WPWord Play

Reported Speech

LESSON
Lesson Reference
Grammar rules and examples for self-study
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REVIEW
Review Exercises
Fill-in and gap-fill practice tasks
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ANSWER KEY
Answer Key
Correct answers for all exercises
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Reported Speech

Grammar Reference

Form Example
Tense shiftspresent→past · past→past perfect · will→wouldshe said she worked / would call
say vs tellsay (no object) · tell + personsaid she was / told me she was
Word shiftsI→he/she · here→there · tomorrow→next dayperspective change
Reported ?normal word order + tense shift + if/whetherasked where I lived

Reported Speech — Exercises

Report the statements

Change the direct speech to reported speech. Start with She said that or He told me that.

  1. "I am going to take up cycling to reduce my carbon footprint."
  2. "I have already handed in the assignment."
  3. "The team will compete in the championship next month."
  4. "I can't get on with my new flatmate."

Report the questions

Change the direct questions to reported questions. Start with She asked... or He wanted to know...

  1. "Do you get on well with technology?"
  2. "Where did you do your work placement?"
  3. "Have you ever visited a wildlife reserve?"

Correct the mistakes

  1. She said me she was interested in environmental science.
  2. He asked where did she study.
  3. They told that the scholarship deadline had passed.
  4. She said she can help me with my revision.
  5. He asked if did I get on with my tutor.
  6. She told me she went to the wildlife reserve last summer.

Exercise 4 — Production

  1. Report what a friend or teacher said to you recently. Use "said that" or "told me that".

Reported Speech — Answer Key

Report the statements

  1. Sample answer: She said that she was going to take up cycling to reduce her carbon footprint.
  2. Sample answer: He told me that he had already handed in the assignment.
  3. Sample answer: She said that the team would compete in the championship the following month.
  4. Sample answer: He told me that he couldn't get on with his new flatmate.

Report the questions

  1. Sample answer: She asked if I got on well with technology.
  2. Sample answer: He asked where I had done my work placement.
  3. Sample answer: She asked if I had ever visited a wildlife reserve.

Correct the mistakes

  1. She told me she was interested
  2. He asked where she studied
  3. They said that
  4. she could help
  5. He asked if I got on with my tutor
  6. she had gone to the wildlife reserve

Exercise 4 — Production

  1. Open answer — graded automatically online; no single fixed model answer.