reported speech questions exercises pdf b2

Reported speech - 1

Reported speech - 2

Reported speech - 3

Worksheets - handouts

Reported speech

Worksheets - pdf exercises.

• Reported statements - worksheet
• Worksheet - reported questions
• Reported yes/no questions
• Worksheet - reported speech
• Reported speech - exercises pdf
• Indirect speech - exercises
• Reported speech - exercises
• Mixed reported speech 1
• Mixed reported speech 2
• Reported speech 1 
• Reported speech 2  
• Reported speech 3 
• Reported speech 4
• Reported speech 5
• Reported wh- questions
• Reported speech - worksheet 
• Reported commands
• Reported questions
• Reported speech 1
• 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
• How to use reported speech - lesson
• Tense changes - grammar

Reported Speech Exercises

Perfect english grammar.

Here's a list of all the reported speech exercises on this site:

( Click here to read the explanations about reported speech )

Reported Statements:

• Present Simple Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here)
• Present Continuous Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here)
• Past Simple Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here)
• Present Perfect Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here)
• Future Simple Reported Statement Exercise (quite easy) (in PDF here)
• Mixed Tense Reported Statement Exercise (intermediate) (in PDF here)
• 'Say' and 'Tell' (quite easy) (in PDF here)

Reported Questions:

• Present Simple Reported Yes/No Question Exercise (intermediate) (in PDF here)
• Present Simple Reported Wh Question Exercise (intermediate) (in PDF here)
• Mixed Tense Reported Question Exercise (intermediate) (in PDF here)

Reported Orders and Requests:

• Reported Requests and Orders Exercise (intermediate) (in PDF here)
• Reported Speech Mixed Exercise 1 (difficult) (in PDF here)
• Reported Speech Mixed Exercise 2 (difficult) (in PDF here)

Hello! I'm Seonaid! I'm here to help you understand grammar and speak correct, fluent English.

Read more about our learning method

• B1-B2 grammar

Reported speech: statements

Do you know how to report what somebody else said? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

Look at these examples to see how we can tell someone what another person said.

direct speech: 'I love the Toy Story films,' she said. indirect speech: She said she loved the Toy Story films. direct speech: 'I worked as a waiter before becoming a chef,' he said. indirect speech: He said he'd worked as a waiter before becoming a chef. direct speech: 'I'll phone you tomorrow,' he said. indirect speech: He said he'd phone me the next day.

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Grammar B1-B2: Reported speech 1: 1

Read the explanation to learn more.

Grammar explanation

Reported speech is when we tell someone what another person said. To do this, we can use direct speech or indirect speech.

direct speech: 'I work in a bank,' said Daniel. indirect speech: Daniel said that he worked in a bank.

In indirect speech, we often use a tense which is 'further back' in the past (e.g. worked ) than the tense originally used (e.g. work ). This is called 'backshift'. We also may need to change other words that were used, for example pronouns.

Present simple, present continuous and present perfect

When we backshift, present simple changes to past simple, present continuous changes to past continuous and present perfect changes to past perfect.

'I travel a lot in my job.' Jamila said that she travelled a lot in her job. 'The baby's sleeping!' He told me the baby was sleeping. 'I've hurt my leg.' She said she'd hurt her leg.

Past simple and past continuous

When we backshift, past simple usually changes to past perfect simple, and past continuous usually changes to past perfect continuous.

'We lived in China for five years.' She told me they'd lived in China for five years. 'It was raining all day.' He told me it had been raining all day.

Past perfect

The past perfect doesn't change.

'I'd tried everything without success, but this new medicine is great.' He said he'd tried everything without success, but the new medicine was great.

No backshift

If what the speaker has said is still true or relevant, it's not always necessary to change the tense. This might happen when the speaker has used a present tense.

'I go to the gym next to your house.' Jenny told me that she goes to the gym next to my house. I'm thinking about going with her. 'I'm working in Italy for the next six months.' He told me he's working in Italy for the next six months. Maybe I should visit him! 'I've broken my arm!' She said she's broken her arm, so she won't be at work this week.

Pronouns, demonstratives and adverbs of time and place

Pronouns also usually change in indirect speech.

'I enjoy working in my garden,' said Bob. Bob said that he enjoyed working in his garden. 'We played tennis for our school,' said Alina. Alina told me they'd played tennis for their school.

However, if you are the person or one of the people who spoke, then the pronouns don't change.

'I'm working on my thesis,' I said. I told her that I was working on my thesis. 'We want our jobs back!' we said. We said that we wanted our jobs back.

We also change demonstratives and adverbs of time and place if they are no longer accurate.

'This is my house.' He said this was his house. [You are currently in front of the house.] He said that was his house. [You are not currently in front of the house.] 'We like it here.' She told me they like it here. [You are currently in the place they like.] She told me they like it there. [You are not in the place they like.] 'I'm planning to do it today.' She told me she's planning to do it today. [It is currently still the same day.] She told me she was planning to do it that day. [It is not the same day any more.]

In the same way, these changes to those , now changes to then , yesterday changes to the day before , tomorrow changes to the next/following day and ago changes to before .

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Grammar B1-B2: Reported speech 1: 2

Language level

Thank you for the information. It states that If what the speaker has said is still true or relevant, it's not always necessary to change the tense. I wonder if it is still correct to change the tense in this example: 'London is in the UK', he said. to He said London was in the UK. Or  it has to be the present tense. 

• Log in or register to post comments

Hello Wen1996,

Yes, your version of the sentence is also correct. In this case, the past tense refers to the time the speaker made this statement. But this doesn't mean the statement isn't also true now.

Best wishes, Kirk LearnEnglish team

Good evening from Turkey.

Is the following example correct: Question: When did she watch the movie?

She asked me when she had watched the movie. or is it had she watched the movie. 

Do Subjects come before the verbs? Thank you. 

Hello muratt,

This is a reported question, not an actual question, as you can see from the fact that it has no question mark at the end. Therefore no inversion is needed and the normal subject-verb word order is maintained: ...she had watched... is correct.

You can read more about this here:

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/b1-b2-grammar/reported-speech-questions

The LearnEnglish Team

Thank you for your response.

Hello Sir, kindly help with the following sentence-

She said, "When I was a child I wasn't afraid of ghosts." 

Please tell me how to write this sentence in reported/ indirect speech.

Hello! I was studying reported speech and I didn't really understand the difference between 'need' and 'need to' when we shift them. Could you please explain a little bit about the semi-modal need? I came across to this while I was studying: Backshift Changes need (no change) ‘You needn’t come till six o’clock,’ he said. He said we needn’t come till six o’clock. AND need to (becomes needed to) She said, 'I need to have a party.' She said she needed to have a party. Why do we change 'need to' but not 'need'? Could you also please give a positive indirect reported speech with the word 'need' and a negative indirect speech with the word 'need to'? Thanks in advance!

Hello Meldo,

'need' can be used -- and is most often used -- as an ordinary verb. In the text you copied above, this is the second entry ('need to'). Since it is an ordinary verb, in indirect speech, it backshifts in the way other ordinary verbs do. An example of a negative form here is 'They told me I didn't need to bring my passport'.

Particularly in British English (only very rarely in American English), 'need' can also be used as a modal verb. In this case, it behaves as a modal verb, i.e. no 's' is added to a third person singular form, infinitives after it are used without 'to' and 'do/does/did' is not used to form questions, negatives or past simple forms. This is also why '-ed' is not added for a backshift.

When 'need' is a modal, it's most commonly used in the negative. It is possible to use it in questions (e.g. 'Need I bring my passport?' or 'I asked if I need bring my passport'), but it's generally not used in the affirmative.

You might find this BBC page and this  Cambridge Dictionary explanation helpful if you'd like to read more.

Hope this helps.

Do we change 'had better' in indirect reported speech? I think no, but I just wanted to make sure. Can you also give an example with 'had better' in an indirect speech? Thanks a lot! The best English grammar site ever!

Hello Melis_06,

'had better' is not generally changed in reported speech. Here's an example for you:

• direct: 'You had better be on time!'
• indirect: They told us we had better be on time.

Glad you find our site useful!

Online courses

Group and one-to-one classes with expert teachers.

Learn English in your own time, at your own pace.

One-to-one sessions focused on a personal plan.

Get the score you need with private and group classes.  

LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

Reported speech.

Level: Intermediate (B1-B2)

Type of English: General English

Tags: reported speech Grammar practice

Publication date: 08/17/2021

This worksheet teaches reported speech . The rules for changing the tense of the verb from direct speech are presented and practised. The worksheet is suitable for both classroom practice and self-study. 

Thank you for this lesson. I recently taught my students reported speech, but very briefly. It's a manner of speech that we actually use quite often, from everyday conversations to business communication. I may teach a full lesson about this topic and use this worksheet as a guideline. Thank you again!

I'd like to thank you for the lesson. It is really useful when you teach reported speech in statements. Tenses do not change in reported speech in my mother tongue, so it's important to see what you report and what changes you make when transform direct speech into reported one, and the presentation appeared practical and helpful. I'd probably add an example with the verb in one of the present tenses in the main sentence in direct speech to see how the verb behaves in the reported statements. That's what I did when we were doing the presentation part. My students especially liked a task about Daniella and Martin. That was something from real life and fun.

Leave a Comment

Student worksheet

Teacher lesson plan

Save lesson to

This worksheet teaches  reported speech . The rules for changing the tense of the verb from  direct speech  are presented and practiced. The worksheet is suitable for both classroom practice and self-study.

COURSE PLANS

This comprehensive course plan covers the full range of language needs – listening, role play, vocabulary development.

Worksheets in English Grammar Reference course plan

Type of English: General English Level: Intermediate (B1-B2)

Type of English: General English Level: Upper-intermediate (B2-C1)

Type of English: General English Level: Intermediate

Make your lessons unforgettable

Did you know that your students can review the target language from our worksheets with our Expemo flashcard app? To let your student know, just enter their email address below (multiple emails can be separated with a comma).

Reported speech

Loading ad...

Reported speech structures with exercises

• Google Classroom
• Microsoft Teams
• Download PDF

A1 – Elementary

Practice Grammar Tests for A1 with Answer

A2 – Pre-intermediate

Practice Grammar Tests for A2 with Answer

B1 – Intermediate

Practice Grammar Tests for B1 with Answer

B2 – Upper-intermediate

Practice Grammar Tests for B2 with Answer

C1 – Advanced

Practice Grammar Tests for C1 with Answer

Pre-A1 – STARTERS

Practice Listening Tests for STARTERS with Answer & Audioscript

Practice Listening Tests for A1 with Answer & Audioscript

Practice Listening Tests for B1 with Answer & Audioscript

Practice Listening Tests for B2 with Answer & Audioscript

Practice Reading Tests for STARTERS with Answer

Practice Reading Tests for A1 with Answer

Practice Reading Tests for A2 with Answer

Practice Reading Tests for B1 with Answer

Practice Reading Tests for B2 with Answer

Use of English Tests for A1 with Answer

Use of English Tests for A2 with Answer

Use of English Tests for B1 with Answer

Use of English Tests for B2 with Answer

Practice Writing Tests for STARTERS with Answer

Practice Writing Tests for A1 with Answer

Practice Writing Tests for A2 with Answer

Practice Writing Tests for B1 with Answer

Practice Writing Tests for B2 with Answer

Key (KET) Listening Tests

Key (ket) reading & writing tests.

Practice KET Reading and Wrting Tests with Answer

Preliminary (PET) Listening Tests

Practice PET Listening Tests with Answer & Audioscript

First (FCE) Listening Tests

Practice FCE Listening Tests with Answer & Audioscript

CAE Listening Tests

Practice CAE Listening Tests with Answer & Audioscript

Practice Vocabulary Tests for A1 with Answer

Practice Vocabulary Tests for A2 with Answer

Practice Vocabulary Tests for B1 with Answer

Practice Vocabulary Tests for B2 with Answer

Reported speech – B2 English Grammar Test

• Grammar Tests for B2

1   In 1–4, underline the original verbs and reported verbs, then decide the reason (A, B or C) the tense of the reported verbs does not change.

1   ‘They ’re changing the speed limit soon.’ → I found out that they ’re changing the speed limit soon . … B …

2   ‘In Japan they also drive on the left.’ → He informed us that in Japan they also drive on the left . ……

3   ‘What time is it?’ → He’s asking what the time is . ……

4   ‘Are you coming by car tomorrow?’ → She asked if you’re coming by car tomorrow . ……

A   The events are true at any time.

B   The events reported are not in the past.

C   The reporting verb is in the present tense.

2    drive → drive – A

3    is → is – C

4    Are … coming → ’re coming – B

2   Complete the reported sentences. Change the verb tense only where necessary. When the reported verb stays the same, give the reason (A, B or C) from Exercise 1.

1   ‘There are always traffic jams on this road.’

      My mum warned me that …… there are always …… traffic jams on this road. … A …

2   ‘We’re going to be early.’

      She thought that they ………………………… to be early, yet they arrived just on time. ……

3   ‘Can I have some more cake, please?’

      Are you asking me if you ………………………… some more cake? ……

4   ‘My train gets to Milan at 11.15 tomorrow morning.’

      He reminded me that his train ………………………… to Milan at 11.15 tomorrow morning. ……

5   ‘Have you filled up the car with petrol?’

      Before we left, I asked him ………………………… the car with petrol. ……

6   ‘I’m injured.’

      Before the race, he claimed that he ………………………… injured. ……

7   ‘Do you like driving?’

      He asked me ………………………… driving. ……

2   were going

3   can have – C

4   gets – B

5   if he had filled up

7   if I like – A

3   Complete the table with the verbs in the box. Some verbs can go in more than one place.

4   complete the second sentences in each pair so they have a similar meaning to the first, with one of the words given. do not change the word given. you must use between two and five words, including the word given..

1   ‘Yes, I’ll pick you up at 6.15. No problem,’ Jamie said.

      Jamie …… agreed to pick me up …… at 6.15. AGREED / DENIED

2   ‘It was me. I scratched your car. Sorry!’ said Max.

      Max ………………………… my car. SUGGESTED / CONFESSED

3   ‘Why don’t we get a taxi instead of taking public transport?’ Beatrice said.

      Beatrice ………………………… instead of taking public transport. SUGGESTED / AGREED

2    confessed to scratching / having scratched

3    suggested getting a taxi

5   Cross out the mistakes in the sentences. Write the correct sentences.

1   The doctor says that in one week he would take off my bandage.

      ……The doctor says that in one week he will take off my bandage. ……

2   I tried to persuade them. I say them that nothing bad will happen and I was right.

      …………………………………………………

3   I warned him that it will be slower that way and he took ages.

4   She asked me where do I live.

5   I said eight o’clock, but she insisted to come earlier.

2   I tried to persuade them. I told / said to them that nothing bad would happen and I was right.

3   I warned him that it would be slower that way and he took ages.

4   She asked me where I live / lived .

5   I said eight o’clock, but she insisted on coming earlier.

6  Complete the story with the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Use reported speech where necessary.

Last month I stupidly left my rucksack on the coach. I immediately phoned the coach company and 1 …… asked …… (ask) them whether someone 2 ……………………. (find) it. They told me that someone 3 ……………………. (call) me back within the hour, but of course they didn’t, so I rang again. They asked me where I 4 ……………………. (live) so that they could send it to me if it 5 ……………………. (turn up). It still hasn’t turned up! A week later, I received a package. I couldn’t believe it. I 6 ……………………. (send) someone else’s bag. When I told them, they completely denied 7 ……………………. (make) any mistake. They said the postman must have 8 ……………………. (take) it to the wrong house. Can you believe it?

2   had found

3   would call

4   live/lived

5   turns up/turned up

6   had been sent

7   making / having made

Related Posts

• Advanced English Grammar Test – Multiple-choice Test 33
• B2 English Grammar Test – Multiple-choice Test 40
• B2 English Grammar Test – Multiple-choice Test 39
• B2 English Grammar Test – Multiple-choice Test 38
• B2 English Grammar Test – Multiple-choice Test 37
• B2 English Grammar Test – Multiple-choice Test 36

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• CAE (C1) Listening Tests
• FCE (B2) Listening Tests
• Grammar Tests for A1
• Grammar Tests for A2
• Grammar Tests for B1
• Grammar Tests for C1
• KET (A2) Listening Tests
• KET (A2) Reading and Writing Tests
• Listening Tests for A1
• Listening Tests for A2
• Listening Tests for B1
• Listening Tests for B2
• Listening Tests for Starters
• PET (B1) Listening Tests
• Reading Tests for A1
• Reading Tests for A2
• Reading Tests for B1
• Reading Tests for B2
• Reading Tests for Starters
• Use of English for A1
• Use of English for A2
• Use of English for B1
• Use of English for B2
• Vocabulary Tests for A1
• Vocabulary Tests for A2
• Vocabulary Tests for B1
• Vocabulary Tests for B2
• Writing Tests for A1
• Writing Tests for A2
• Writing Tests for B1
• Writing Tests for B2
• Writing Tests for Starters

Pin It on Pinterest

Learn Vocabulary

Learn English Vocabulary Through Pictures with 150 Topics

Vocabulary Exercises A1

English Vocabulary Exercises for A1 with Answers.

Vocabulary Exercises A2

English Vocabulary Exercises for A2 with Answers.

Vocabulary Exercises B1

English Vocabulary Exercises for B1 with Answers.

Vocabulary Exercises B2

English Vocabulary Exercises for B2 with Answers.

FULL Grammar Exercises

FULL English Grammar Exercises with Answers

Verbs and Tenses Exercises

English Verbs and Tenses Exercises with Answers and Explanations

Grammar Exercises A1

English Grammar Exercises for A1 with Answers

Grammar Exercises A2

English Grammar Exercises for A2 with Answers

Grammar Exercises B1

English Grammar Exercises for B1 with Answers

Grammar Exercises B2

English Grammar Exercises for B2 with Answers

Listening Exercises Beginner

English Listening Exercises for Beginner with Answers

Listening Exercises A1

English Listening Exercises for A1 with Answers

Listening Exercises A2

English Listening Exercises for A2 with Answers

Listening Exercises B1

English Listening Exercises for B1 with Answers

Listening Exercises B2

English Listening Exercises for B2 with Answers

Listening Tests A1

Practice Listening Tests for A1 with Answers & Transcripts

Listening Tests A2

Practice Listening Tests for A2 with Answers & Transcripts

Listening Tests B1

Practice Listening Tests for B1 with Answers & Transcripts

Listening Tests B2

Practice Listening Tests for B2 with Answers & Transcripts

Word Skills Exercises A1

English Word Skills Exercises for A1 with Answers

Word Skills Exercises A2

English Word Skills Exercises for A2 with Answers

Word Skills Exercises B1

English Word Skills Exercises for B1 with Answers

Word Skills Exercises B2

English Word Skills Exercises for B2 with Answers

Reading Exercises A1

English Reading Exercises for A1 with Answers

Reading ExercisesC A2

English Reading Exercises for A2 with Answers

Reading Exercises B1

English Reading Exercises for B1 with Answers

Reading Exercises B2

English Reading Exercises for B2 with Answers

Speaking Exercises A1

English Speaking Exercises for A1 with Answers

Speaking Exercises A2

English Speaking Exercises for A2 with Answers

Speaking Exercises B1

English Speaking Exercises for B1 with Answers

Speaking Exercises B2

English Speaking Exercises for B2 with Answers

Writing Exercises A1

English Writing Exercises for A1 with Answers

Writing Exercises A2

English Writing Exercises for A2 with Answers

Writing Exercises B1

English Writing Exercises for B1 with Answers

Writing Exercises B2

English Writing Exercises for B2 with Answers

Business Listening A1

Business English Listening Exercises for A1 with Answers

Business Listening A2

Business English Listening Exercises for A2 with Answers

Business Listening B1

Business English Listening Exercises for B1 with Answers

Article Level 1

Improve your ability to speak English

Article Level 2

Article level 3, article level 4, conversations.

Listening Practice Through Dictation with Transcripts

• English Grammar Exercises for B2 – Reported speech

English Grammar Exercises for B2

1. Change the direct speech to reported speech. The people are/were talking to you.

1   ‘You should read my news blog.’

      Emma says …………………………………………… .

2   ‘I’ll be working at home tomorrow.’

      My mum said …………………………………………… .

3   ‘I hate watching the news on TV.’

       Anna says …………………………………………… .

4   ‘You haven’t been working hard enough.’

       Ben complained …………………………………………… .

5   ‘I hadn’t expected the broadcast to be live.’

      Ian explained …………………………………………… .

6   ‘I’d like to borrow your newspaper.’

      Fred said …………………………………………… .

7   ‘I don’t want to go to the theatre.’

      Amy has said …………………………………………… .

1   (that) I / we should read her newsblog

2   (that) she would be working at home the next / following day

3   (that) she hates watching the news on TV

4   (that) I / we hadn’t been working hard enough

5   that he hadn’t expected the broadcast to be live

6   (that) he would like to borrow my newspaper

7   (that) she doesn’t want to go to the theatre

2. Choose the correct answers.

1   Sam said / told her to leave.

2   ‘This article is really interesting,’ said / told Harry.

3   ‘I’m hungry,’ she said / told to her dad.

4   They said / told me he was a reporter.

5   Jake says / tells that he wants to study journalism.

1 told   2 said   3 said    4 told   5 says

3. Read the dialogue and complete Imogen’s report of the conversation.

Imogen     What are you doing?

Ed             I’m writing a letter to the newspaper.

Imogen     What’s the letter about?

Ed             It’s about crime rates in our town. There should be more police!

Imogen     You should mention that recent bank robbery.

Ed             I will, if I can find the name of the bank.

Imogen     Have you looked online?

Ed             I can’t. Somebody has stolen my laptop!

I asked Ed what 1 …………………………… . He explained that 2 …………………………… . I asked 3 …………………………… , and Ed replied 4 …………………………… . He said that 5 …………………………… . I said 6 …………………………… and Ed said 7 …………………………… if 8 …………………………… . I asked 9 …………………………… . He said 10 …………………………… because 11 …………………………… !

1   he was doing

2   he was writing a letter to the newspaper

3   (him) what the letter was about

4   (that) it was about crime rates in our town

5   there should be more police

6   he should mention the recent bank robbery

7   he would

8   he could find the name of the bank

9   (him) if he had looked online

10   he couldn’t

11   someone had stolen his laptop

4. Listen to a woman carrying out a survey about newspapers. Report the questions.

1    She asked him if he read ……………………………………………… .

2    She asked him ……………………………………………… .

3    She asked him ……………………………………………… .

4    She asked him ……………………………………………… .

5    She asked him ……………………………………………… .

6    She asked him ……………………………………………… .

1   newspapers

2   how many papers he had bought in the previous week.

3   which his favourite newspaper was.

4   why he liked it.

5   how it could be made even better.

6   if he trusted newspaper journalists to tell the truth.

Woman     I’m carrying out a survey about newspapers. Do you have a spare minute to answer some questions?

Man          Sure. Fire away.

Woman    Do you read newspapers?

Man          Yes, I read the newspaper every day.

Woman    How many papers have you bought in the last week?

Man          I’ve bought a paper every day.

Woman    Which is your favourite newspaper?

Man          I like The Times.

Woman    Why do you like it?

Man          There’s a good mix of serious news and human-interest stories.

Woman    How could it be made even better?

Man          There should be more sport.

Woman    Finally, do you trust newspaper journalists to tell the truth?

Man          Yes, I do. Most of the time.

5. Match the answers (a-f) with the questions in exercise 4.

a   There should be more sport.

b   I’ve bought a paper every day.

c   Yes, I do. Most of the time.

d   Yes, I read the newspaper every day.

e   I like The Times.

f   There’s a good mix of serious news and human-interest stories.

a 5   b 2   c 6   d 1   e 3   f 4

6. Now complete the woman’s report.

The man told her he read ………………………………… and that ………………………………… every day that week. He said ………………………………… The Times and that he liked it ………………………………… .

However, he told her ………………………………… . In answer to the final question, he said that ………………………………… .

(The man told her he read) the newspaper every day (and that) he had bought a paper (every day that week. He said) (that) he liked ( The Times and that he liked it) because there was a good mix of serious news and human-interest stories. (However, he told her) (that) there should be more sport. (In answer to the final question, he said that) he trusted journalists to tell the truth most of the time.

Report a conversation that you had recently with a friend or a member of your family.

……………………………………………………………

Related Posts

• English Grammar Exercises for B2 – Unreal past and had better
• English Grammar Exercises for B2 – Emphasis
• English Grammar Exercises for B2 – Mixed conditionals
• English Grammar Exercises for B2 – Criticising past actions
• English Grammar Exercises for B2 – Relative clauses

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

• English Grammar Exercises for B2 – Passive: advanced structures
• English Grammar Exercises for B2 – Question forms
• English Grammar Exercises for B2 – Negative structures

Download World Class eBooks

Pin It on Pinterest

Reported speech exercises PDF

• English grammar PDF
• PDF worksheets
• Mixed PDF tests
• Irregular verbs
• Modal verbs
• If-conditional
• Passive voice

Reported speech

• Time clauses
• Relative clauses
• Indirect questions
• Question tags
• Imperative sentence
• Gerund and infinitive
• Direct | indirect object
• Online exercises
• Grammar rules PDF

English grammar books PDF

PDF book 1: English grammar exercises PDF

PDF book 2: English grammar rules PDF

PDF exercises with answers to download for free.

Reported speech PDF exercise 1

Key with answers 1

• Complete sentences: "It is too late." - I said it was too late.

Reported speech PDF exercise 2

Key with answers 2

• A multiple choice choice test: "Sam may contact you." - He said Sam might contact me.

Reported speech PDF exercise 3

Key with answers 3

• Reported speech to direct speech: She said she lived in York. - "I live in York," she said.

Reported speech PDF exercise 4

Key with answers 4

• Time in reported speech: We will set off tomorrow." - They said they would set off the next day.

Reported speech PDF exercise 5

Key with answers 5

• Correct mistakes: "I have been with Jill since yesterday," said Joe on Friday morning. On Friday morning Joe said he had been with Jill since yesterday. Correct: On Friday morning Joe said he had been with Jill since the day before .

Reported speech PDF exercise 6

Key with answers 6

• All changes in reported speech: Tim said he had worked with them the previous month. - "I worked with them last month," said Tim.

Reported questions + commands exercises PDF Practise questions, commands and requests in the reported speech.

Online exercises with answers:

Direct and indirect speech exercises Multiple choice and gap-filling exercises on reported statements, questions and commands.

Grammar rules PDF:

Reported speech rules PDF Changes of tenses, pronouns, time and place in reported statements, questions and commands.

English grammar PDF All PDF rules with examples on this website to download for free.

The reported speech is used if we want to report what other people said, thought or felt. We use reporting verbs such as say, tell, explain, think, hope, etc. If these verbs are in the past tense, we change the following: a) verb tenses and verb forms b) pronouns c) adverbs of time and place

A) Verb tenses

We change the tenses in the following way.

• Present simple - past simple: "I work in York," Joe said. - Joe said (that) he worked in York.
• Present continuous - past continuous: "We are playing a game," Jane explained. - Jane explained (that) they were playing a game.
• Past simple - past perfect simple: "Sarah came back," I thought. - I thought (that) Sarah had come back.
• Past continuous - past perfect continuous: "I was talking to our new neighbour," Ben told me. - Ben told me (that) he had been talking to our new neighbour.
• Present perfect simple - past perfect simple: "I have eaten all sandwiches," he admitted. - He admitted (that) he had eaten all sandwiches.
• Present perfect continuous - past perfect continuous: "I have been driving for three hours," he comnplained. - He complained (that) he had been driving for three hours.
• Will - would I will wait outside the station," he reminded me. - He reminded me (that) he would wait outside the station.

Note: Some modal verbs change in a specific way, whereas other verb forms remain the same in special cases.

Read more: Direct and indirect speech

B) Pronouns

Personal pronouns

We have to change pronouns in the reported speech to keep the same meaning. "We are in Italy," he said. - He said they were in Italy. "They invited us," Betty said. - Betty said they had invited them. "I admire your new garden," she told me. - She told me she admired my new garden. "You can take my car," Peter said. - Peter said I could take his car.

This and these

This and these are usually substituted. "They will move this year," my mum said. - My mum said they would move that year. "I like these shoes," Tim insisted. - Tim insisted he liked the shoes.

C) Time and place

The time expressions change as follows.

now - then, today - that day, tomorrow - the next day/the following day, the day after tomorrow - in two days' time, yesterday - the day before, the day before yesterday - two days before, next week/month - the following week/month, last week/month - the previous week/month, a year ago - a year before/the previous year

Marion: "I will do it tomorrow." - Marion said she would do it the next day. Dan: "We arrived last week." - Dan said they had arrived the previous week. Judith: "Brian got married a year ago." - Judith said Brian had got married a year before.

Here and there

Here usually becomes there . But sometimes we have to make different adjustments. "I'll stay here till the evening," he said. - He said he would stay there till the evening. In the hospital: "We'll meet here." - He said they would meet in the hospital.

• All PDF exercises and grammar rules from this website.

English Practice Downloadable PDF Grammar and Vocabulary Worksheets

Reported speech (b1).

• RS013 - Reported Speech
• RS012 - Reported Questions and Commands
• RS011 - Reported Speech
• RS010 - Reported Speech
• RS009 - Reported Commands
• 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 - Adverb
• Gerund and Infinitive
• Modal Verbs
• Reported Speech
• Passive Voice
• Definite and Indefinite Articles
• Quantifiers
• Relative Clauses
• Prepositions
• Questions and Negations
• Question Tags
• Language in Use
• Word Formation
• General Vocabulary
• Topical Vocabulary
• Key Word Transformation

News Articles

• Letters and Emails
• Blog Posts and Comments
• Connectives and Linking Phrases
• Phrasal Verbs
• Collocations and Phrases

Listening Comprehension

Privacy policy.