Reported speech exercises Questions, commands and statements.
For intermediate and advanced learners of English.
Write the following sentences in indirect speech. Pay attention to backshift and the changes to pronouns, time, and place.
Rewrite the question sentences in indirect speech.
Rewrite the demands/requests in indirect speech.
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Online exercises.
Levels of Difficulty : Elementary Intermediate Advanced
Exercises on reported speech.
If we report what another person has said, we usually do not use the speaker’s exact words (direct speech), but reported (indirect) speech. Therefore, you need to learn how to transform direct speech into reported speech. The structure is a little different depending on whether you want to transform a statement, question or request.
When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:
Type | Example |
---|---|
“I speak English.” | |
He says that he speaks English. | |
He said that he spoke English. |
→ more on statements in reported speech
When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:
Also note that you have to:
Type | Example | |
---|---|---|
“Why don’t you speak English?” | ||
He asked me why I didn’t speak English. | ||
“Do you speak English?” | ||
He asked me whether / if I spoke English. |
→ more on questions in reported speech
Type | Example |
---|---|
Carol, speak English. | |
He told Carol to speak English. |
→ more on requests in reported speech
Apart from the above mentioned basic rules, there are further aspects that you should keep in mind, for example:
→ more on additional information and exeptions in reported speech
Requests in reported speech.
Mixed exercises to practise reported, or indirect speech.
Multiple choice
Filling gaps
Try our “total recall” course.
Reported speech is a specific issue in English grammar. There are special rules on how to transfer statements, questions and demands from direct to indirect speech. These exercises are composed for revision and systematization of your knowledge on reported speech. We recommend to do them after you have studied all smaller topics related to reported speech. The links to the explanations and exercises are below.
He said he'd come — Reported statements
I asked her where she lived — Reported questions
I told him to stop — Reported requests & orders
Past simple
I was doing — Past continuous
I had done — How to form past perfect
I had been doing — How to form past perfect continuous
Irregular verbs
Conditionals (If I knew, I'd tell you)
Get on, turn up... — Phrasal verbs
Modal verbs (can, must, should etc.)
Present perfect vs. Past simple
Present simple and continuous for the future, to be going to
Passive voice (I was told)
At 2 o'clock on Sunday — Prepositions of time
Reference & resources, learn english, reported speech explained, auto english, reported speech worksheet, reported orders worksheet, reported questions worksheet, perfect english grammar, reported speech explanation, present simple reported statement exercise, present continuous reported statement exercise, past simple reported statement exercise, present perfect reported statement exercise, future simple reported statement exercise, mixed tense reported statement exercise, ‘say’ and ‘tell’, present simple reported yes/no question exercise, present simple reported wh question exercise, mixed tense reported question exercise, reported requests and orders exercise, reported speech mixed exercise 1, reported speech mixed exercise 2, games & activities, reported speech activities, say, tell, speak, talk activity, reported speech exercise, functional language reported speech storytelling game, reported speech consequences writing game and pre-intermediate version, reported speech functional language guessing game, special occasions reported speech cultural differences, collection of reported speech games, esl worksheets & lesson plans, using reported speech – comprehensive activity, cristina cabal, tim’s free lesson plans, the interpreter game.
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Home of English Grammar
This grammar exercise tests your knowledge of reported speech.
Fill in the blanks.
In reported questions, the auxiliary verb goes after the subject.
3. they told him ………………………..
We report imperatives with a to-infinitive.
When the reporting verb (said) is in the past tense, we use past tenses in the reported speech as well.
6. i don’t know …………………. i will pass the test..
We can use if or whether to report an Yes/No question.
8. i requested him …………………………… me..
We report imperatives with to-infinitives.
Present perfect in the direct speech becomes past perfect in the indirect speech. 'Have you seen my purse?' asked Peter. Peter asked if/whether I had seen his purse.
11. she exclaimed that she ……………………… the money., 12. he asked if ………………………… lend him some money..
Grammar guide and exercises to practice. I hope you find it useful!
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Esl reported speech activity - grammar and speaking: asking and answering questions, forming sentences, true or false, guessing - group work - pre-intermediate (a2) - 40 minutes.
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English grammar practice exercise, upper-intermediate.
In this exercise you will practise word order in reported speech.
Rearrange the words in brackets into the correct order.
Structure of reported speech | |
direct speech | |
reported speech | to wait. |
direct speech | |
reported speech | to Spain. |
Reported speech – common mistakes | ||
Common mistakes | Correct version | Why? |
She said me that she wasn't able to do it. | She me that she wasn't able to do it. | After we mention the listener. After we don't mention the listener. |
She told me that she is looking for her handbag. He told me he hasn't seen her before. She told me she will see him later. | She told me that she for her handbag. He told me her before. She told me she see him later. | If the reporting verb (in this case ) is in the past tense, we usually change the tense of the verb which follows: ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ |
I told him don't go there. | I told him there. | When we report a command or warning, we use . |
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Reported speech - 2
Reported speech - 3
Worksheets - handouts
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Perfect English Grammar. Here's a list of all the reported speech exercises on this site: (Click here to read the explanations about reported speech) Reported Statements: Present Simple Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here) Present Continuous Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy)
RS008 - Reported Questions. RS007 - Reported Speech. RS006 - Reported Speech. RS005 - Reported Speech. RS004 - Reported Speech. RS003 - Reported Speech. RS002 - Reported Speech - Mixed Exercises. RS001 - Reported Speech - Mixed Exercises. Adjective and Adverbs - Downloadable PDF Worksheets for English Language Learners - Intermediate Level (B1)
Do you have a shower every morning? → She asked him. Where did you go last weekend? → She asked him. Why did you go there? → She asked him. Did you enjoy going there? → She asked him. Where are you going next weekend? → She asked him. Will you be with your friends? → She asked him. Can you take me with you? → She asked him.
Reported questions in English, Questions, Question, Online Exercise. Task No. 2323. Finish the sentences using Reported speech. Always change the tense, although it is sometimes not necessary.. Show example
Exercise 7: reported speech. Make reported questions. Example: Where are you? - He asked me where I was. ... Reported speech exercises Questions, commands and statements. For intermediate and advanced learners of English. top. About the author ...
Exercises. Write the following sentences in indirect speech. Pay attention to backshift and the changes to pronouns, time, and place. Example: He said, "I will call tomorrow.". → He said that he would call the following day. Two weeks ago, he said, "I visited this museum last week.". → Two weeks ago, he said that . I → he.
Exercise instructions. Rewrite the following using reported speech: check | reset | answers. 1 Martin said, "I am ill." Martin said that ill. 2 Martin said, "I've just bought a house." Martin said that a house. 3 Martin said, "I'm going on holiday tomorrow." Martin said that he on holiday the next day.
RS007 - Reporting Verbs Intermediate. RS006 - Reported Speech Intermediate. RS005 - Reported Speech - Introductory Verbs Advanced. RS004 - Reported Speech Intermediate. RS003 - Reporting Verbs Intermediate. RS002 - Reported Speech Intermediate. RS001 - Reported Speech Intermediate. Reported Speech - English Grammar Exercises.
Exercises on Reported Speech. If we report what another person has said, we usually do not use the speaker's exact words (direct speech), but reported (indirect) speech. ... Questions in Reported Speech. Exercise 1; Exercise 2; Requests in Reported Speech. Exercise 1 - requests (positive) Exercise 2 - requests (negative)
Reported speech is a specific issue in English grammar. There are special rules on how to transfer statements, questions and demands from direct to indirect speech. These exercises are composed for revision and systematization of your knowledge on reported speech. We recommend to do them after you have studied all smaller topics related to ...
Exercises: 1 2 3. Indirect speech - reported speech. Exercise 1. Choose the correct form to complete the sentences below. 1 'I work in a bank.' ⇒ He said that he in a bank. 2 'I am working today.' ⇒ She told us she that day. 3 'I've been ill for a couple of weeks.' ⇒ He told me he for a couple of weeks.
Mixed Tense Reported Question Exercise Reported Requests and Orders Exercise ... Games & Activities ELT Base Reported speech activities EFL Sensei Say, Tell, Speak, Talk Activity Reported Speech Exercise ... Reported speech consequences writing game and Pre-Intermediate version Reported speech functional language guessing game Special occasions ...
This grammar exercise tests your knowledge of reported speech. Fill in the blanks. Answers The mother asked the boy why he was crying. He told
Exercises: 1 2 3. Reported speech - indirect speech. Exercise 1. Choose say/said or tell/told to complete the following sentences in reported speech. 1 He me that he didn't have enough money. 2 I the waiter the soup was cold. 3 Everybody that I had been great. 4 She I was her favourite student. 5 Victor he would change the windows.
Reported speech worksheets by Mar Blancafort Engelfried .Reported speech interactive exercise for Intermediate Live Worksheets Liveworksheets transforms your traditional printable worksheets into self-correcting interactive exercises that the students can do online and send to the teacher.
Exactly. Verbs in the present simple change to the past simple; the present continuous changes to the past continuous; the present perfect changes to the past perfect; can changes to could; will changes to would; etc. She said she was having the interview at four o'clock. (Direct speech: 'I'm having the interview at four o'clock.') They said they'd phone later and let me know.
Reported speech 2. Reported requests and orders. Reported speech exercise. Reported questions - worksheet. Indirect speech - worksheet. Worksheets pdf - print. Grammar worksheets - handouts. Grammar - lessons. Reported speech - grammar notes.
Wear my Hat - Reported Speech Song. This is the Phil Collins song "Wear My Hat", which is perfect for reported speech practice. The video is quite funny, and is available on Youtube. Students must tra... 1330 uses. A selection of English ESL reported speech: reported questions (indirect questions) printables.
394 Reported speech English ESL worksheets pdf & doc ... Reported Speech. Orders - Statement - 32598 uses. missaldana. Reported Speech. Questions. 30909 uses. Ktam. Reported Speech. Thirty-eight sentenc. 26063 uses. languageleader88. Reported Speech. Worksheet to practis. 16902 uses. Ktam. Reported Speech. The rules and senten. 13555 uses ...
ESL Reported Speech Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Asking and Answering Questions, Forming Sentences, True or False, Guessing - Group Work - Pre-intermediate (A2) - 40 minutes. In this entertaining reported speech speaking activity, students interview each other giving true or false answers and then use reported speech to compare what the ...
I told him not to go there. When we report a command or warning, we use (not) + to + infinitive. English grammar practice exercise, upper-intermediate. In this exercise you will practise word order in reported speech. Exercise instructions Rearrange the words in brackets into the correct order. questions go herescore goes here.
Exercises: indirect speech. Reported speech - present. Reported speech - past. Reported speech - questions. Reported questions - write. Reported speech - imperatives. Reported speech - modals. Indirect speech - tenses 1. Indirect speech - tenses 2.