Sequence of

tenses in reported
speech
Here There
Now Then
Today That day
This That
These Those
Yesterday The day before
Last week/month/year The week/month before
Next week The following week
To report statements:
Present Continuous

“I’m writing an email now”

Past Continuous

She said that she was writing an email then

Past
To report statements:
Past Simple

“I read a book yesterday”

Past Perfect

She told me that she had read a book the day before

Past
 To report statements:

Present Simple Past Simple

“I live in UK” ----> She told me that she lived in UK.

Present Continuous Past Continuous

“I am doing my homework” ----> He said that he was doing his homework.

Present Perfect Past Perfect

Past Simple
“I spoke with Helen yesterday” ---> She said that she had spoken to
Helen the day before
 Past Continuous
Present Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous

was/were + Ving had + been + Ving

have/has + been + Ving

Past Perfect Past Perfect

had + V3 had + V3

Future Simple Future in the past

will + V(inf) would + V(inf)

Reporting Verbs

To say To wonder

To tell To mention

To ask To answer

To decide To explain
General Questions if / whether

“Do you watch TV series?” ----> She wondered if I watched TV series.

Special Questions question word

“What were you doing during the lesson?” ----> He asked what I had
been doing during the lesson.

Comands or orders to-infinitive/not to-infinitive

“Don’t shout here!” ---> She told me not to shout there!
Let’s practice
1. Oleg: My room is on the second floor.
2. Luis: I saw them at my parents’ house last year.
3. The teacher: Don’t worry over such small things
4. Ann: I am flying to Italy next month.
5. Daniel: I will write the essay tomorrow.
1. Maria: Did you see my sister?
2. Amanda: Have you ever played the piano?
3. Mum: Read the newspaper and tell me the news.
4. Jane: Where were you yesterday?
5. Susan: What were you wearing during the
ceremony?
 Indirect Speech
A Read the direct speech in the speech bubbles and change it into indirect speech.

Where do you
Tomorrow I must buy a and Callum
new t-shirt for Kgosi’s play soccer?
birthday party.

1. ________________________________ 2. ________________________________

________________________________ ________________________________

________________________________ ________________________________

I am going to visit Amie Mia is going to take

this weekend at her me to the aquarium
grandmother’s house. today after school.

3. ________________________________ 4. ________________________________

________________________________ ________________________________

________________________________ ________________________________

There are only three

I watched Harry
days left until I get to
Potter the whole of
see Comfort again
yesterday with Sean
and Liya

5. ________________________________ 6. ________________________________

________________________________ ________________________________

________________________________ ________________________________
B Read the sentences of direct speech below and change them into indirect speech

1. “My sister wakes up early every day to make scrambled eggs and
bacon for me,” Said Téa to Lincoln.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2. Primo shouted, “Stop touching my computer, it is fragile!”

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

3. “Is the weather good today in Cape Town?” asked Sophie.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

4. “I watched a documentary about what caused the dinosaurs to

become extinct,” said Justin to Grace.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

5. “Can I go out to break early today?” asked Phomollo to the teacher.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

6. “Ouch! I just scraped my knee on the Astroturf,” cried Hannah.

___________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________
 Name:___________________ Date:_________________

Direct and Indirect Speech

Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note the change of
pronouns in some sentences.
Write the answers in your notebook.
1. She said, "Go upstairs."

2. "Close the door behind you," he told me.

3. "Don't be late," he advised us.

4. "Stop staring at me," she said.

5. "Don't be angry with me," he said.

6. "Leave me alone," she said.

7. "Don't drink and drive," she warned us.

8. "John, stop smoking," she said.

9. "Don't worry about us," they said.

10. "Meet me at the cinema." he said.

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 Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note whether the sentence
is a request, a statement or a question.

1. He said, "I like this song."

2. "Where is your sister?" she asked me.

3. "I don't speak Italian," she said.

4. "Say hello to Jim," they said.

5. "The film began at seven o'clock," he said.

6. "Don't play on the grass, boys," she said.

7. "Where have you spent your money?" she asked him.

8. "I never make mistakes," he said.

9. "Does she know Robert?" he wanted to know.

10."Don't try this at home," the stuntman told the audience.

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 Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note whether the sentence
is a request, a statement or a question and whether you have to
change the tenses or not.

1. "I was very tired," she said.

2. "Be careful, Ben," she said.

3. "I will get myself a drink," she says.

4. "Why haven't you phoned me?" he asked me.

5. "I cannot drive them home," he said.

6. "Peter, do you prefer tea or coffee?" she says.

7. "Where did you spend your holidays last year?" she asked me.

8. He said, "Don't go too far."

9. "Have you been shopping?" he asked us.

10. "Don't make so much noise," he says.

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