Exercises on Reported Speech

Statements

Change the tense from the first sentence so it sounds meaningful when
you report it in the second column. Use this Reporting Verbs: Said,
declared, commented, and explained.

• Present Simple • Past Simple

Ex. Julie: “I feel sick” Julie said she felt sick

- Frank: “I want to go home”

• Past Simple • Past Perfect

Ex. Julie: “I made a strawberry cake” Julie declared she had made a strawberry
cake
- Frank and John: “We slept until 11
o’clock”

• Present Perfect • Past Perfect

Ex. Julie: “I have never gone to USA” Julie commented she had never gone to
USA
- Frank: “My dad has always sung that
song in the shower”
• Can + infinitive • Could + infinitive
Ex. Julie: “I can stay in your house Julie said she could stay in your house
today” today

- Frank and John: “We can speak

English very well”
• Will + infinitive • Would + infinitive
Ex. Julie: “I will bring my English book Julie declared she would bring her English
next class” book next class
- John: “I will love you forever”

• Would/Could + infinitive • No change

Ex. Julie: “I would jump from an Julie declared she would jump from and
airplane with a parachute” airplane with a parachute
- Frank: “I could eat a gigantic
hamburger”

Extra exercises…

Julie: I can sing many songs in English (said)

Father: I have stayed with your mother because she is alone (explained)
Children: We don’t like to watch TV until very late (declared)
Mark: They would help you with anything you need (commented)
John and Frank: He ate everything you cooked (said)
Mary: I will buy a new cell phone (commented)
REPORTED SPEECH – Exercises to practice!!

1. Report these Statements.

1) John: "Mandy is at home." (Said)

2) Max: "Frank reads a book every month." (Commented)

3) Susan: "I'm watching TV." (Said)

4) Simon: "David was ill." (Explained)

5) Peggy: "The girls helped in the house." (Said)

6) Richard: "I am going to ride a skateboard." (Commented)

7) Stephen and Claire: "We have cleaned the windows." (Said)

8) Charles: "I didn't have time to do my homework." (Declared)

9) Mrs Jones: "My mother will be 50 years old." (Commented)

10) Jean: "The boss has signed the letter." (Declared)

2. Choose the correct alternative (Only verb SAID)

1. Andy: I will buy a new laptop next week

a. Andy said he could buy a new laptop next week
b. Andy said he would buy a new laptop next week

2. Jenny: I have never travelled to Jamaica before

a. Jenny said she had never travelled to Jamaica before
b. Jenny said she has never travel to Jamaica before

3. Steven: I want to sleep in my bed

a. Steven said he want to sleep in his bed
b. Steven said he wanted to sleep in his bed

4. Monica: I would be with you my entire life

a. Monica said she would be with you her entire life
b. Monica said she could be with you her entire life

5. Frank: I can run faster than you

a. Frank said he can’t run faster than you
b. Frank said he could run faster than you