Reported Speech

EX.1. REWRITE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES INTO THE REPORTED SPEECH:

SPEECH

1. 2.
Jon told Garfield Jon told Garfield
_____________________________________ _____________________________________

Jon said that

_______________________________________

Garfield replied
______________________________________
3.

5.
4.
Jon told Garfield Jon told Garfield
___________________________________ ____________________________________

Garfield told Jon

______________________________
____________________________________________

Jon replied
___________________________________
____________________________________________
Ex. 2. Finish the sentences using Reported speech. Always change the tense,
although it is sometimes not necessary. Use different reporting verbs.

Example: Peter: "I clean the black shoes."

Peter told me that ____________________________
Answer: Peter told me that he cleaned the black shoes.
1) Emily: "Our teacher will go to 6) Michael: "I am going to read a book
Leipzig tomorrow." this week."
Emily said that. Michael said to me that.
2) Helen: "I was writing a letter 7) Jason and Victoria: "We will do our
yesterday." best in the exams tomorrow."
Helen told me that. Jason and Victoria ……………
3) Robert: "My father flew to Dallas 8) Andrew: "We didn't eat fish two
last year." days ago."
Robert …………… Andrew remarked that ..
4) Lisa: "Tim went to the stadium an 9) Alice: "I spent all my pocket money
hour ago." on Monday."
Lisa ………………….. Alice complained that ..
5) Patricia: "My mother will celebrate 10) David: "John had already gone at
her birthday next weekend." six."
Patricia ……………………. David …………………….

Reported Speech – Questions

When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:

 pronouns
 present tense verbs (3rd person singular)
 place and time expressions
 tenses (backshift)
Also note that you have to:
 transform the question into an indirect question
 use the interrogative or if / whether

Type Example
with interrogative direct speech “Why don’t you speak English?”
reported speech He asked me why I didn’t speak English.
without interrogative direct speech “Do you speak English?”
reported speech He asked me whether / if I spoke English.
 Reported Speech - Requests
When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:
 pronouns
 place and time expressions

Type Example

direct speech “Carol, speak English.“

reported speech He told Carol to speak English.

Ex.3. Finish the sentences using Reported speech. Always change the tense,
although it is sometimes not necessary.
Example: Peter: "Did John clean the black shoes yesterday?"
Peter asked me _________________________________________
Answer: Peter asked me if John had cleaned the black shoes the day before.
1) Mandy: "Are the boys reading the book?"
Yesterday Mandy asked me…………
2) Jason: "Who gave you the laptop?"
Yesterday Jason wanted to know………..
3) Robert: "Is Tim leaving on Friday?"
Yesterday Robert asked me……..
4) Daniel: "Will it rain tomorrow?"
Yesterday Daniel asked me……………
5) Jennifer: "Where do you play football
today?"
Yesterday Jennifer wanted to know……………
6) Nancy: "Why didn't Nick go to New York
last summer?"
Yesterday Nancy wanted to know……………
7) Barbara: "Must I do my homework this
afternoon?"
Yesterday Barbara asked me………………….
8) Linda: "Did Max fly to London two weeks
ago?"
Yesterday Linda wanted to know……………………
9) Grandmother: "Where are my glasses?"
Yesterday Grandmother asked me………………….
10) A man: "When does the train to Liverpool
leave?"
Yesterday a man asked me……………………
11) Marry: “Bring me some coffee, please”
……………………………..
12) John: “Don’t take y cards, I don’t allow you.”