REPORTED SPEECH

Change in verbs

DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH

Present simple Past simple
Present continuous Past continuous
Present perfect (continuous) Past perfect (continuous
Simple past Past perfect or simple past
Past continuous) Past perfect continuous
Past perfect (continuous) Past perfect (continuous)
Future simple (will)) Conditional (would)
Future continuous Conditional continuous
Future perfect Conditional perfect
Must Had to
Conditional Conditional

Changes in expressions of time and place

DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH

Today That day
Tonight That night
Yesterday The day before / the previous day
The day before yesterday Two days before
Tomorrow The day after / the following day /
the next day
The day after tomorrow In two days’ time / two days after
Next week / month /year… The following week / month…
The week / month… after
Last week / month / year… The week / month… before The
previous week / month…
A week / month/ year ago A week / month… before
Now Then / in that moment
Tomorrow morning /afternoon / The following morning / afternoon
evening /…
Yesterday morning/ afternoon…. The previous morning / afternoon…
Here There

1
Write the following sentences into reported speech.

STATEMENTS

1. “We must finish our report tomorrow”, they said.

2. “Don’t move”, he told his family, “or you will spoil the photograph.”
3. “Let’s go to the beach now”, he suggested.
4. “Did you bring that magazine yesterday?” Edward asked Sarah.
5. “Has Simon gone with your parents today, Jane?” Mary asked.
6. “How do you think they broke the window?”, the policeman asked the
witness.
7. “I had a bad cold last month”, the worker said.
8. ‘Please, let’s not argue again’, he suggested.
9. ‘Dad, don’t forget to post my letter tonight, please’, George begged.
10. Mary said to Jane: “Jane, will you tell Jennifer to be on time tomorrow
morning?”
11. She said to her boyfriend: “I hope you won’t expect me to cook when we are
married as I can’t stand it.”
12. “Did you read that article yesterday?” Edward asked Jane.
13. “You shouldn’t eat in your room”, the mother told her son.
14. “Will it rain the next week?”, he wanted to know.
15. Mary asked Jane: “Where did you go last weekend?”
16. “I want to take your car next Friday”, he told his wife.
17. My mother said to me, “don’t stay up reading too late!”
18. “My friend didn’t leave work early last week”, Ann said.
19. “Let’s order a Chinese meal”, Kate suggested.
20. ‘I forgot to take my suitcase yesterday’, Jim said.

Spot the error

1. My father asked me how did I feel.
2. We wondered what time was it.
3. My friend asked where did he go.
4. She asked if it will be hot the next day.
5. She told us to not worry.

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6. She said she must do her work first.
7. The salesman ordered me to not touch the vase.

QUESTIONS

1. "Where is my umbrella?" she asked.

2. "How are you today?" Martin asked us.
3. He asked, "Do I have to do it?"
4. "Where have you been these days?" the mother asked her daughter.
5. "Which dress do you like best?" she asked her boyfriend.
6. "What are they doing now?" she asked.
7. "Are you going to the cinema tomorrow?" he asked me.
8. The teacher asked, "Who speaks English?"
9. "How do you know that?" she asked me.
10. "Has Carol talked to Kevin this week?" my friend asked me.
11. "What's the time?" he asked.
12. "When will we meet again?" she asked me.
13. "Are you crazy?" she asked him.
14. "Where did they live last year?" he asked.
15. "Will you be at the party next Friday?" he asked her.
16. "Can you meet me at the station?" she asked me.
17. "Who knows the answer?" the teacher asked.
18. "Why don't you help me with this?" she asked him.
19. "Did you see that car yesterday?" he asked me.
20. "Have you tidied up your room?" the mother asked the twins.

COMMANDS, REQUESTS, SUGGESTIONS

1. ‘Please, let’s not argue again’, he suggested.

2. ‘Let’s go to the theatre!’ Mary to her friends (suggest)
3. ‘Dad, don’t forget to post my letter tonight, please’, George begged.
4. “Don’t move”, he told his family, “or you will spoil the photograph.”
5. “Please don’t leave your seats now”, the hostess said.
6. "Don't feed the animals!", the zoo-keeper told us
7. Stop smoking!" The doctor asked.