_____________________________________________________
3. “She's coming
to the party”
She told me
_____________________________________________________
4. “He’s talking
on the telephone”
She told me
_____________________________________________________
5. “Lucy is
reading a book in front of the fire”
She told me
_____________________________________________________
6. “I'm not
going out”
She said
________________________________________________________
7. “We are not
visiting Paris during our trip”
She said
________________________________________________________
8. “I'm
listening to my new CD”
She said
________________________________________________________
9. “John is
working in a bar for the summer”
She told me _____________________________________________________
10. “I'm not
going to go on holiday”
She told me
_____________________________________________________
11. “He isn't
living in Beijing”
She told me
_____________________________________________________
12. “I’m taking
the train to Berlin”
She told me
_____________________________________________________
13. “He is never
coming back”
She told me
_____________________________________________________
14. “Jill is
studying a lot”
She told me
_____________________________________________________
15. “I'm not
meeting Julie”
She told me
_____________________________________________________
16. “We aren't
renting a flat”
She said
________________________________________________________
17. “They are
visiting the museum”
She said
________________________________________________________
18. “She's
eating dinner”
She said
________________________________________________________
19. “We aren’t
going to the library”
She said
________________________________________________________
20. “I’m coming”
She said
________________________________________________________
Exercise 3. Reported Statements Mixed Exercise. Change
this direct speech into reported speech:
1. “He works in
a bank”
She said ___________________________________________________________
2. “We went out
last night”
She told me
________________________________________________________
3. “I’m coming!”
She said
___________________________________________________________
4. “I was waiting
for the bus when he arrived”
She told me
________________________________________________________
5. “ I’d never
been there before”
She said
___________________________________________________________
6. “I didn’t go
to the party”
She told me ________________________________________________________
7. “Lucy’ll come
later”
She said
___________________________________________________________
8. “He hasn’t
eaten breakfast”
She told me
________________________________________________________
9. “I can help
you tomorrow”
She said
___________________________________________________________
10. “You should
go to bed early”
She told me
________________________________________________________
11. “I don’t
like chocolate”
She told me
________________________________________________________
12. “I won’t see
you tomorrow”
She said
___________________________________________________________
13. “She’s
living in Paris for a few months”
She said
___________________________________________________________
14. “I visited
my parents at the weekend”
She told me
________________________________________________________
15. “She hasn’t
eaten sushi before”
She said
___________________________________________________________
16. “I hadn’t
travelled by underground before I came to London”
She said
___________________________________________________________
17. “They would
help if they could”
She said
___________________________________________________________
18. “I’ll do the
washing-up later”
She told me
________________________________________________________
19. “He could
read when he was three”
She said
___________________________________________________________
20. “I was
sleeping when Julie called”
She said
___________________________________________________________
Exercise 4. Put in ‘said’ or ‘told’:
1. Julie
______________ that she would join us after work.
2. She
______________ me that she was going running this evening.
3. John
______________ us that he couldn’t come to the party.
4. John
______________ that he had been to the cinema at the weekend.
5. She
______________ them she wanted to quit.
6. David
______________ he was going to arrive at eight.
7. They
______________ that they didn’t want to meet us on Tuesday.
8. I
______________ him I wasn’t impressed.
9. Lucy
______________ Julie that she was leaving on Wednesday.
10. We
______________ that we were going on holiday the following week.
11. Jack
______________ my mother he would be in Spain this week.
12. I
______________ that I hated mushrooms.
13. She ______________
she loved chocolate.
14. They
______________ they were meeting Luke today.
15. They
______________ us they were going to the museum this afternoon.
16. He
______________ he wouldn’t start without us.
17. I
______________ them I’d bring pudding.
18. Jonathan
______________ it would rain today.
19. They
______________ us that it was fine to come late.
20. The boss
______________ me that I should do some more work on this report.
Exercise 5.
Change these direct questions into reported speech:
1. “Where is
he?”
She asked me
______________________________________________________
2. “What are you
doing?”
She asked me
______________________________________________________
3. “Why did you
go out last night?”
She asked me
______________________________________________________
4. “Who was that
beautiful woman?”
She asked me
______________________________________________________
5. “How is your
mother?”
She asked me
______________________________________________________
6. “What are you
going to do at the weekend?”
She asked me
______________________________________________________
7. “Where will
you live after graduation?”
She asked me
______________________________________________________
8. “What were
you doing when I saw you?”
She asked me
______________________________________________________
9. “How was the
journey?”
She asked me
______________________________________________________
10. “How often
do you go to the cinema?”
She asked me
______________________________________________________
11. “Do you live
in London?”
She asked me
______________________________________________________
12. “Did he
arrive on time?”
She asked me
______________________________________________________
13. “Have you
been to Paris?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
14. “Can you
help me?”
She asked me
______________________________________________________
15. “Are you
working tonight?”
She asked me
______________________________________________________
16. “Will you
come later?”
She asked me
______________________________________________________
17. “Do you like
coffee?”
She asked me
______________________________________________________
18. “Is this the
road to the station?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
19. “Did you do
your homework?”
She asked me
______________________________________________________
20. “Have you
studied reported speech before?”
She asked me
______________________________________________________
Exercise 6. Change the direct speech into reported
speech. Choose the past simple of ‘ask’, ‘say’ or ‘tell’:
1. “Come
quickly!”
She
______________________________________________________________
2. “Did you
arrive before seven?”
She ______________________________________________________________
3. “How was your
holiday?”
She
______________________________________________________________
4. “I would have
visited the hospital, if I had known you were sick”
She ______________________________________________________________
5. “Don't
touch!”
She
______________________________________________________________
6. “Do you
usually cook at home?”
She
______________________________________________________________
7. “They had
never been to Scotland until last year”
She
______________________________________________________________
8. “Make sure
you arrive early!”
She
______________________________________________________________
9. “I should
have studied harder for the exam”
She
______________________________________________________________
10. “Would you
mind telling me how to get to the art gallery, please?”
She
______________________________________________________________
11. “Please
don’t forget my book”
She ______________________________________________________________
12. “Make sure
you arrive at six!”
She
______________________________________________________________
13. “Remember to
study hard!”
She
______________________________________________________________
14. “Where do
you want to eat tonight?”
She
______________________________________________________________
15. “I usually
drink coffee in the mornings”
She
______________________________________________________________
16. “Do you like
studying English?”
She
______________________________________________________________
17. “I’ll come
and help you on Saturday”
She
______________________________________________________________
18. “Please buy
some bread on your way home”
She ______________________________________________________________
19. “Please give
this to John”
She
______________________________________________________________
20. “Could you
give me the glass on the table, please?”
She
______________________________________________________________