REPORTED SPEECH

DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH

PRESENT SIMPLE PAST SIMPLE
“She studies English”, she said. She said she studied English.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS PAST CONTINUOUS
“She is studying English”, she said. She said she was studying English.
PRESENT PERFECT PAST PERFECT
“She has studied English”, she said She said she had studied English.
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINOUS PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
“She has been studying English”, she said. She said she had been studying English.
PAST SIMPLE PAST PERFECT
“She studied English”, she said. She said she had studied English.
PAST CONTINUOUS PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
“She was studying English”, she said. She said she had been studying English.
PAST PERFECT NO CHANGE
“She had studied English”, she said.
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS NO CHANGE
“She had been studying English”, she said.
FUTURE SIMPLE CONDITIONAL SIMPLE
“She will study English”, she said. She said she would study English.
FUTURE CONTINUOUS CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS
“She will be studying English”, she said. She said she would be studying English.
CAN COULD
“She can study English”, she said. She said she could study English.
MAY MIGHT
“She may study English”, she said. She said she might study English.
MUST /HAVE TO HAD TO
“She must /has to study English”, she said. She said she had to study English.

NO CHANGES: Some verb tenses used in DS don’t change in RS. The “reporting” verb is often in the present tense.

DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH

Reporting a present state of affairs. The reporter says/said (that) the cost of living here is
“The cost of living here is high” high.
Reporting things which are always true. Mary says (that) it’s always cold at this time of year.
“It’s always cold at this time of year.”
Reporting something which we believe will happen. The union representative said (that) they are going to
“They’re going to sack 300 workers next week.” sack 300 workers next week.
The modals: should, could, might, ought to and used to She said (that) he might be mistaken.
“You might be mistaken.”

CHANGES IN OTHER WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS

DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH

Now Then
Today That day
Tonight That night
Yesterday The previous day / the day before
Last week The previous week / the week before
A month ago The previous month / the month before
Tomorrow The following day / the day after / the
next day
Next week The following week / the week after
Here There
This That
That Those
REPORTED SPEECH. EXERCISES.

1.”I can’t swim very well”, I told her.

2. “Mr Mason has gone out”, the secretary told me.

3.”I don’t want to go swimming”, Andrew said.

4. “We’re leaving on Friday”, we said.

5. “I will be at home”, she said.

6. “We may go by train”, she told me.

7.”You should see the film”, she said.

8. “ I must go now”, she said.

9. “The population in London is around 9 million”, he pointed out.

10. “I spoke to him yesterday”, he told me.

11. “He had seen the film before”, he said.

12. “The cost of living here is high”, they said.

13. “China is a densely populated country”, she said.

14. “I didn’t understand the meaning of the film”, he told me.

15.”I’m going to Spain next week”, he said to us.

16. “I will not repeat this again”, he said.

17.” Where’s the post office?” (Do you know…)

18. “What have you told her? (I wonder…)

19. “Are you going out tonight?” (I want to know…)

20. “Is this correct?” ( I doubt…)

21. “Whose car is this?” (I asked…)

22. “Does this train stop at Leeds?” (Could you tell me…)

23. “Please, sir, can I have some more food?” said Oliver.

24. “Go to your room and stay there”, said his father.

25. “Don’t walk on the grass”, the park attendant said to us.

26. “Let’s paint the walls blue” said my little brother.

27. “You should phone the police”, he said to me.

28. “Would you like something to eat? He asked me

29. “I’ll do the dishes”, she said.

30. “Can I help you?” the woman said to me.

REPHRASINGS.

1.”How much money have you put into the account?” they asked.

They asked…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. “I don’t know”, he told them.

He told the officials………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. “What do you mean?” he asked.

He asked…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

4. “What shall I do?” she wondered.

She wondered……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

5. “Don’t go near the pool”, they warned the children.

They …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

6. “Please, please don’t give us any homework”, they said to the teacher.

They………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

7. “You should try to find another job”, he said to me.

He …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

8. “Can I smoke here? “The man asked.

The man……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

9. “What do you want?” he asked

He ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

●ASKING POLITELY

Imagine you are speaking to a guest in your home. Rephrase the examples below so that they sound
more polite.

1.”No, no! Don’t sit there!”

2. “Look where you’ve parked your car! You can’t leave it there!”

3. “Stop dropping ash on the carpet!”

4. “Don’t put your cigarette ash in the saucer! Use an ash-tray instead!”

5.”Oh, no! You’re not going to talk about that subject again, are you?”

6. “Don’t talk so loud.”

7. “Don’t play that music so loud!”

8. “And don’t make nay noise when you leave!”

REPORTED SPEECH RS 3

Change to reported questions!

1. He asked:”Where have you been Tom?”

He asked me ___________________________________________________________________
2. The teacher wanted to know:”Who discovered America?”
The teacher wanted to know ________________________________________________________
3. The referee asked:”How many players do you want to substitute?”
The referee asked _______________________________________________________________
4. He asked:”What would you do if you were a celebrity?”
He asked me ___________________________________________________________________
5. She wondered:” how much pay can I expect?”
She wondered __________________________________________________________________
6. The captain asked:”When will we get to the coast, guide?”
The captain asked _______________________________________________________________
7. The gardener inquired:”Why didn’t you buy a new shovel?”
The gardener inquired ____________________________________________________________
8. They wanted to know:”Who’s that woman?”
They wanted to know _____________________________________________________________
9. The zookeeper asked:”How much food did the lions eat last week?
The zookeeper asked _____________________________________________________________
10. The rock star asked:”Would you sing the song with me?”
The rock star asked me ___________________________________________________________
11. He wanted to know:”How long has Peter had his sports car?”
He wanted to know _______________________________________________________________
12. The coach asked:”What is he doing now?”
The coach asked ________________________________________________________________
13. The teacher asked:” Who were they travelling with yesterday?”
The teacher asked _______________________________________________________________
14. The helper asked:”What time are you going to finish tomorrow?”
The helper asked ________________________________________________________________
15. The people asked:”Where would he go if he had the money.”
The people asked ________________________________________________________________
16. The hired works asked:”When will we be paid?”
The hired workers asked __________________________________________________________
17. The fireman asked:”When is the fire engine going to be ready?”
The fireman asked _______________________________________________________________
18. The player wondered:”How many goals will we score this week?”
The player wondered _____________________________________________________________
19. Brother to sister: “Who are you going out with Jane?”
Jane’s Brother asked her __________________________________________________________
20. They wanted to know:”Why weren’t we allowed to park here last month?”
They wanted to know _____________________________________________________________

www.english-grammar.at
Task 12.1
Transform the following sentences from direct speech into reported speech:

1. “I am always in a bad mood on Monday mornings,” said Brian.

_______________________________________________________________________
2. “They were working last week,” she said.
_______________________________________________________________________
3. “I have been to Zimbabwe,” said Evelyn.
_______________________________________________________________________
4. “Isabell will give you a lift to the airport tomorrow,” he said.
_______________________________________________________________________
5. “We had already eaten before we arrived so we didn’t taste the food,” said Simon.
_______________________________________________________________________
6. “I can’t come to the party tonight, I have to study,” she said.
_______________________________________________________________________
7. “You mustn’t go near that cliff edge, it’s dangerous!” said Zoey.
_______________________________________________________________________
8. “You weren’t looking well yesterday,” Luke said.
_______________________________________________________________________
Task 12.2
Transform the following sentences from reported speech into direct speech.
Pay attention to the punctuation required when using direct speech.

1. She said that they had paid the bill.

_______________________________________________________________________
2. Kelly said she was so tired of working every weekend.
_______________________________________________________________________
3. He said their house had been for sale for six months.
_______________________________________________________________________
4. Mark said that he had gone surfing the weekend before.
_______________________________________________________________________
5. Max said he could help us move flats tomorrow.
_______________________________________________________________________
6. My grandfather said that he had already had a baby by my age.
_______________________________________________________________________
7. Greg said that Hadey hates going to the beach on weekends.
_______________________________________________________________________
8.He said that he had loved his trip to Thailand the year before.
_______________________________________________________________________
Reported speech key word sentence transformation FCE Use of English Part Four
Updated 2 April 2019

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using
the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five
words, including the word given.

1. They say that the new rollercoaster is absolutely terrifying.

SAID

The new rollercoaster __________________________________ absolutely terrifying.

2. Robert said he would not pay me back.

REPAY

Robert refused _________________________________________________ money.

3. I think it would be a good idea for you to move closer to work. .

SUGGEST

I ________________________________________________________ closer to work.

4. “It was Petra who stole it!” said Martine.

ACCUSED

Martine ______________________________________________________ stealing it.

5. Paula said it had been my fault that we didn’t get their business.

BLAMED

Paula ___________________________________ fact that we didn’t get their business.

6. “What is the weight of the cake?” the customer asked.

HOW

The customer asked _________________________________________________ was.

7. “Would it be possible to borrow your dictionary, please?” said Juanes.

LEND

Juanes asked if I _______________________________________________ dictionary.

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8. “Can my son try out this skateboard?” Adam asked the shopkeeper.

COULD

Adam asked the shopkeeper _______________________________ out the skateboard.

9. “I don’t think the wall will stop the flooding,” the mayor announced.

DOUBTED

The mayor announced that she _______________________________ stop the flooding.

10. Paddy said he would not thank me and just walked out.

REFUSED

Paddy ____________________________________ thank you to me and just walked out.

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