REPORTED SPEECH EXERCISES

AFFIRMATIVE AND NEGATIVE STATEMENTS

A. Put the following sentences into the Reported Speech.

1. “I gave a party this week.”

He said ______________________________________________________________________
2. “Someone has been following me.”

I said ________________________________________________________________________
3. “We wrote him a letter yesterday.”

They said ____________________________________________________________________

4. “They knew we didn’t have enough money.”

They told us __________________________________________________________________

5. “I haven’t done my homework.”

She said _____________________________________________________________________

6. “She didn’t really like it much.”

I said she_____________________________________________________________________
7. “I have lived there for 8 years.”

I told him ____________________________________________________________________

8. “She hasn’t seen the film on TV.”

She said she __________________________________________________________________

9. “I went to Scotland to do scuba-diving.”

Mary said ____________________________________________________________________

Remember:
Present Simple Past Simple
Present Continuous Past Continuous
(am/is/are + -ing) (was/were + -ing)
Future (will + infinitive) Conditional (would + infinitive)

Report the following statements:

1. “I’m having a party next week.”

He said
_________________________________________________________________________________
2. “Someone is following me.”

I said
___________________________________________________________________________________
3. “I can’t see you.”

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She said
________________________________________________________________________________
4. “I’ll have to write to your parents.”

She told the boys _____________________________________________________________________

5. “You are the best girl in the world.”

He told her
____________________________________________________________________________
6. “We are still packing our cases.”

The girls said

__________________________________________________________________________
7. “Mrs. Green will send it to me.”

He said
_________________________________________________________________________________

8. “I know a man who can do it.”

He told me
____________________________________________________________________________
9. “They are waiting outside.”

I told him
_____________________________________________________________________________
10. “I’ll never forget him.”

She told me
___________________________________________________________________________
11. “I know we don’t have enough money.”

He said
_________________________________________________________________________________
12. “The news will be on TV at 6 o’clock.”

Chris said
______________________________________________________________________________
13. “They are going to meet Susie at four.”

She said
________________________________________________________________________________
14. “I think the work isn’t very interesting.”

I told her
______________________________________________________________________________
15. “We’ll have to wait till she comes.”

They said
______________________________________________________________________________
16. “I’m not doing my homework.”

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She said
________________________________________________________________________________
17. “We are planning our wedding.”

They said
______________________________________________________________________________
18. “Breakfast is ready.”

She said
________________________________________________________________________________
19. “I am doing the washing-up.”

Mum said
______________________________________________________________________________
20. “I don’t know what they will say.”

She said
________________________________________________________________________________

MORE EXERCISES…

1. “I read a book per month”.

James said -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. “I go to the cinema on Saturdays.”
Peter said ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. “Teachers don’t like noise.”
Maria said ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. “We are very calm.”
They said ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. “We don’t want to watch TV.”
The children said ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. “I don’t like horror films.”
Charles said ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. “I don’t like TV. I prefer cinema.”
Joshua said ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. “The church is just around the corner.”
Mrs. Robins said -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. “This is my favourite film.”
Barbara said ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. “Sara likes to chew gum when she is at the cinema.”
Peter said ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. “Girls prefer fashion magazines.”
He said ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. “Boys like to buy car magazines. They don’t like girlish magazines.”
Tom said -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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13. “I buy this magazine every weekend.”
Brenda said ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14. “We enjoy our classes.”
They said ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15. “This place is absolutely fabulous.”
Samantha said -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16. “These cars don’t work.”
Daniel said -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17. “Today is my birthday.”
Carl said -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OTHER EXERCISES

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 toldme ________________________________________________________

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”

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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 ___________________________________________________________

QUESTIONS

1. “ How old are you?”

He asked me how old I was.
Whenever a question starts with an Interrogative Pronoun, this pronoun is repeated in the new sentence and is
followed by the subject and then the verb.
QUESTION = Int. Pro. + Verb + Subject
R. SPEECH = Int. Pro. + Subject + Verb

2. “Are you OK?”

She asked me if I was OK.
When a question starts with a verb we form the Reported Speech by adding if followed by the subject and the
verb.
QUESTION = Verb + Subject
R. SPEECH = If + Subject + Verb

Report the following questions.

1. “What’s your address?”

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She asked me ______________________________________________
2. “Do you like vegetables?”

He asked me _______________________________________________
3. “Isn’t Peter at school?”

Rick asked me ______________________________________________

4. “Where do you live, Simon?”

He asked Simon ____________________________________________

5. “What are you looking at?”

She asked him ____________________________________________

6. “Do you want some help?”

I asked them _____________________________________________

7. “What time does it start?”

She asked _________________________________________________

8. “Will you come with me to the party?”

He asked her _______________________________________________

9. “Are you enjoying your stay here?”

I asked him ________________________________________________

10. “Will you do it now?”

We asked her ______________________________________________

11. “Are you playing cards?”

They asked me _____________________________________________

12. “Why don’t you phone the editor?”

He asked me ______________________________________________
13.“What sort of joke is this?”

John asked him

MORE QUESTIONS….

1. “Where do you live?”, she asked me.

She asked me ________________________________________________________

2. “When do the children sing?”, I asked Tom.

I asked Tom_________________________________________________________

3. “What did they build?”, I asked Paul.

I asked Paul__________________________________________________________

4. “Who did you meet?”, Tina asked me.

Tina asked me________________________________________________________

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5. “When will you return?”, she asked me.

She asked me_________________________________________________________

6. “How will they find that book?”, Tom asked.

Tom asked___________________________________________________________

7. “Why will she leave so early?”, I asked her.

I asked her___________________________________________________________

8. “What have you done?”, I asked him.

I asked him___________________________________________________________

9. “What has she bought?”,I asked Tom.

I asked Tom__________________________________________________________

10. “What have they said?”, She asked me.

She asked me_________________________________________________________

1. “Do you speak English?”, he asked me.

He asked me______________________________________________________

2. “Does she feel better?”, she asked Tina.

She asked Tina____________________________________________________

3. “Did you have lunch alone?”, he asked me.

He asked me______________________________________________________

4. “Did you see the film last week?”, I asked her.

I asked her______________________________________________________

5. “Will you come by taxi?”, He asked me.

He asked me_____________________________________________________

6. “Will she keep her money at home?”, I asked him.

I asked him______________________________________________________

7. “Have you seen the dog?”, he asked Tom.

He asked Tom____________________________________________________

8. “Has he made a cake?”, I asked

I asked_________________________________________________________

9. “Have you forgotten the address?”, She asked me.

She asked me____________________________________________________

10. “Has she ridden a horse?”, I asked.

I asked________________________________________________________

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Convert the questions below into reported speech.

"Can they play the piano?" she asked.

1 ........................................................................................................................... ...................
"Has Sarah ever been to Siena?" he asked.
2 ................................................................................................................................... ...........
"Are they French or Canadian?" asked Charlie.
3 ..............................................................................................................................................
"Where do bears live?" asked George.
4 ........................................................................................................................... ...................
"Who wants some more yoghurt ice cream?" asked Mum.
5 ........................................................................................................................... ...................
"Are we going out tonight?" asked Bob.
6 ............................................................................................................................. .................
"Can I use your mobile, John?" asked Sarah.
7 ..............................................................................................................................................
"Have you ever been to Lisbon?" Luis asked Paul.
8 ........................................................................................................................... ...................
"What has Daddy made for dinner?" asked Simon.
9 ........................................................................................................................... ...................
"Is the Pope a Catholic," asked JK.
10 ........................................................................................................................................ ......
"Who won the match?" asked Monica.
11 ..............................................................................................................................................
"Have you fed the cat yet, Philip?" asked Letizia.
12 ..............................................................................................................................................
"How much does it cost?" asked Carlos.
13 ..............................................................................................................................................
"Do you like fried eggs?" Anne asked David.
14 ..............................................................................................................................................

MORE QUESTIONS

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 ______________________________________________________

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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 ______________________________________________________

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IMPERATIVES

Try to report the following orders and instructions:

1. “Go straight ahead and turn right.”
The policeman told Peter

2. “Stay in your room.”

She ordered Mark

3. “Don’t speak so loud.”

Adam asked Mary

4. “Stop speaking so much nonsense!”

John told him

5. “Take care of yourself.”

He told Paula

6. “Be quiet and pay attention.”

The teacher asked the pupils

7. “Don’t drink that water!”

He advised Mary

8. “Don’t smoke in this room.”

She asked the customer

Reported Requests and Orders

Change the direct speech into reported speech:

1. “Please help me carry this”

She asked me ______________________________________________________

2. “Please come early”

She ______________________________________________________________

3. “Please buy some milk”

She ______________________________________________________________

4. “Could you please open the window?”

She ______________________________________________________________

5. “Could you bring the book tonight?”

She ______________________________________________________________

6. “Can you help me with my homework, please?”

She ______________________________________________________________

7. “Would you bring me a cup of coffee, please?”

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She ______________________________________________________________

8. “Would you mind passing the salt?”

She ______________________________________________________________

9. “Would you mind lending me a pencil?”

She

______________________________________________________________

10. “I was wondering if you could possibly tell me the time?”

She ______________________________________________________________

11. “Do your homework!”

She told me ________________________________________________________

12. “Go to bed!”

She ______________________________________________________________

13. “Don’t be late!”

She ______________________________________________________________

14. “Don’t smoke!”

She ______________________________________________________________

15. “Tidy your room!”

She ______________________________________________________________

16. “Wait here!”

She ______________________________________________________________

17. “Don’t do that!”

She ______________________________________________________________

18. “Eat your dinner!”

She ______________________________________________________________

19. “Don’t make a mess!”

She ______________________________________________________________

20. “Do the washing-up!”

She ______________________________________________________________

Mixed Reported Speech 1 (Statements, Questions,

Requests and Orders)

Change the direct speech into reported speech. Choose the past simple of ‘ask’, ‘say’ or ‘tell’:

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1. “Don’t do it!”

She ______________________________________________________________

2. “I’m leaving tomorrow”

She ______________________________________________________________

3. “Please get me a cup of tea”

She ______________________________________________________________

4. “She got married last year”

She ______________________________________________________________

5. “Be quick!”

She ______________________________________________________________

6. “Could you explain number four, please?”

She ______________________________________________________________

7. “Where do you live?”

She ______________________________________________________________

8. “We went to the cinema and then to a Chinese restaurant”

She

______________________________________________________________

9. “I’ll come and help you at twelve”

She ______________________________________________________________

10. “What are you doing tomorrow?”

She ______________________________________________________________

11. “Don’t go!”

She ______________________________________________________________

12. “Do you work in London?”

She ______________________________________________________________

13. “Could you tell me where the post office is?”

She ______________________________________________________________

14. “Come here!”

She ______________________________________________________________

15. “I’ve never been to Wales”

She ______________________________________________________________

16. “Have you ever seen ‘Lord of the Rings’?”

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She ______________________________________________________________

17. “I don't like mushrooms”

She ______________________________________________________________

18. “Don't be silly!”

She ______________________________________________________________

19. “Would you mind waiting a moment please?”

She ______________________________________________________________

20. “How often do you play sport?”

She ______________________________________________________________

Mixed Reported Speech 2 (Statements, Questions,

Requests and Orders)

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 ______________________________________________________________

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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 ______________________________________________________________

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