Reported Speech

A) Change the following sentences from DIRECT to INDIRECT SPEECH:

1. He said, “I will be here at noon.”

He said that he would be here at noon.
2. Mary said, “The train will probably arrive on time.”
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3. He said, “I have to finish this report by five o’clock.”
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4. The doctor said, “Mr. Smith will improve quickly.”
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5. William said to me, “I am leaving in the morning.”
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6. The teacher said, “Everyone has to write a composition.”
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7. John said, “I saw that movie on Wednesday.”
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8. Helen said, “I have read that book.”
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9. Mary said to John, “I cannot go to the movie with you.”
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10.John said, “I have finished studying my lesson.”
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11.Mary remarked, “John speaks English well.”
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12.William said to me, “I will not see Mr. Jones until Tuesday.”
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13.Mr. Smith said, “I will refuse their offer.”
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14.John said, “I certainly hope it won’t rain tomorrow.”
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15.Henry said, “I can meet them later.”
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16.The boy said, “I am only eight years old.”
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17.She said to me, “The lights have gone out.”
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18.The man said, “The telephone is out of order.”
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19.He said, “I will never speak to her again.”
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20.I said to the clerk clearly, “I have already paid that bill.”
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B) REPORT what the guests said at a wedding last Saturday:

1. Miss Moore: “They’ll make a lovely couple.”

Miss Moore said (that) they would make a lovely couple.

2. Mr. Smith: “They’re going to live in Brighton.”

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3. Mrs.Jones: “The bride and the groom are very nice young people.”
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4. Mr. Roberts: “The bride is wearing a beautiful wedding dress.”
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5. Mr. Clarke: “The couple’s parents look happy.”
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6. Miss Mayall: “The bride’s father has bought them a big flat.”
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C) Write sentences about Jane’s trip to Paris:

1. We’re taking the nine o’clock plane.

Jane told me they were taking the nine o’clock plane.
2. I’ll have to get up early.
She said ……………………………………………………………………………
3. I don’t really like traveling by air.
She told me ………………………………………………………………………..
4. But it’s the easiest way to travel.
But she decided ……………………………………………………………………
5. We’re going to spend a week in Paris.
She told me ………………………………………………………………………..
6. I want to go up the Eiffel Tower.
She said ……………………………………………………………………………
7. We’ve been to Paris before.
She told me ………………………………………………………………………..
8. But we didn’t see everything.
But she said ……………………………………………………………………….
9. I’ll send you a postcard.
She said ……………………………………………………………………………
10.But I won’t write you a letter.
But she told me ……………………………………………………………………
11.I’m very excited!
She said ……………………………………………………………………………
12.We’ll be in Paris tomorrow!
The last thing she said was that ……………………………………………………
D) REPORT the police-officer’s questions to the shop owner:

1. What’s your name?

The police-officer asked him what was his name was.
2. Did you see the robbers?
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3. What were they wearing?
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4. How do you think they got in?
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5. What did they take?

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6. Has this ever happened before?
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D) Turn the following dialogue into REPORTED SPEECH:

Sally: Have you applied for the job? Sally asked Diane if she had applied for the job
Diane: Yes, I had an interview yesterday. Diane told
her…………………………………….
Sally: How did it go?
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Diane: Fine, but I’m wondering if I want
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the job because I will have to move
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to Manchester.
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Sally: What will you do then?
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Diane: If they offer me the job, I can’t
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accept it.
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E) Write what the family said at the dinner table:

1. Mother: “Does anyone want some more potatoes?”

Mother asked if anyone wanted some more potatoes.
2. Father: “Pass me the wine, Beth.”
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3. Beth: “The chicken is very nice.”
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4. Grandfather: “I’m going to start my diet tomorrow.”
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5. Grandmother: “Don’t eat with your mouth open, Sam!”
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6. Tim: “This is the best dinner I’ve had!”
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7. Jean: “Is there any more salad, Mum?”
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8. Sam: “I’m very hungry because I only had a sandwich for lunch today.”
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9. Helen: “What are we having for dessert, Mum?”
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10.Bob: “I don’t want anything else to eat.”
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F) Gavin has worked for Bisco Supermarkets for thirty years. He can still remember his
job interview after leaving school and he can remember the questions that the
interview
asked him:

Example: “Where do you live?” She asked him where he lived.

“Have you worked before?” She asked him if he had worked before.
1. “Why do you want the job?”
She asked him …………………………………………………………………………..
2. “How did you hear about it?”
She asked him …………………………………………………………………………..
3. “Are you fit?”
She asked him …………………………………………………………………………..
4. “Can you work on Saturdays?”
She asked him …………………………………………………………………………..
5. “How will you travel to work?”
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6. “Have you got a bicycle?”
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7. “How much do you expect to earn?”
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8. “When can you start?”
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G) What does the policeman want to know?

1. What’s your name?

The policeman wants to know what my name is.
 2. What’s your job?
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3. Where do you work?
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4. Where do you live?
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5. Where were you yesterday?
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6. Why are you in London?
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7. When did you come?
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8. How did you come?
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9. Where’s your ticket?
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10.Have you ever been in London?
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11.Do you know anyone in London?
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12.Were you in London last month?
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13.Are you telling the truth?
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Reported Speech

Example: The boy said, “My name is Mark.”

The boy said (that) his name was Mark.

Do the same:
1. Mary said, “I like Turkish pop music.”
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2. The woman said, “It’s not my umbrella, mine is red.”
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3. Tom said, “I have a sports car. It is red.”
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4. Mr. Brown said, “I don’t drive a car in the rush hour.”
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5. Terry said, “I eat toasts for breakfast. They are made by my mother.”
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6. Sue said, “The boy is looking at us. I don’t know him.”
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7. John said, “I can swim well but I don’t have enough time to swim.”
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8. My brother said to me, “I don’t want to carry your books!”
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9. The teacher said, “If you don’t study regularly, you’ll fail.”
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10.Mr. Green said, “I have to water my flowers twice a week.”
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11.Alice said, “I used to swim well but now I don’t.”
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12.Mr. Miller said, “I know your parents. I’ve met them in the meeting.”
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E) Change into INDIRECT SPEECH:

1. Bob says, “I want to play tennis this afternoon.”

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2. John says, “I haven’t seen my grandmother for a long time.”
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3. Cindy says to Alan, “Don’t come in with your dirty shoes.”
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4. My father says, “Please, help me in the garden.”
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5. “Don’t wipe your dirty fingers on my clean table cloth.” says his mother.
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6. “When does the bell ring?” asks John.
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7. Sandy asks Danny, “Why didn’t you tell her the truth?”
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8. “How long have you waited for me?”
What does Charles ask Fiona?
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9. “Does it rain in winter in Somali?”
What does the teacher ask?
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10.“Did you post the letter?” asks Rachel.
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