REPORTED SPEECH
1 Complete the sentences. Use reported speech.
1. “Janet has just returned from India,” Matthew said.
Matthew said .
2. “Let’s go out tonight,” Harry suggested.
Harry suggested that .
3. “Can you give me some more information about the job?” Sandra asked the manager.
Sandra asked the manager whether .
4. “It will definitely snow tomorrow,” the weatherman predicted.
The weatherman predicted that .
5. “Where did you find this book?” Donna asked.
Donna asked .
2 Choose the correct verb in brackets. Then rewrite the sentences in reported speech.
1. Anne: “My parents won’t allow me to work after school.” (complain / suggest)
2. Shop manager: “We are closing the shop early today.” (order / explain)
3. Teacher: “If you complete the assignment by next week, you’ll get extra marks.” (enquire / promise)
4. Tim: “Don’t forget the party next week, Sam.” (remind / suggest)
3 Rewrite the sentences in direct speech.
1. James complained that they had been working too hard since the week before.
2. Sandra suggested flying to Italy the following week.
3. The workers warned Paul that they wouldn’t finish the repairs unless he paid them.
4. Peter asked Mike if he was starting his new job that day.
5. Linda wanted to know when I was coming home.
6. Dan’s mum told him not to eat with his mouth open.
7. Her brother said that he usually studied maths on Tuesdays, but that his lesson had been cancelled the day before.
4 Complete the sentences. Use reported speech.
1. “Stop making so much noise,” the teacher told the students.
The teacher told the students .
2. “Don’t turn on the television,” Tim’s mother said.
Tim’s mother told him .
3. “Let’s meet at the café after work,” Anne suggested.
Anne suggested that .
5 Complete the sentences in reported speech.
1. “Will Dan’s father drive us to the party tonight?” Louise asked.
Louise asked whether .
2. “I haven’t seen Paul since 2001,” Andrea said.
Andrea told us that she .
3. “Don’t look at your partners’ answers,” the teacher ordered the students.
The teacher ordered the students .
4. “The football team has been practising since six o’clock,” Jim announced.
Jim announced that .
5. “When are you finishing work tonight?” Sue asked me.
Sue asked .
6. “Let’s buy a new TV,” suggested Brian.
Brian suggested that .
6 Write the sentences in direct speech.
1. I asked Regina where she was going for her holiday.
2. Everyone asked Susan what she had done the day before.
3. They said that they wouldn’t go to the party unless Sam invited them.
4. The manager ordered Gina to finish typing those letters by five o’clock.
5. Albert told us that he had finished the last Harry Potter book the week before.
6. Tina suggested that we make Lucy a surprise party.
7 Choose a suitable reporting verb. Then complete the sentences using reported speech.
1. “I don’t want to volunteer.”
She suggested / admitted / offered .
2. “Get involved in a social issue.”
She suggested / warned / complained .
3. “The living conditions are terrible.”
We complained / requested / reminded .
4. “I want to have a say in this matter.”
I insisted / admitted / suggested .
5. “Which charities does he support?”
They wondered / requested / offered .
8 Choose the correct answer.
1. “I will return your camera,” Ellen said.
Ellen said that she returned / would return my camera.
2. “When is the train going to arrive?” the passenger wanted to know.
The passenger wanted to know when the train was going / was the train going to arrive.
3. “Don’t come in the house with your muddy shoes,” Mother said to us.
Mother told us not to / to not come in the house with our muddy shoes.
4. “My computer hasn’t been working all week,” the secretary complained.
The secretary complained that her computer hadn’t been working / wasn’t working all week.
5. “Let’s have a party,” my friends suggested.
My friends suggested to have / having a party.
6. “Does the coach want the team to train on Mondays?” the captain asked.
The captain asked if the coach had wanted / wanted the team to train on Mondays.
9 Complete the sentences in reported speech.
1. “I have never visited France,” Anna complained.
Anna complained that .
2. “Where will you look for work?” Peter asked.
Peter asked me .
3. “Let’s study this chapter again,” my friend suggested.
My friend suggested that .
4. “Take the rubbish out,” Jerry told me.
Jerry told me .
5. “The baby didn’t sleep well,” the babysitter reported.
The babysitter reported that .
6. “Are you going to the beach?”
They wanted to know if .
10 Write the sentences in reported speech.
1. “How do you get such good marks?” Max wondered.
2. “Let’s order pizza,” the children suggested.
3. “The race is beginning,” the teacher shouted.
4. “John, did you remember to call Brad?” I asked.
11 Choose the correct reporting verb and rewrite the sentences in reported speech.
1. “I stole the phone from the shop.”
He admitted / complained / warned
.
2. “What are they doing outside the building?”
She said / explained / wondered
.
3. “I’ve never seen you before.”
He denied / refused / advised
.
4. “Stay away from here!”
She complained / refused / warned
.
5. “I’ll never lie again.”
He promised / ordered / asked
.
12 Complete the sentences in reported speech. Use a suitable reporting verb. Make any necessary changes.
1. “I’m not saying another word.”
The suspect .
2. “Call me if you remember anything.”
The detective .
3. “I’ll shoot you if you make a noise.”
The burglar .
4. “Everyone, lie down on the floor!”
The bank robber .
5. “There have been a lot of burglaries lately.”
The police officer .
6. “I won’t tell anyone if you let me go.”
The victim .
7. “Was there anything suspicious about the woman?”
The security guard .
13 Rewrite the sentences in direct speech.
1. Gillian asked if I was hungry then.
“ ?” Gillian asked.
2. Steven announced that he wasn’t taking the cat to the vet that day.
“ ,” said Steven.
3. Marge promised to tidy her room the following day.
“ ,” said Marge.
4. Dean explained that he had been looking after his little sister all day.
Dean said, “ .”
14 Rewrite the sentences in reported speech.
1. “We’ve been painting this room since yesterday,” Elizabeth said.
Elizabeth told me .
2. “I didn’t walk the dog last night,” I told my father.
I admitted .
3. “I’ll return your book tomorrow,” Jane said to me.
Jane promised .
4. “Don’t forget to turn out the lights, Carol,” Michelle said.
Michelle reminded Carol .
5. “We won’t take part in violent sports,” the boys said.
The boys refused .
6. “Where can I put this old chair?” she asked me.
She asked . .
7. “Have you visited the new museum yet?” Gus asked us.
Gus wanted to know .
8. “I let the birds out of the cage,” Ron said.
Ron admitted .
9. “Why didn’t you tell me about it last week?” asked my mother.
My mother wondered .
10. “When are you going to tell me?” his father asked.
His father wanted to know .