Reported Speech – Free Exercise

Write the following sentences in indirect speech. Pay attention to backshift and the changes to pronouns, time, and place.

  • Two weeks ago, he said, “I visited this museum last week.” → Two weeks ago, he said that   . I → he|simple past → past perfect|this → that|last …→ the … before
  • She claimed, “I am the best for this job.” → She claimed that   . I → she|simple present→ simple past|this→ that
  • Last year, the minister said, “The crisis will be overcome next year.” → Last year, the minister said that   . will → would|next …→ the following …
  • My riding teacher said, “Nobody has ever fallen off a horse here.” → My riding teacher said that   . present perfect → past perfect|here→ there
  • Last month, the boss explained, “None of my co-workers has to work overtime now.” → Last month, the boss explained that   . my → his/her|simple present→ simple past|now→ then

Rewrite the question sentences in indirect speech.

  • She asked, “What did he say?” → She asked   . The subject comes directly after the question word.|simple past → past perfect
  • He asked her, “Do you want to dance?” → He asked her   . The subject comes directly after whether/if |you → she|simple present → simple past
  • I asked him, “How old are you?” → I asked him   . The subject comes directly after the question word + the corresponding adjective (how old)|you→ he|simple present → simple past
  • The tourists asked me, “Can you show us the way?” → The tourists asked me   . The subject comes directly after whether/if |you→ I|us→ them
  • The shop assistant asked the woman, “Which jacket have you already tried on?” → The shop assistant asked the woman   . The subject comes directly after the question word|you→ she|present perfect → past perfect

Rewrite the demands/requests in indirect speech.

  • The passenger requested the taxi driver, “Stop the car.” → The passenger requested the taxi driver   . to + same wording as in direct speech
  • The mother told her son, “Don’t be so loud.” → The mother told her son   . not to + same wording as in direct speech, but remove don’t
  • The policeman told us, “Please keep moving.” → The policeman told us   . to + same wording as in direct speech ( please can be left off)
  • She told me, “Don’t worry.” → She told me   . not to + same wording as in direct speech, but remove don’t
  • The zookeeper told the children, “Don’t feed the animals.” → The zookeeper told the children   . not to + same wording as in direct speech, but remove don’t

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Reported Speech Quiz

In this reported speech quiz you get to practice online turning direct speech into indirect speech.

Remember that to turn direct speech to reported speech you need to use backshifting with the tenses. So for example, the present simple turns to the past simple and the past simple turns to the past perfect. Pronouns can also change.

It can be difficult if you are new to it, so if you are unsure of how to do it, before taking the quiz check out the reported speech tense conversion rules . 

  • John said, "I want to see a film".
  • Tina said, "I am tired".
  • He said, "Tom hit me very hard".
  • I said, "I feel happy".
  • She said, "We are learning English".
  • Sandra said, "I liked him a lot".
  • He said, "We all eat meat".
  • Max said, "I will help".
  • Gene said, "I must leave early".
  • She said, "I had tried everything".

More on Reported Speech:

Direct and indirect speech are different because in direct speech the exact words said are spoken, but in indirect or reported speech, we are reporting what was said, usually using the past tense.

Direct and Indirect Speech: The differences explained

Direct and indirect speech are different because in direct speech the exact words said are spoken, but in indirect or reported speech, we are reporting what was said, usually using the past tense.

Reported speech tenses may differ from the tense of the direct speech. The general rule for tenses in reported speech is that it changes to the past tense. This is called backshifting.

Reported Speech Tenses Chart: How to convert tenses

Reported speech tenses may differ from the tense of the direct speech. The general rule for tenses in reported speech is that it changes to the past tense. This is called backshifting.

In these examples of direct and indirect speech you are given a sentence in direct speech which is then connected to indirect speech.

Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech

In these examples of direct and indirect speech you are given a sentence in direct speech which is then connected to indirect speech.

Reported speech imperatives, also known as reported commands, follow a slightly different structure to normal indirect speech. We use imperatives to give orders, advice, or make requests.

Reported Speech Imperatives: Reporting commands in indirect speech

Reported speech imperatives, also known as reported commands, follow a slightly different structure to normal indirect speech. We use imperatives to give orders, advice, or make requests.

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Reported Speech

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Reported Statements

Here's how it works:

We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'. ( Click here for more about using 'say' and 'tell' .) If this verb is in the present tense, it's easy. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence:

  • Direct speech: I like ice cream.
  • Reported speech: She says (that) she likes ice cream.

We don't need to change the tense, though probably we do need to change the 'person' from 'I' to 'she', for example. We also may need to change words like 'my' and 'your'. (As I'm sure you know, often, we can choose if we want to use 'that' or not in English. I've put it in brackets () to show that it's optional. It's exactly the same if you use 'that' or if you don't use 'that'.)

But , if the reporting verb is in the past tense, then usually we change the tenses in the reported speech:

  • Reported speech: She said (that) she liked ice cream.

* doesn't change.

  • Direct speech: The sky is blue.
  • Reported speech: She said (that) the sky is/was blue.

Click here for a mixed tense exercise about practise reported statements. Click here for a list of all the reported speech exercises.

Reported Questions

So now you have no problem with making reported speech from positive and negative sentences. But how about questions?

  • Direct speech: Where do you live?
  • Reported speech: She asked me where I lived.
  • Direct speech: Where is Julie?
  • Reported speech: She asked me where Julie was.
  • Direct speech: Do you like chocolate?
  • Reported speech: She asked me if I liked chocolate.

Click here to practise reported 'wh' questions. Click here to practise reported 'yes / no' questions. Reported Requests

There's more! What if someone asks you to do something (in a polite way)? For example:

  • Direct speech: Close the window, please
  • Or: Could you close the window please?
  • Or: Would you mind closing the window please?
  • Reported speech: She asked me to close the window.
  • Direct speech: Please don't be late.
  • Reported speech: She asked us not to be late.

Reported Orders

  • Direct speech: Sit down!
  • Reported speech: She told me to sit down.
  • Click here for an exercise to practise reported requests and orders.
  • Click here for an exercise about using 'say' and 'tell'.
  • Click here for a list of all the reported speech exercises.

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Reported Speech Quiz

Test your understanding of Reported Speech in English with this Reported Speech Quiz. Reported Speech, also known as indirect speech, is used to convey what someone else said without quoting their exact words. It often involves changes in tense, pronouns, and time expressions to suit the reporting context. For example, direct speech: “ I am learning English, ” becomes in reported speech: “ She said she was learning English. ” This quiz has 15 questions and each question will ask you to change the direct speech into reported speech. Take The Quiz Below!

Direct: "I am watching a movie." Reported: She said that she __________ a movie.

Direct: "I will go to the store." Reported: He said that he __________ to the store.

Direct: "We have finished our homework." Reported: They said that they __________ their homework.

Direct: "I can play the piano." Reported: She said that she __________ the piano.

Direct: "I am going to watch a movie tonight." Reported: He said that he __________ a movie that night.

Direct: "We are meeting our friends tomorrow." Reported: They said that they __________ their friends the next day.

Direct: "I have been reading a book." Reported: She said that she __________ a book.

Direct: "I ate pizza last night." Reported: He said that he __________ pizza the night before.

Direct: "We will finish the project by tomorrow." Reported: They said that they __________ the project by the next day.

Direct: "I saw him yesterday." Reported: She said that she __________ him the day before.

Direct: "I must leave now." Reported: He said that he __________ right away.

Direct: "We can't come to the party." Reported: They said that they __________ to the party.

Direct: "I did not see him at the event." Reported: She said that she __________ him at the event.

Direct: "I have been feeling unwell." Reported: He said that he __________ unwell.

Direct: "We were planning to visit you." Reported: They said that they __________ to visit you.

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Not learned about reported speech yet? Then check out this Reported Speech Guide which includes lots of examples to help you master this important part of English grammar.

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Reported Speech, Indirect Speech – English Grammar Exercises

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Exercise on Reported Speech

Mixed exercise 1.

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

  • He said, "I like this song." → He said
  • "Where is your sister?" she asked me. → She asked me
  • "I don't speak Italian," she said. → She said
  • "Say hello to Jim," they said. → They asked me
  • "The film began at seven o'clock," he said. → He said
  • "Don't play on the grass, boys," she said. → She told the boys
  • "Where have you spent your money?" she asked him. → She asked him
  • "I never make mistakes," he said. → He said
  • "Does she know Robert?" he wanted to know. → He wanted to know
  • "Don't try this at home," the stuntman told the audience. → The stuntman advised the audience

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Reported Speech

Convert the following sentences into reported speech.

When the reporting verb is in the past tense, the verb in the reported speech will also be in the past tense.

When the reporting verb is in the present tense, the verb in the reported speech will not change.

Change into reported speech

1. She said, ‘It is my book.’

2. ‘There is nothing in it,’ said John.

3. ‘I am busy,’ said Mary.

4. Mary said, ‘I will call the police.’

5. She said, ‘They are too young to understand.’

6. The headmaster said to her, ‘You can go now.’

7. The teacher said, ‘Tomorrow will be a holiday.’

8. Mother says, ‘I am knitting.’

9. Suresh said, ‘Can you lend me your pen?’

10. The boy said, ‘I am learning my lessons.’

1. She said that it was her book.

2. John said that there was nothing in it.

3. Mary said that she was busy.

4. Mary said that she would call the police.

5. She said that they were too young to understand.

6. The headmaster told her that she could go then.

7. The teacher said that the next day would be a holiday.

8. Mother says that she is knitting.

9. Suresh asked if I could lend him my pen. 10. The boy said that he was learning his lessons.

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Reported Speech: Rules, Examples, Exceptions

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What is reported speech?

“Reported speech” is when we talk about what somebody else said – for example:

  • Direct Speech: “I’ve been to London three times.”
  • Reported Speech: She said she’d been to London three times.

There are a lot of tricky little details to remember, but don’t worry, I’ll explain them and we’ll see lots of examples. The lesson will have three parts – we’ll start by looking at statements in reported speech, and then we’ll learn about some exceptions to the rules, and finally we’ll cover reported questions, requests, and commands.

Reported Speech: Rules, Examples, Exceptions Espresso English

So much of English grammar – like this topic, reported speech – can be confusing, hard to understand, and even harder to use correctly. I can help you learn grammar easily and use it confidently inside my Advanced English Grammar Course.

In this course, I will make even the most difficult parts of English grammar clear to you – and there are lots of opportunities for you to practice!

Reported Speech: Rules, Examples, Exceptions Espresso English

Backshift of Verb Tenses in Reported Speech

When we use reported speech, we often change the verb tense backwards in time. This can be called “backshift.”

Here are some examples in different verb tenses:

Reported Speech (Part 1) Quiz

Exceptions to backshift in reported speech.

Now that you know some of the reported speech rules about backshift, let’s learn some exceptions.

There are two situations in which we do NOT need to change the verb tense.

No backshift needed when the situation is still true

For example, if someone says “I have three children” (direct speech) then we would say “He said he has three children” because the situation continues to be true.

If I tell you “I live in the United States” (direct speech) then you could tell someone else “She said she lives in the United States” (that’s reported speech) because it is still true.

When the situation is still true, then we don’t need to backshift the verb.

Reported Speech: Rules, Examples, Exceptions Espresso English

He said he HAS three children

But when the situation is NOT still true, then we DO need to backshift the verb.

Imagine your friend says, “I have a headache.”

  • If you immediately go and talk to another friend, you could say, “She said she has a headache,” because the situation is still true
  • If you’re talking about that conversation a month after it happened, then you would say, “She said she had a headache,” because it’s no longer true.

No backshift needed when the situation is still in the future

We also don’t need to backshift to the verb when somebody said something about the future, and the event is still in the future.

Here’s an example:

  • On Monday, my friend said, “I ‘ll call you on Friday .”
  • “She said she ‘ll call me on Friday”, because Friday is still in the future from now.
  • It is also possible to say, “She said she ‘d (she would) call me on Friday.”
  • Both of them are correct, so the backshift in this case is optional.

Let’s look at a different situation:

  • On Monday, my friend said, “I ‘ll call you on Tuesday .”
  • “She said she ‘d  call me on Tuesday.” I must backshift because the event is NOT still in the future.

Reported Speech: Rules, Examples, Exceptions Espresso English

Review: Reported Speech, Backshift, & Exceptions

Quick review:

  • Normally in reported speech we backshift the verb, we put it in a verb tense that’s a little bit further in the past.
  • when the situation is still true
  • when the situation is still in the future

Reported Requests, Orders, and Questions

Those were the rules for reported statements, just regular sentences.

What about reported speech for questions, requests, and orders?

For reported requests, we use “asked (someone) to do something”:

  • “Please make a copy of this report.” (direct speech)
  • She asked me to make a copy of the report. (reported speech)

For reported orders, we use “told (someone) to do something:”

  • “Go to the bank.” (direct speech)
  • “He told me to go to the bank.” (reported speech)

The main verb stays in the infinitive with “to”:

  • She asked me to make a copy of the report. She asked me  make  a copy of the report.
  • He told me to go to the bank. He told me  go  to the bank.

For yes/no questions, we use “asked if” and “wanted to know if” in reported speech.

  • “Are you coming to the party?” (direct)
  • He asked if I was coming to the party. (reported)
  • “Did you turn off the TV?” (direct)
  • She wanted to know if I had turned off the TV.” (reported)

The main verb changes and back shifts according to the rules and exceptions we learned earlier.

Notice that we don’t use do/does/did in the reported question:

  • She wanted to know did I turn off the TV.
  • She wanted to know if I had turned off the TV.

For other questions that are not yes/no questions, we use asked/wanted to know (without “if”):

  • “When was the company founded?” (direct)
  • She asked when the company was founded.” (reported)
  • “What kind of car do you drive?” (direct)
  • He wanted to know what kind of car I drive. (reported)

Again, notice that we don’t use do/does/did in reported questions:

  • “Where does he work?”
  • She wanted to know  where does he work.
  • She wanted to know where he works.

Also, in questions with the verb “to be,” the word order changes in the reported question:

  • “Where were you born?” ([to be] + subject)
  • He asked where I was born. (subject + [to be])
  • He asked where was I born.

Reported Speech: Rules, Examples, Exceptions Espresso English

Reported Speech (Part 2) Quiz

Learn more about reported speech:

  • Reported speech: Perfect English Grammar
  • Reported speech: BJYU’s

If you want to take your English grammar to the next level, then my Advanced English Grammar Course is for you! It will help you master the details of the English language, with clear explanations of essential grammar topics, and lots of practice. I hope to see you inside!

I’ve got one last little exercise for you, and that is to write sentences using reported speech. Think about a conversation you’ve had in the past, and write about it – let’s see you put this into practice right away.

Master the details of English grammar:

Reported Speech: Rules, Examples, Exceptions Espresso English

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Reported Speech Exercise: Questions

Reported speech exercises | reporting questions.

Do the exercises below about the reported speech (questions) and click on the button to check your answers.

(Before doing the exercise you may want to see the lesson on reported speech )

Transform these questions into reported speech (start the sentence with " she asked him ".)

  • What is your name? → She asked him
  • Where do you live? → She asked him
  • What do you do for a living? → She asked him
  • What time do you wake up? → She asked him
  • Do you have a shower every morning? → She asked him
  • Where did you go last weekend? → She asked him
  • Why did you go there? → She asked him
  • Did you enjoy going there? → She asked him
  • Where are you going next weekend? → She asked him
  • Will you be with your friends? → She asked him
  • Can you take me with you? → She asked him
  • What will the weather be like? → She asked him
  • How are we going to get there? → She asked him
  • Shall we take anything to eat? → She asked him
  • What do you want me to bring? → She asked him
  • Where are we going to spend the night? → She asked him
  • Shall I take clean blankets? → She asked him
  • Can I invite a friend of mine? → She asked him
  • Are you sure? → She asked him
  • What time shall we get back? → She asked him

Related materials

  • Reported speech exercise (mixed)
  • Reported speech exercise (questions)
  • Reported speech exercise (requests and commands)
  • Reported speech lesson

reported speech practice

Reported Speech Quiz for English Learners

Making the necessary changes in reported speech

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  • Tom said he wants to visit his friends that weekend.
  • Tom said he wanted to visit his friends that weekend.
  • Tom said he wanted to visit his friends this weekend.

 Make sure to change both the pronoun and the time indicator (this to that) in reported speech . 

  • Jerry said he was studying English a lot at that moment.
  • Jerry said he was studying English a lot at the moment.
  • Jerry said I was studying English a lot at that moment.

 Change 'the moment' to 'that moment' in reported speech. 

  • They said they have lived there for a long time.
  • They said they lived here for a long time.
  • They said they had lived there for a long time.

 Move the present perfect tense into the past perfect tense in the reported speech. 

  • He asked me if had I finished reading the newspaper.
  • He asked me if I had finished reading the newspaper.
  • He asked me if I finished reading the newspaper.

 Change questions from their inverted question structure back to standard sentence structure in the reported speech. 

  • Peter said he got up every morning at seven o'clock.
  • Peter said I got up every morning at seven o'clock.
  • Peter said he had got up every morning at seven o'clock.

Make sure to change pronouns when using reported speech . 

  • Susan told me I could come that night.
  • Susan told me she could come that night.
  • Susan told me she could come tomorrow evening.

 Change 'tonight' to the 'that night' in the reported speech. 

  • She told me she really wished she bought that new car.
  • She told me she really had wished she had bought that new car.
  • She told me she really wished she had bought that new car.

 The past perfect remains the past perfect in reported speech. 

  • Jack said he must have been guilty.
  • Jack said he must have be guilty.
  • Jack said he must has been guilty.

 Use the past modal verb of probability when reporting 'must'. 

  • Cheryl asked her how long she has lived there.
  • Cheryl asked her how long she lived there.
  • Cheryl asked her how long she had lived there.

 Change the present perfect to the past perfect in reported speech . 

  • He told me he had to get going. Otherwise, he was going to be late.
  • He told me he had to get going. Otherwise, I was going to be late.
  • He told me he has to get going. Otherwise, he was going to be late.

 'Had to' can be used as the past of the modal verb 'must'.

  • Lenny sang, 'I want to get away, I want to fly away.'
  • Lenny sang he wanted to get away, he wanted to fly away.
  • Lenny sings he wanted to get away, he wanted to fly away.
  • Lenny sang he wanted to get away, he wants to fly away.

 Change the present simple to the past simple as well as pronouns when using reported speech. 

I got Reported Speech Champ. Reported Speech Quiz for English Learners

You understand the changes necessary when using reported speech. Well done! Follow up by studying and practicing some more advanced level grammar forms.  

I got You Understand Reported Speech. Reported Speech Quiz for English Learners

 Good try! You obviously understand reported speech, but are having some difficulty with some of the minor changes necessary. Keep practicing and you will mast reported speech soon. 

I got Reported Speech Still Needs Practice. Reported Speech Quiz for English Learners

 You still need to practice reported speech. Remember that the tense of the original statement moves one step back in reported speech. In other words, the present simple becomes the past simple. Keep working and you'll understand and be able to use the form soon. 

  • Indirect Speech in the English Language
  • Using Reported Speech: ESL Lesson Plan
  • Reporting Verbs for English Language Learners
  • Essential Basic English Lessons
  • How to Teach Reported Speech
  • Parallelism in Writing for English Learners
  • A Short Guide to Punctuation
  • Advanced English Grammar Review Quiz
  • How Many Verb Tenses Are There in English?
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  • Reported Speech Exercises For Class 10

Reported Speech Exercises with Answers for Class 10

One of the English grammar concepts that almost all of us would have studied in our junior classes is reported speech . Having a clear understanding of reported speech helps students use sentences correctly. This article provides reported speech exercises for class 10 students.

reported speech practice

Reported Speech Exercises for Class 10 with Answers

Here is an exercise on the transformation of direct speech to indirect speech. Go through the following sentences, work them out and then check your answers to assess how far you have understood their usage.

Change as directed

Read the following sentences and change them into reported speech.

  • Mimi said, “I have been writing this letter.”
  • I said, “Sam’s driving the car.”
  • My uncle said, “I am cooking lunch.”
  • My brother said, “I had already eaten.”
  • The old lady said to the girl, “Where do you come from?”
  • Jon said, “I like to play rugby.”
  • My mother said, “I get up early every morning.”
  • The maths teacher said, “Three divided by three is one.”
  • Mohit said, “Switzerland is a very beautiful country.”
  • Ruben said, “It is very cold outside.”
  • The teacher said, “The French Revolution took place in 1789.”
  • Uma said, “I saw a Royal Bengal Tiger in the zoo.”
  • Luke said, “I can do this homework.”
  • Aswini said to her mother, “I have passed the test”.
  • Daphne said to Antony, “I will go to London tomorrow.”
  • The boy said, “My father is sleeping.”
  • The traffic police said to us, “Where are you going?”
  • The man shouted, “Let me go.”
  • Shivina said, “Alas! I am lost.”
  • “I know her contact number,” said Helena.
  • Stefen said, “My granny is making pasta.”
  • Raj said to Simran, “Have you ever been to the National Museum?”
  • Anish said to Sid, “Please lend me the book.”
  • The teacher said to the parents, “Shelly is working very hard.”
  • Joshua said, “I have completed my assignment.”
  • I said to Alka, “How long will you stay here?”
  • The child told his dad, “I want an ice cream.”
  • Meera said, “I am not feeling well.”
  • The teacher said to Vivek, “Draw the diagram of the plant’s parts.”
  • Irin said, “I am playing the piano.”
  • My mother said to me, “Help me carry this bag.”
  • Rahul said, “My sister is very helpful.”
  • The news reporter said, “The flight will be delayed by a few hours due to heavy rains.”
  • Urmi said to her mother, “I want a slice of pizza.”
  • I said to Daniel, “Are you reading this book?”
  • Mimi said that she had been writing that letter.
  • I said that Sam was driving the car.
  • My uncle said that he was cooking lunch.
  • My brother said that he had already eaten.
  • The old lady asked the girl where she came from.
  • Jon said that he likes to play rugby.
  • My mother said that she gets up early every morning.
  • The maths teacher said that three divided by three is one.
  • Mohit said that Switzerland was a very beautiful country.
  • Ruben said that it was very cold outside.
  • The teacher said that the French Revolution took place in 1789.
  • Uma said that she saw a Royal Bengal Tiger in the zoo.
  • Luke said that he could do that homework.
  • Aswini told her mother that she had passed the test.
  • Daphne informed Antony that she would go to London the next day.
  • The boy said that his father was sleeping.
  • The traffic police asked us where we were going.
  • The man shouted to them to let him go.
  • Shivina exclaimed sadly that she was lost.
  • Helena said that she knew her contact number.
  • Stefen said that his granny was making pasta.
  • Raj asked Simran if she had ever been to the National Museum.
  • Anish requested Sid to lend him the book.
  • The teacher told the parents that Shelly was working very hard.
  • Joshua said that he had completed his assignment.
  • I asked Alka how long she would stay there.
  • The child told his dad that he wants an ice cream.
  • Meera said that she was not feeling well.
  • The teacher instructed Vivek to draw the diagram of the plant’s parts.
  • Irin said that she was playing the piano.
  • My mother asked me to help her carry the bag.
  • Rahul said that his sister was very helpful.
  • The news reporter said that the flight would be delayed by a few hours due to heavy rains.
  • Urmi said to her mother that she wanted a slice of pizza.
  • I asked Daniel if he was reading that book.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is direct narration.

When the actual words/sentences spoken by the speaker are quoted in a speech, it is known as direct speech/narration.

Is knowing reported speech necessary for Class 10?

Having a basic understanding of reported speech is necessary for students of any class or age. Solving exercises on direct and indirect speech will help them understand thoroughly and use them correctly.

What is indirect speech?

When the quoted speech is reported in the form of a narrative without changing the meaning of the actual quotation/words by the speaker, it is called indirect speech. Indirect speech is also known as reported speech.

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  1. reported speech practice: English ESL worksheets pdf & doc

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  2. Reported speech interactive and downloadable worksheet. You can do the

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COMMENTS

  1. Reported Speech Exercises

    Lots of reported speech exercises - practise using free interactive quizzes. Login Contact Courses Membership Speaking Explanations Exercises Method. Reported Speech Exercises. Perfect English Grammar. Here's a list of all the reported speech exercises on this site:

  2. Reported Speech

    Rewrite the demands/requests in indirect speech. The passenger requested the taxi driver, "Stop the car.". → The passenger requested the taxi driver . to + same wording as in direct speech. The mother told her son, "Don't be so loud.". → The mother told her son . not to + same wording as in direct speech, but remove don't.

  3. Reported Speech Exercise 1

    Practice your reported speech skills with this interactive exercise. You need to change the direct speech into reported speech using the correct verb tense and pronoun. You can check your answers and get explanations at the end of the exercise.

  4. Reported Speech

    RS007 - Reporting Verbs Intermediate. RS006 - Reported Speech Intermediate. RS005 - Reported Speech - Introductory Verbs Advanced. RS004 - Reported Speech Intermediate. RS003 - Reporting Verbs Intermediate. RS002 - Reported Speech Intermediate. RS001 - Reported Speech Intermediate. Reported Speech - English Grammar Exercises.

  5. Indirect speech

    What is indirect speech or reported speech? When we tell people what another person said or thought, we often use reported speech or indirect speech. To do that, we need to change verb tenses (present, past, etc.) and pronouns (I, you, my, your, etc.) if the time and speaker are different.For example, present tenses become past, I becomes he or she, and my becomes his or her, etc.

  6. Reported Speech Quiz

    In this reported speech quiz you get to practice online turning direct speech into indirect speech. Remember that to turn direct speech to reported speech you need to use backshifting with the tenses. So for example, the present simple turns to the past simple and the past simple turns to the past perfect. Pronouns can also change.

  7. Reported speech exercises

    Exercises: indirect speech. Reported speech - present. Reported speech - past. Reported speech - questions. Reported questions - write. Reported speech - imperatives. Reported speech - modals. Indirect speech - tenses 1. Indirect speech - tenses 2.

  8. Reported Speech

    Watch my reported speech video: Here's how it works: We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'. ( Click here for more about using 'say' and 'tell' .) If this verb is in the present tense, it's easy. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence: Direct speech: I like ice cream. Reported speech: She says (that) she likes ice cream.

  9. Reported Speech

    Therefore, you need to learn how to transform direct speech into reported speech. The structure is a little different depending on whether you want to transform a statement, question or request. Statements. When transforming statements, check whether you have to change: pronouns; present tense verbs (3rd person singular)

  10. Reported Speech Quiz

    Test your understanding of Reported Speech in English with this Reported Speech Quiz. Reported Speech, also known as indirect speech, is used to convey what someone else said without quoting their exact words. It often involves changes in tense, pronouns, and time expressions to suit the reporting context. For example, direct speech: " I am ...

  11. Unit 6

    Unit 6 - Exercise 1 - Reported speech (statements) | Solutions | Oxford University Press. Unit 6 - Exercise 1 - Reported speech (statements) Rewrite the direct speech as reported speech to complete the sentences. Use contractions where possible.

  12. Reported Speech Exercises

    Exercises. 2315 Backshift of tenses in Reported speech - Exercise. 2321 Conversion of time phrases in Reported speech - Exercise. 2317 Pronouns in Reported speech - Exercise. 2327 Reported commands - affirmative sentences - Exercise. 2329 Reported commands - negations - Exercise. 2323 Reported questions - Exercise.

  13. Reported Speech (B1)

    RS008 - Reported Questions. RS007 - Reported Speech. RS006 - Reported Speech. RS005 - Reported Speech. RS004 - Reported Speech. RS003 - Reported Speech. RS002 - Reported Speech - Mixed Exercises. RS001 - Reported Speech - Mixed Exercises. Adjective and Adverbs - Downloadable PDF Worksheets for English Language Learners - Intermediate Level (B1)

  14. Exercise on Reported Speech

    Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note whether the sentence is a request, a statement or a question. He said, "I like this song." → He said "Where is your sister?" she asked me. → She asked me "I don't speak Italian," she said. → She said "Say hello to Jim," they said. → They asked me "The film began at seven o'clock," he said.

  15. Unit 7

    Unit 7 - Exercise 1 - Reported speech. Rewrite the direct speech as reported speech to complete the sentences. Use contractions where possible.

  16. Reported speech

    Reported speech 2. Reported requests and orders. Reported speech exercise. Reported questions - worksheet. Indirect speech - worksheet. Worksheets pdf - print. Grammar worksheets - handouts. Grammar - lessons. Reported speech - grammar notes.

  17. Reported Speech

    Convert the following sentences into reported speech. Notes: When the reporting verb is in the past tense, the verb in the reported speech will also be in the past tense. When the reporting verb is in the present tense, the verb in the reported speech will not change. Exercise. Change into reported speech. 1. She said, 'It is my book.' 2.

  18. Reported Speech Quiz

    Online quiz to test your understanding of English reported speech. This is a free multiple-choice quiz that you can do online or print out. For ESL learners. eBooks LEARN TEACH. New JOIN Forum Grammar Vocab Pronunciation Listening Speaking Reading Writing Articles 7 Secrets Guest eQuiz.Me Tefl.NET.

  19. Reported Speech: Rules, Examples, Exceptions

    When we use reported speech, we often change the verb tense backwards in time. This can be called "backshift.". Here are some examples in different verb tenses: "I want to go home.". She said she wanted to go home. "I 'm reading a good book.". She said she was reading a good book. "I ate pasta for dinner last night.".

  20. Reported Speech Exercise With Answers (Questions)

    Do you have a shower every morning? → She asked him. Where did you go last weekend? → She asked him. Why did you go there? → She asked him. Did you enjoy going there? → She asked him. Where are you going next weekend? → She asked him. Will you be with your friends? → She asked him. Can you take me with you? → She asked him.

  21. Reported Speech Quiz for English Learners

    Reported Speech Still Needs Practice. Keep working on your studies.. Frank and Helena / Cultura / Getty Images You still need to practice reported speech. Remember that the tense of the original statement moves one step back in reported speech. In other words, the present simple becomes the past simple. Keep working and you'll understand and be ...

  22. Reported Speech Exercises with Answers for Class 10

    Reported Speech Exercises for Class 10 with Answers. Here is an exercise on the transformation of direct speech to indirect speech. Go through the following sentences, work them out and then check your answers to assess how far you have understood their usage. Change as directed . Read the following sentences and change them into reported speech.

  23. UNC System compelled speech ban affects diversity efforts

    UNC Board of Governors passed policy prohibiting compelled speech in hiring, admissions. ... "Generally prohibited is the practice of including topical questions across a class of job postings ...