ENGLISH GRAMMAR 

Reported Speech 

C.  CONDITIONALS: Conditional sentences type two remain unchanged.

He said, “If my children were older I would emigrate”.    He said 
that if his children were older he would emigrate. 

SAY AND TELL AS INTRODUCTORY VERBS

A.   say and tell with direct speech.
1.   say can introduce a statement or follow it.
Tom said, “I’ve just heard the news”. or “I’ve just heard the news”,Tom said. 
Inversion of  say and noun subject is possible when say follows the statement. 
“I’ve just heard the news”, said Tom. 
say + to + person addressed is possible, but this phrase must follow the direct statement;
it cannot introduce it. 
“I’m leaving at once”, Tom said to me. 
Inversion is not possible here. 
2.   tell requires the person addressed. 
Tell me. He told us. I’ll tell Tom. 
Except with tell lies/stories/the truth/the time, when the person addressed need not to be
mentioned.
He told (me) lies. I’ll tell (you) a story. 
Tell used with direct speech must be placed after the direct statement: 
“I’m leaving at once”, Tom told me. 
Inversion is not possible with tell. 
B.   say and tell with indirect speech
Indirect statements are normally introduced by say, or tell + object. Say + to + object is possible but
less usual than tell + object.
He said he’d just heard the news. 
5 
He told me that he’d just heard the news. 
Note also tell....how/about: 
He told us how he had crossed the mountains.
He told us about crossing the mountains.
He told us about his journeys. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY
-  A. J. Thomson and A.V. Martinet, A Practical English Grammar, Oxford University Press, 1986 
-  R. Fernández Carmona, English Grammar… with exercises, Longman, 2000 
-  R. Murphy, English Grammar in Use, Cambridge University Press 1990 
-  M. Harrison, Grammar Spectrum 2, Oxford University Press, 1996 
-  N. Coe, Grammar Spectrum 3, Oxford University Press, 1996 

EXERCISES
STATEMENTS
1.   These people are saying these things. Report them, using says that.
a.   Paul: “Atlanta is a wonderful city.”  Paul says that Atlanta was a wonderful city
  Ruth says that she was go jogging every morning
b . R u t h : “ I g o jo g g in g e v e r y m o rn in g . ”  
c.   A n n a : “ J e n n y i sn ’t s t u d y i n g fo r h e r e xams.”  Anna says that Jenny
wasn't studying for her exams
d.  Andrew: “I used to be very Andrew says that he had used to be very fat
fat.” 
e. e.- Jim: “I can’t swim.” Jim says that he couldn't swim
 
2.   People made these statements. Report them, using said. 
a.   “Mary works in a bank”, Jane Jane said that Mary was work in a bank
said. 
b. “I’m staying with some friends”, Jim said. Jim said that he was staying with some friends
c.   “I’ve never been to Russia”, Mike said.  Mike said that he had never been to Russia
d. “Tom can’t use a computer”, Ella said. Ella said that Tom could not usea a computer
e. “Everybody must try to do their best”, Jill said. Jill said that Everybody had to try to do their best
f.   “Jane may move to a new flat”, Rachel said. Rachel said that Jane might move to a new flat
g. “I’ll stay at home on Sunday”, Bill Bill said that he would stay at home on sunday
said.

3.   Report what the guests said at a wedding last Sunday.

a.   Miss Moore: “They’ll make a lovely couple.”  Miss Moore said that they would make a lovely couple
b.Mr Smith: “They’re going to live in Brighton.” Mr Smith said that they are going to live in Brighton
c.   Mrs Jones: “The bride and the groom are very nice young people.” 
Mrs jones said that the bride and the groom were very nice young people
 
d.   Mr Roberts: “The bride is wearing a beautiful wedding dress.” 
Mr roberts said that bride was wearing a beautiful wedding dress
e.   Mr Clarke: “The couple’s parents look happy.”  Mr Clarke said that the couple's parents were look happy
f.   Miss Mayall: “The bride’s father has bought them a big flat.” 
Miss Mayall said that the bride's father had bought them a big flat

4. Change the following statements into the reported speech.

a. “I have something to show you”, I said to her.
  i said to her that i had something to show you
b.   “I’m going away tomorrow”, he said. 
  he said that he was going away the next day
c. “I’ve been in London for a month but I haven’t had time to visit the Tower”, said Rupert.
rupert said that he had been in london for a month but that he hadn't had time to visit the tower
d.   “I’ll come with you as soon as I’m ready”, she replied.
she replied that she would come with me as soon as she was ready
e.  “We have a lift but very often it doesn’t work”, they said. 
they said that they were have a lift but very often it weren't work
f.  “I must go to the dentist tomorrow”, he said. 
he said that he had to go to the dentist the next day
g.  “I found an old Roman coin in the garden yesterday and I am going to take it to the museum this
afternoon”, he said. 
 he said that he had found an old Roman coin in the garden the day before and that he is going to take
it to the museum this
5.   Write these sentences in indirect speech.
a.   “I’m very tired”, she said.  she said that she had very tired
b. “I’ll see them soon”, he said. he said that he would see them soon
c.   “I’m going to the cinema”, she said. she said that she was going to the cinema  
d.   “I see the children quite often”, he said.  he said that he was see the children quite often
e.   “I’m having a bath”, she said.  she said that she was having a bath
f.   “I’ve already met their parents”, she she said that she had already met their parents
said. 
g.   “I stayed in a hotel for a few weeks”, she said.  she said that she had stayed in a hotel for a few weeks
h.   “I must go home to make dinner”, he said.  he said that he had to go home to make dinner
i.  “I haven’t been waiting long”, she she said that she hadn't been waiting long
said. 
 j.  “I’m listening to the radio”, he said.  he said that he was listening to the radio
k.  “I’ll tell them the news on Saturday”, she said.  she said that she would tell them the news on saturday
 l.   “I like swimming, dancing and playing tennis”, he said.
he said that he was swimming, dancing and playing tennis

6 
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR  Reported Speech 

m.   “I can drive”, she she said that she could drive

said.
n.   “I walked home after the party”, he said. he said that he had walked home after the party
o.   “I’m going to be sick”, she said.  she said that she is going to be sick
p.   “I must go out to post a letter”, he he said that he had to go out to post a letter
said. 
q.   “I spoke to Jane last week”, she said.  she said that she had spoken to jane the previous week
r.   “I’m trying to listen to the music”, he said.  he said that he was trying to listen to the music
s. “I’ll phone the office from the airport”, she said. _ she said that she would phone the office from the
airport_
t. “I can’t speak any foreign languages”, he said.  he said that he couldn't speak any foreign languages
 
6.   Write these sentences in indirect speech, changing words where necessary.
a.   “I’ll see you tomorrow”, she said. 
she said that she would see you the next day
b.  “I saw her today”, he said. 
he said that he had seen her that day
c.  “I don’t like this film”, she said. 
  she said that she wasn't like this film
d.   She said, “We went swimming today.” 
we had gone swimming that day, she said
“I met her about three months ago”, he said. e.  
he said that he had met about three months ago
f.   “I’ll see Mary on Sunday”, she said. 
she said that she would see mary on sunday
g.   “Pete and Sue are getting married tomorrow”, she said.
7 
she said that peter and sue were getting married the next day
h. “Stephen’s bringing some records to the party tomorrow”, she said.
she said that Stephen was bringing some records to the party the next day
i.  “I really like this furniture”, she said.
she said that she was really like this furniture
 j.  “My parents are arriving tomorrow”, she said. 
she said that your parents were arriving the next day
k.  “We visited her this morning” they said. 
they said the they had visited her this morning
l.  “We’ll see her next summer” they said. 
they said that they would see her the next summer
m.  “They were here three months ago”, he said. 
he said that they had there three months ago
n.  “I’m meeting them at four o’clock today”, he said. 
he said that he was meeting them at four o'clock that day
o.  “I can see you tomorrow”, she said.
she said that she could see you the next day

QUESTIONS
7.   Report the police-officer’s questions to the shop owner. 
a.   What’s your name?  he asked what was my name
b.   Did you see the robbers? he asked if i had seen the robbers
he asked what had wearing they
c.   What were they wearing?
d.  How do you think they got in? he asked i was do think they got in
e.  What did they take? he asked they had taken
  

8.   Write these sentences as reported questions using the words given.

a.   “What’s your name?”, he asked. (wanted to know)
  he wanted to know what was my name
b.   “Do you like Marlon Brandon?”, she asked. 
  she asked me that if i liked marlon brandon
c.   “How old are you?”, she said. (asked)
  she asked me that how old was me
d.   “When does the train leave?”, I asked. 
  he asked me if i was enjoying
i asked that what was the train leaves
  myself 
e.   “Are you enjoying yourself?”, he asked. 
“How are you?”, he said. (asked) 
f.  

g.   “Does your father work here?”, she asked. 

  she asked me if my father worked there
h.  “Do you live near your father?”, he asked. 
  he asked me that if i lived near to my father 
i.  “Who did you see at the meeting?”, my mother asked. 
  my mother asked me that who i have seen at the meeting
 j.  “Why did you take my wallet?”, he asked. 
  he asked me why i have taken his wallet
8 
k.  “How did you get to school?”, she
  she asked me how i have gotten to
school
asked.  l. 
“Are you a foreigner?”, she asked. 
she asked
m.   “Where do me
youif live?”,
i was foreigner 
the boy asked. 
  the boy asked me where i was living
n.   “Have you met Danny before?”, he asked. 
  he asked me if i have met danny before
o.   “Are you hungry?”, he asked. 
  he asked me if i was hungry
p.   “Why wasn’t Judy at the party?”, she asked. 
she asked me why judy has not been at the party
 
q.   “Why didn’t you telephone?”, my father asked. 

  my father asked me why i have not called him

r.   “Did you borrow my dictionary?”, he asked. 
  he asked me if i had borrowed his dictionary
s.  “Why are you so late?”, the teacher asked. 
  the teacher asked me why i was so late
t.   “Have you finished your exams?”, she asked. 

  she asked me if i had finished my exams

u.   “Did you invite Judy and Mitch?”, he asked. 
  he asked me if i had invited judy and mitch
v.   “Does your brother live in London?”, she asked. 
  she asked me if my bother was l_i_ved in london
w.   “Why didn’t the police report the crime?”, the judge asked. 
  the judge asked_ _me why i had reported the crime to the
police
x.   “Do you know who broke the window?”, he asked. 
he asked if i knew who broke the window
 
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR   Reported Speech 

y.   “Why you won’t let me in?”, he shouted. 

 he shouted me why i would not let him in

COMMANDS, REQUESTS AND ADVICE

9.   Rewrite these sentences in reported speech.
a.   “Make some coffee, Bob”, Carol said.(ask) 
  carol asked if bob made some coffee.
b.   “You must do the homework soon, Jane”, she said.(tell)
  she tell her that she had to do homework soon
c.   “Remember to buy a map, Ann” he said.(remind) 
  he remind her that she buy a map
d.   “You should see a doctor, Mrs Clark”, he said.(advise)

  he advise him that he should see a doctor 

e.   “Keep all the windows closed, Bill” they said.(warn) 
  they warnend bill that he keep all the windows closed
f.   “Go home, Paul”, Francis said.(tell)
  francis tell her that he go home
g.   “Please stay for supper, Bob”, he said.(try to persuade) 
he try to persuade him that he stay for supper 
 

10.  Report the following sentences.

a.   “Don’t try to be funny.” 
  he said me that i was not funny
b.   “Wait here till I come.” 
  he told me that i wait here still he come
9  c.   “Go to bed and don’t get up till you’re called.” 
  he said me that i went to bed and did not get up till i was called
d.   “Be a good girl and sit quietly for five minutes.” 
  my mother tell me tha i was a good girl and was sitting quietly for five minutes
e.   “Watch the milk and don’t let it boil over.” 
  my mothe tell me that i watched the milk and did not let it boil over 
f.   “Don’t take your coat off.” 
  he said me that i did not take off my coat
g.   “Don’t forget to thank Mrs Jones when you’re saying good bye to her.” 
  my dad said me that i did not forget to thank mrs jones when i said goood bye to her 
h.   “Stop that dog.” 
he told me that i stopped the dog
 

11.  Write the sentences in reported speech using the words given.
a.   “Sit down, Mary.” (he told) 
  he told her that she s at down
b.   “Would you pass my suitcase?” (he asked) 
  he asked me that i would pass your suitcase
c.   “Don’t go near the sea, children.” (the children’s mother warned) 
  the children's mother warned

d.   “tDimo'Sn ’fta tbhee rl atoteld, hTiimm t.h”a (tT hime ’wsa fSSa tnhoet rla ttoeld) 

e.  “Be quiet, children.” (the librarian told) 

 
  the librarian told them that they were quiet
f.  “Have your tickets ready, please.” (the inspector told us) 
  the inspector told us that we did have the tickets ready

SAY AND TELL

12.  Use the correct form of SAY and TELL in these sentences.
a.   me she didn’t agree. 
She said
b.   He told uS
c.   , “Have we met before?” 
I told
d.   them I wasn’t happy with their work. 
She smiled and
e.   to me, “I’m very pleased to meet you.” 
said
f.   me a story about her parents.
She told , “Are you feeling OK?” 
He Said me
 g.   I didn’t hear. What did he  tell ?
h.   Could you tell
me the time, please?
i.  They said me they were going to a meeting.
 j.  I said to the police my address.
k.  I said that I wanted to buy a magazine.
l.   He told that he wasn’t interested in politics.
m.   Could you tell me your name again?
n.   Do you think he is the truth?
o.   telling him to come early tomorrow?
p.   Would you say that again there’ll be trouble. 
q.   If he say them it was dangerous to swim here.
I said
r.   Did you tell
anything to him about your problem at work?
s.    tell me what happened.
t.   I think he is telling lies.
u.   The policeman the man was lying.
said

v.   Philip say it would probably rain tomorrow.

w.   Susan tellS
, “Let’s go out for dinner tonight.” 
x.   Jim tells me about the party last night.
y.   Our teacher said he was pleased with our work.
z.   Stop tell lies!

OFFERS AND SUGGESTIONS 

13.  Re write the sentences with the gerund or the infinitive and the in reported speech.
a.   “I’ll bring my CDs to the party.” 
10  He promised to bring his CDs to the party.
b.   “Let’s go to the cinema tonight, shall we?
She suggested go to the cinema that night
c.   “Yes, I stole the wallet.” 
He admitted that he was stole the wallet
d.   “Be careful! The water is boiling.” 
She warned us that the water were boiring
e. “You must apologise to your teacher.”
My father insisted (on) on that i had to apologise to teacher
f.   “All right! I’ll share the expenses with you.” 
My friend agreed that we could share the expenses