REPORTED SPEECH

I. Rewrite these following sentences using reported speech.

1. Jane to Tom: You play very well.
2. Sue: I left school a year ago.
3. Charlie to Helen: I haven’t seen Diana recently.
4. Rachel to us: You can come and stay at my flat if you are in London.
5. John to us: I don’t know where Fred is.
6. Matthew: My car was stolen last week.
7. Judy: I want to go on holiday but I can’t afford it.
8. Sarah to me: I’m going away for a few days. I’ll phone you when I get back.
9. Nick: I saw Helen at a party last night and she seemed unwell.
10. Judy: I work for a small publish company. I’m their marketing manager.
II. Rewrite these following sentences using reported speech.
1. What’s Peter’s address?
2. Have you got a driving licence?
3. When is the new manager coming?
4. Can you lend me some money?
5. Why did you come back?
6. How long have you been working in your present job?
7. Is there any food in the fridge?
8. Will I be ready in time?
9. What time do the banks close?
10. Do you have any plans for a holiday?
III. Choose one of these to complete each sentence below. Use reported
speed.
Don’t wait for me if I’m late. Stay in bed for a few days.
Can you open your bag, please. Please slow down!
Don’t touch the electric wires! Don’t worry, Sue.
Will you marry me? Hurry up!
Would you like to stay for dinner, Claire? Shall we join an poetry club?
Could you repeat what you said, please? We’ll pay for the damage.
Would you mind turning the music down? Do you think you could give me a hand, Tom?
Please don’t tell anybody what happened

1. Bill was taking a long time to get ready, so I told __________________

2. Sarah was driving too fast, so I asked ____________________________
3. Sue was pessimistic about the situation, so I told ___________________
4. The foremen walked towards the children and warned _______________
 5. I couldn’t move the piano alone, so I asked ________________________
6. The customs officer looked at me suspiciously and asked _____________
7. Jim knocked his neighbor’s door and asked ________________________
8. I had difficulty understanding him, so I told ________________________
9. It was time for dinner, so I invited ________________________________
10. I didn’t want to delay Ann, so I told _______________________________
11. John was very much in love with Mary, so he asked __________________
12. They apologized for the crash and offered __________________________
13. We were going to take part in a poetry contest, so Susan suggested __________
14. Ann wanted to keep a secret, so she asked ___________________________
15. The doctor made out a prescription for me, then he advised ________________
IV. Choose the sentences, using the information in the dialogue or the
passage. Change the verbs to the suitable form as appropriate.
1. Joe asked me: “Can we still get tickets to the game?”
I said: “I’ve already bought them.”
When Joe asked me if we ___________________________ tickets to the game, I told
him that ____________________ them.
2. The teacher asked: “Bobby, what is the capital of Australia?”
Bobby replied: “I’m not sure, but I think it’s Sydney.”
→ Yesterday in class, Bobby’s teacher asked him ___________________ . He answered that he
______________ sure, but that he ___________________ Sydney.
3. Mrs White said: “Jaice, you have to clean up your room and empty the dishwasher
before you leave for the game.”
Jaice said: “Okay, Mom. I will.”
→ Mrs White told Jaice that ____________________ her room and empty the dishwasher before
she __________________ for the game. Jaice promised her mom that _______________ .
4. “Where are you from?” asked the passenger sitting next to me on the plane.
“Chicago.” I said.
“That’s nice. I’m from Mapleton. It’s a small town in Northern Michigan. Have you
heard of it?”
“Oh yes, I have.” I said: “Michigan is a beautiful state. I’ve been there on vacation
many times.”
“Were you in Michigan on vacation this year?”
“No. I went far away from home this year. I went to India.” I replied.
“Oh, that’s nice. Is it a long drive from Chicago to India?” she asked me. My mouth fell
open. I didn’t know how to respond. Some people certainly need to study geography.
→ The passenger sitting next to me on the plane ______ me __________ from. I _______ her I
_________ from Chicago. She _________ that she _________ from Mapleton, a small town in
Northern Michigan. She wondered ________________ of it, and I told her that I _____ . I went
on to say that I thought Michigan _____ a beautiful state and explained that I _______ there on
vacation many times. She _____ me _______ in Michigan on vacation this year. I replied that I
____ and _____ her that I _____ far away, to India. Then he asked me ________ a long drive
from Chicago to India! My mouth fell open. I didn’t know how to respond. Some people
certainly need to study geography.
5. I asked Gary what sort of music he liked, and he told me that he had always liked jazz. In
fact, he said he played in a jazz band called Sax Appeal. When I asked him where the
band played, he told me they mainly played in small clubs. I asked him if he had ever
played a Shakespearian role, and he told me that he had. He had played Othello in
Stratford in 1989, and he enjoyed it very much. Finally, I asked him if he ever wanted to
direct a play, and he told me that he hoped to one day, but he didn’t know when it could
happen because he was so busy acting.
→ Interviewer: What sort of music ______ , Gary?
Gary: I ______ jazz. In fact, ________ called Sax Appeal.
Interviewer: Where ___________________?
Gary: We ___________________________________
Interviewer: ______________________ a Shakespearian role?
Gary: Yes, ______. I _______ Othello in Stratford in 1989, ________ very much.
Interviewer: ___________________ direct a play?
Gary: ______________ one day, but ________________________ .

V. Choose one word or phrase marked A, B, C, or D that best complete the

preceding sentence.
1. “John left here an hour ago,” said Jane.
A. Jane told me that John had left there an hour before.
B. Jane said John left there an hour before.
C. Jane told John to have left there an hour before.
D. Jane told me that John to leave there an hour before.
2. Maria said that she_____________ there at noon.
A. is going to be B. was going to be C. will be D. can be
3. “Why didn’t you follow my advice?” he said.
A. He asked me to follow his advice.
B. He asked me not to follow his advice.
C. He asked me why I did follow his advice.
D. He asked me why I hadn’t followed his advice.
4. He ______ that he was leaving way that afternoon.
A. told me B. told to me C. said me D. says to me
5. “What shall I do with all this money?” said Peter.
A. Peter asked what should he do with all the money.
B. Peter asked what would he do with all that money.
C. Peter was asking what he would do with all that money.
D. Peter was wondering what he should do with all the money
6. She said to me that she ______________ to me the Sunday before.
A. wrote B. has written C. was writing D. had written
7. I asked him how far____________.
A. was it to the nearest bank. C. it was to the nearest bank.
B. was to the nearest bank. D. to the nearest bank was
8. I _____________ him to sell that old motorbike.
A. said to B. suggested C. advised D. recommended.
9. The police wanted to know_____________.
A. what was into the parcel B. that was in the parcel
C. what was in the parcel D. that in the parcel was
10. My parents reminded me____________ the flowers.
A. remember to plant B. not to plant to plant
C. to plant D. planting
11. “John left here an hour ago.” Said Jane.
A. Jane told me that John had left there an hour before.
B. Jane said John left there an hour before.
C. Jane told John to have left there an hour before.
D. Jane told me that John to leave there an hour before.
12. Hello, Jim. I didn’t expect to see you today. Solia said you _____ ill.
A. are B. were C. was D. should be
13. The last time I saw Jonathan, he looked very relaxed. He explained that he ____ on
holiday the previous week.
A. was B. has been C. would be D. had been
14. I rang my friend in Australia yesterday, and she said it ____ there.
A. is raining B. rained C. was raining D. would rain
15. What did that man say ____ ?
A. at you B. for you C. to you D. you
16. Ann _______ and left.
A. said goodbye to me B. said me goodbye
C. told me goodbye D. goodbye me
17. The librarian asked us ____ so much noise.
A. don’t make B. not make C. not making D. not to make
18. Someone _____ the tickets are free.
A. said me B. said me that C. told to me D. told me
19. I wonder _____ the tickets are on sale yet?
A. whether B. what C. where D. when
20. She asked me how long ____ in my present job.
A. I had been working B. I have been working
C. had I been working D. have I worked
21. He said he would do it _____ .
A. yesterday B. the following
 C. had I been working D. the day before
22. He proved that the earth _____ round the sun.
A. had gone B. was going C. goes D. would go
23. I don’t know why Susan’s didn’t go to the meeting. She said she ______
A. will definitely B. was definitely going
C. had definitely gone D. would definitely going
24. The government has announced that taxes ____.
A. would be raised B. had been raised C. were raised D. will
be raised
25. I told you ______ the computer, didn’t I?
A. to switch off B. don’t switch off C. not switch off D. switch off
26. When I rang Tessa some time last week, she said she was busy _______ .
A. that day B. the day C. today D. this
day
27. When he was at Oliver’s flat yesterday, Martin asked if he ______ use the phone.
A. can B. could C. may D. must
28. She said she ____ the next week, but I never saw her again.
A. will be back B. had been back C. would be back D. is going to be back
29. Someone was wondering if the taxi _____ yet.
A. had arrived B. arrived C. arrives D. has arrived
30. Claire wanted to know what time _____ .
A. do the banks close B. the banks closed C. did the bank close D. the banks would
close
31. Judy suggested _____ for a walk, but no one else wanted to.
A. to go B. go C. going D. went
32. The interviewer asked me what experience for the job.
A. do you get B. did I get C. I got D. you got
33. They asked me whether I was working
A. next day afternoon B. the afternoon followed
C. the following afternoon D. tomorrow afternoon
34. "Where have you been hiding?", she asked. She asked me where hiding.
A. I have been B. have I been C. had I be D. I had been
35. He asked me home the day before.
A. what time I leave B. what time I will leave
C. what time I had left D. what time I left
36. John asked me in English.
A. what does this word mean B. what that word means
C. what did this word mean D. what that word meant
37. She said I an angel.
A. am B. was C. were D. have been
38. Laura said she had worked on the assignment since
A. yesterday B. two days ago C. the day before D. the next day
39. John asked me interested in any kind of sports.
A. if I were B. if were I C. if was I D. if I was
40. John asked me that film the night before.
A. that I saw B. had I seen C. if I had D. if had I seen
41. She asked me the seat or not.
A. if / had occupied B. whether / was occupied
C. if / has been occupied D. whether / occupied
42. The policeman asked us ___________
A. had any of us seen the accident happen.
B. if had any of us seen the accident happen.
C. whether any of us had seen the accident happen.
D. that if any of us had seen the accident happen.
43. I asked him __but he said nothing.
A. what the matter was C. the matter was what
B. what was the matter D. what's the matter was
44. James him up when the bus reached the square.
A. told me wake B. asked me to wake
C. said me to wake D. requested me waking
45. I wonder we'll catch the bus we'll take a taxi.
A. if / and whether B. whether / or that
C. if / or that D. whether / or whether
46. Excuse me. Could you tell me ?
A. what time is it B. what is the time C. what time it is D. it is what time
47. We wonder from his office after that scandal.
A. why did he not resign B. why he did not resign
C. why he not resign D. why didn't he resign
48. Jeff wanted to know .
A. that why were his friends laughing B. why were his friends laughing
C. why his friends were laughing D. the reason why his friends laughing
49. Mr Hawk told me that he would give me his answer the day.
A. previous B. following C. before D. last
50. She him whether he liked the steak she cooked.
A. asks B. wondered C. wanted to know D. asked
51. His neighbours sometimes wondered he did for a living.
A. why B. when C. where D. what
52. She said, “John, I’ll show you round my city when you’re here.”
A. She made a trip round her city with John.
B. She promised to show John round her city.
C. She planned to show John round her city.
D. She organized a trip round her city for John.
53. “Please don’t drive so fast, Tom,” said Lisa.
A. Lisa complained about Tom’s driving too fast.
B. Lisa pleaded with Tom not to drive too fast.
C. Lisa insisted on Tom’s driving on.
D. Lisa grumbled to Tom about driving slowly.
54. "Would you like some more beer?" he asked.
A. He offered me some more beer.
B. He asked me would I like some more beer.
C. He asked me if I wanted some beer.
D. He wanted to invite me for a glass of beer.
55. “We’re having a reunion this weekend. Why don’t you come?” John said to us.
A. John didn’t understand why we came to a reunion.
B. John asked us why we didn’t come to a reunion this weekend.
C. John simply asked us why we wouldn’t come to a reunion.
D. John cordially invited us to a reunion this weekend.
56. My friend told me, “If I were you, I would not smoke so much.”
A. My friend advised me not to smoke so much.
B. My friend warned me against smoking so much.
C. My friend prohibited me from smoking so much.
D. My friend suggested not smoking so much.
57. He wanted to know___________ shopping during the previous morning.
A. if we had been going B. that if we had been going
C. we were going D. that we were going
58. He asked me___________ Robert and I said I did not know___________.
A. that did I know/ who were Robert B. that I knew/ who Robert were
C. if I knew/ who Robert was D. whether I knew/ who was Robert
59. “We’re having a reunion this weekend. Why don’t you come?” John said to us.
A. John didn’t understand why we came to a reunion.
B. John asked us why we didn’t come to a reunion this weekend.
C. John simply asked us why we wouldn’t come to a reunion.
D. John cordially invited us to a reunion this weekend.
60. The mother asked her son___________.
A. where he has been B. where he had been
C. where has he been D. where had he been
61. Martin asked me___________.
A. how is my father B. how my father is
C. how was my father D. how my father was
62. The host asked Peter___________ tea or coffee.
A. whether he preferred B. that he preferred
C. did he prefer D. if he prefers
63. “Stop smoking or you’ll be ill,” the doctor told me.
A. The doctor advised me to give up smoking to avoid illness.
B. I was warned against smoking a lot of cigarettes.
C. The doctor suggested smoking to treat illness.
D. I was ordered not to smoke to recover from illness.
64. She asked me___________ my holidays___________.
A. where I spent/ the previous year B. where I had spent/ the previous year
C. where I spent/ last year D. where did I spend/ last year
65. “Would you like to come to my birthday party, Sara?” asked Frederic.
A. Frederic invited Sara to his birthday party.
B. Frederic asked if Sara was able to come to his birthday party.
C. Frederic asked Sara if she likes his birthday party or not.
D. Frederic reminded Sara of his birthday party.

66. “If you don’t pay the ransom, we’ll kill your boy,” the kidnappers told us.
A. The kidnappers ordered to kill our boy if we did not pay the ransom.
 B. The kidnappers pledged to kill our boy if we did not pay the ransom.
C. The kidnappers threatened to kill our boy if we refused to pay the ransom.
D. The kidnappers promised to kill our boy if we refused to pay the ransom.
67. “If I were you, I would take the job,” said my room-mate.
A. My room-mate was thinking about taking the job.
B. My room-mate advised me to take the job.
C. My room-mate introduced the idea of taking the job to me.
D. My room-mate insisted on taking the job.
68. The mother told her son___________ so impolitely.
A. not behave B. not to behave
C. not behaving D. did not behave
69. I told him___________ the word to Jane somehow that I___________ to reach her
during the early hours.
A. passing/ will try B. he will pass/ tried
C. to pass/ would be trying D. he passed/ have tried
70. John often says he___________ boxing because it ___________ a cruel sport.
A. does not like/ is B. did not like/ were
C. not liked / had been D. had not liked/ was