UNIT 18

REPORTED SPEECH

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1
OBJECTIVE

 Reported speech = 'indirect speech‘

 Grammar rules

 Reported speech and the sequence of tenses,

 Reporting verbs and adjectives in direct/indirect speech,

 The verbs 'say', 'tell' and 'ask',

 Reported statements, Reported questions, Reported orders/imperatives,

….

 Reported speech with tense changes.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 2
18.1 REPORTED SPEECH AND
THE SEQUENCE OF TENSES

 Reported speech = 'indirect speech‘

 We use reported speech when we are telling someone what another

person says or said.

 The reporting verb (e.g. Say tell) may be in the present or past

 The tenses of the reported statement are often (but

not always) affected by reporting verb

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 3
18.1 REPORTED SPEECH AND
THE SEQUENCE OF TENSES

 Actual spoken I can see him now.

statement:
 Direct statement in I can see him now,' the boss says/said
writing:
 Indirect statement The boss says (that) he can see you now
(present):
 Indirect statement The boss said (that) he could see you now
(past):

 Quotation marks are not used in indirect speech,

=> For verbs that can introduce reported

statements and questions.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR 4
QUESTIONS

Decide each statement is TRUE or FALSE

1. We use reported speech when we are telling

story.
• FALSE

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 5
QUESTIONS

Decide each statement is TRUE or FALSE

2.We use reported speech when we are telling

someone what another person says or said.
• TRUE

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 6
QUESTIONS

Decide each statement is TRUE or FALSE

3. The reporting verb (e.g. say tell) has to be in

the past.
• FALSE

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 7
QUESTIONS

Decide each statement is TRUE or FALSE

4. The reporting verb (e.g. say tell) has to be in the

present.
• FALSE

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 8
QUESTIONS

Decide each statement is TRUE or FALSE

5.The reporting verb (e.g. say tell) may be in the present or past (most
often in the past) and the tenses of the reported statement are often
(but not always) affected by this.
• TRUE

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 9
18.2 REPORTING VERBS AND ADJECTIVES
IN DIRECT/INDIRECT SPEECH
 The commonest reporting verbs in both direct and indirect speech are say, tell
and ask.

 Many other verbs can be followed by that or if, whether and can serve as
reporting verbs.

 A number of these do not strictly 'report speech' (actual spoken

words), but thoughts, feelings, etc.

 That is why 'indirect speech', as a term, is preferable to 'reported speech'.

 Similarly, a number of adjectives, such as certain, sure can be followed by that, if,
whether (whether) to and question-words
ENGLISH GRAMMAR 10
18.3 THE VERBS 'SAY', 'TELL' AND 'ASK'
1. Basic uses of 'say', 'tell' and 'ask'

 The most important thing to remember is that

they must be followedby a personal indirect object (tell
somebody ).

 Say can be followed by an optional to+ the person who is addressed:

Example: You haven't got much time, he told me/he said (to me)

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 11
18.3.1 BASIC USES OF 'SAY', 'TELL' AND 'ASK'
 Ask can be followed by an indirect object:

Example:
• 'Are you comfortable?' he asked (me)
• He asked (me) if I was comfortable

 In reported requests, the inclusion or not of an object affects the

meaning:
Example:
• She asked to go (actual spoken words: 'May I
go?')
• She asked me to go (actual spoken words: 'Will you
go? )
ENGLISH GRAMMAR 12
18.3.1 BASIC USES OF 'SAY', 'TELL' AND 'ASK'
 Say in direct speech in writing

 Say + that-clause, indirect statement

 Say if/whether + indirect yes/no

question

 Say + indirect wh-question

 Say + to-infinitive

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 13
18.3.1 BASIC USES OF 'SAY', 'TELL' AND 'ASK'
 Tell somebody in direct speech in writing

 Tell somebody + that-clause, indirect

statement

 Tell somebody + if/whether + indirect yes/no

question

 Tell somebody + indirect wh-question

 Tell somebody + to-infinitive

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 14
18.3.1 BASIC USES OF 'SAY', 'TELL' AND 'ASK'
 Ask (somebody) in direct speech in writing

 Ask (somebody) + if/whether + indirect Yes/No

question

 Ask (somebody) + Wh-question

 Ask (somebody) + to-infinitive

 Ask that something (should) be done

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 15
PRACTICE

Put in 'said' or 'told‘

1. Julie ………. that she would join us after work.

• Said

2. She …………. me that she was going running this

evening.

• Told

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 16
PRACTICE

Put in 'said' or 'told‘

3. John ………… us that he couldn't come to the party.

• Told

4. John …………. that he had been to the cinema at the

weekend.

• Said

5. She …………… them she wanted to quit.

• Told
ENGLISH GRAMMAR 17
18.3.2 SECONDARY USES OF 'SAY', 'TELL' AND 'ASK'

 The passive 'He is said to be' does not have an active

equivalent

• Say + object in fixed expressions

Example: say a few words, say no more, ….

• Tell somebody so:

Example:
 'You were right about the meeting.' I said
 I told you so,' Jill answered

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 18
18.3.2 SECONDARY USES OF 'SAY', 'TELL' AND 'ASK'

• Tell + object in fixed expressions:

Example: Tell the difference, tell a lie, …

• Ask for something: ask somebody for

something:
Example: I asked for a loan I asked Jim for a loan

• Ask in fixed expressions

Ask a question, ask the price,…

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 19
PRACTICE

Fill say, ask, tell with correct form in each blank

1. She ………… me not to go.

• She told me not to go.

2. She …………me if I worked in London.

• She asked me if I worked in London.

3. She …………me to tell her where the post office

was.

• She asked me to tell her where the post

office was. ENGLISH GRAMMAR 20
PRACTICE

Fill say, ask, tell with correct form in each blank

4. She ………… me to come there.

• She told me to come there.

5. She ………… that she had never been to Wales.

• She said that she had never been to Wales.

6. She ………… me if I had ever seen ‘The Lord of the

Rings’.

• She asked me if I had ever seen ‘The Lord of the

Rings’. ENGLISH GRAMMAR 21
PRACTICE

Fill say, ask, tell with correct form in each blank

7. She ………… that she didn't like

mushrooms.
• She said that she didn't like mushrooms.

8. She ………… me not to be silly.

• She told me not to be silly.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 22
PRACTICE

Fill say, ask, tell with correct form in each blank

9. She ………… me to wait a

moment.
• She asked me to wait a moment.

10.She ………… me how often I

played sport.

• She asked me how often I

played sport.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 23
18.4 'SAY', 'TELL' AND 'ASK' IN DIRECT SPEECH
 Say is commonly associated with direct speech in writing:
• 'It's raining’, I said

 We can also use say with short, ordinary questions in direct

speech
• 'Are you all right?' he said / asked (Not "told me”)

 Say (Not "told him/asked”) can introduce a statement or

question
• I said: ‘It s raining’. I said: ‘Is it ready?’

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 24
18.4 'SAY', 'TELL' AND 'ASK' IN DIRECT SPEECH
 Say or tell can be used in direct speech and can also introduce direct
commands
• Don’t touch that!’ he said (to them)/told them

 Ask is used in direct questions

• How are you? she asked (me)/said (Not “told me”)

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 25
PRACTICE

Fill the missing verb in each sentence

1. "You'll never guess what I've just seen!" ………… Sam,

excitedly.
• "You'll never guess what I've just seen!" said Sam,
excitedly.

2. "What's that?" ………… Louise.

• "What's that?" asked Louise.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 26
PRACTICE

Fill the missing verb in each sentence

3. I …………him “I’m hungry.”

• I told him “I’m hungry.”

4. ‘Hello,’ she ………….

• ‘Hello,’ she said.

5. He …………, ‘I’m not paying £50 for

that.’

• He said, ‘I’m not paying £50 for

that.’ ENGLISH GRAMMAR 27
18.5 'SAY', 'TELL' AND 'ASK' IN INDIRECT SPEECH
 Say and tell someone + optional that can introduce indirect
statements. We never use a comma after say or tell someone
• He said (that)/told me (that) his life was in danger

 If we need to mentionthe listener,tell + indirectobject is

generally preferable to say + to someone.

 When the reporting verb comes at the end of the sentence, we

cannot use ‘that’
• His life was in danger he told me/he said.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 28
18.5 'SAY', 'TELL' AND 'ASK' IN INDIRECT SPEECH
 Ask (with or without a personal indirect object) can report a question

 Ask (someone) is followed by if/whether or a question-word

• She asked (me) if/whether I wanted anything
• She asked (me) what I wanted

 We use say/tell to introduce noun clauses, not to report questions. For

the use of
ask/tell to report commands.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 29
PRACTICE

Fill say, ask, tell with correct form in each blank

1. She ………… me to come quickly.

• She told me to come quickly.

2. She ………… me if I arrived (had arrived) before

seven.

• She asked me if I arrived (had arrived) before

seven.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 30
PRACTICE

Fill say, ask, tell with correct form in each blank

3. She ………… me how my holiday was (had

been).
• She asked me how my holiday was (had
been).

4. She ………… that she would have visited the

hospital, if she had known I was sick.

• She said that she would have visited the

hospital, if she had known I was sick.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR 31
PRACTICE

Fill say, ask, tell with correct form in each blank

5. She ………… me not to touch.

• She told me not to touch.

6. She ………… me if I usually cooked at

home.

• She asked me if I usually cooked at

home.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 32
18.6. INDIRECT STATEMENTS: REPORTING VERB IN THE PRESENT

1. Form

 Actual spoken statements

• I’ve read Tony’s book and I don’t understand it.
• I’ve read Tony’s book and I didn’t understand it.

 indirect statements: reporting verb in the present

• If the reporting verb in indirect speech is in the present the tenses that
follow are usually the same as those used in the original spoken
statement.
• This is often the case when we report words that have just been spoken.

 Ex: Jim says tells me (that) he s read Tony s book and doesn’t understand it.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR 33
PRACTICE

Turn these sentences to indirect speech

1. Jim says, "My dog is sick."

• Jim says that his dog is sick.

2. Arjun's friends say, "He always comes to

parties."

• Arjun's friends say that he always comes to

parties.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 34
PRACTICE

Turn these sentences to indirect speech

3. Mary says, "Renuka hates

spiders."
• Mary says that you hate
spiders.

4. Peter says, "I have just arrived

at the airport."

• Peter says that he has just

arrived at the airport.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR 35
5. He says, “I am shock.”
18.6.2 INDIRECT SPEECH IN
CONTEXT (REPORTING VERB IN THE
PRESENT)
 The reporting verb is often in the present when the reference is
general or to 'present time' in contexts like the following - reporting,

Example a rumor:
A: A little birdie tells me you re applying for a new job.
B: Who tells you?
A: Never you mind!

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 36
18.6.2 INDIRECT SPEECH IN
CONTEXT (REPORTING VERB IN THE
PRESENT)
 Passing on messages

Example:
• A: Come in now Jim Dinner’s ready
• B: What does your mother say?
• C: She says you must come in now dad (She says) dinner’s
ready.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 37
18.6.2 INDIRECT SPEECH IN CONTEXT
(REPORTING VERB IN THE PRESENT)
 Reading a newspaper, etc. and reporting

Example:
• A: What does the article say?
• B: It s about the kitchen of the future. The writer says we‘ll have robots
which can understand instructions and carry them out.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 38
18.6.2 INDIRECT SPEECH IN CONTEXT
(REPORTING VERB IN THE PRESENT)

 General (no special time)

Example:
• A: So how are we supposed to wire this plug?
• B: The instructions say that the brown wire means live and it goes into the
hole marked L. It says here that the blue means neutral and it
goes into the hole marked N.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 39
18.6.2 INDIRECT SPEECH IN
CONTEXT (REPORTING VERB IN THE
PRESENT)
 Reporting something someone says very often

Example: Mary’s always talking about money. She’s always complaining that things
are expensive and she’s always asking how much I’ve paid for one thing and another.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 40
QUESTIONS

The reported speech in each short conversation is TRUE or FALSE

1. A: Come in now John party’s

ready B: What does his mother

say?

A: She said you must come in now

your brother party’s ready.

(FALSE)

A: She says you must come in now

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 41
QUESTIONS

The reported speech in each short conversation is TRUE or FALSE

2. A: A little birdie tells me you re moving to new house.

B: Who tells you?

A: Never you mind!

(TRUE)

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 42
QUESTIONS

The reported speech in each short conversation is TRUE or FALSE

3. A: So how are we supposed to start a car?

B: The instructions said that we should insert ley in the key

hole. It says here that press the red button next to the key hole.

(FALSE)

The instructions says that we should insert ley in the key

hole.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 43
18.7 INDIRECT STATEMENTS WITH TENSE CHANGES

 Actual spoken statements in the present (simple and progressive)

• TOM. I need to go to the bank
• PAM. I'm waiting for Harriet

 Indirect statements: present, past

• Tom said (that) he needed to go to the bank.
• Pam said (that) she was waiting for Harriet.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 44
18.7 INDIRECT STATEMENTS WITH TENSE CHANGES

 Actual spoken statement in the present perfect

• I've moved to another flat.

 indirect statement: present perfect, past perfect (past perfect obligatory)

• Sylvia said (that) she had moved to another flat.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 45
18.7 INDIRECT STATEMENTS WITH TENSE CHANGES

 Actual spoken statements in the past (simple and progressive)

• I moved to another flat I was waiting for Harriet.
• I had been waiting for hours before you arrived.

 Indirect statements: past -> past or past perfect (past perfect optional
• She said (that) she moved/had moved to another flat.
• He said (that) he was waiting had been waiting for Harriet.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 46
18.7 INDIRECT STATEMENTS WITH TENSE CHANGES

 Actual spoken statements with the 'present' form of modals

• I can see you tomorrow I'II help you.

 Indirect statements: modal 'present' -> 'conditional' or 'past'

• She said (that) she could see me the next day.
• She said (that) she would help me.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 47
18.7 INDIRECT STATEMENTS WITH TENSE CHANGES

 Actual spoken statements with the 'past' or 'conditional' form of modals

• I could see you tomorrow I would complain if I were you.

 indirect statements: the 'past' or 'conditional' modal does not change

• He said (that) he could see me the next day.
• She said (that) she would complain if she were me.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 48
PRACTICE

Turn these sentences into indirect speech

1. "He works in a bank.“

• She said that he worked in a bank.

2. "We went out last night.“

• She said that they had gone out last

night.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 49
PRACTICE

Turn these sentences into indirect speech

3. "I'm coming!"
• She said that she was coming.

4. "I was waiting for the bus when he arrived."

• She said that she had been waiting for the bus when he
arrived.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 50
PRACTICE

Turn these sentences into indirect speech

5. "I'd never been there before."

• She said that she had never been there
before.

6. "I didn't go to the party."

• She said that she hadn’t gone to that

party.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 51
18.8 NOTES ON THE FORM OF INDIRECT SPEECH WITH
TENSE CHANGES

1. 'Rules' in indirect
speech

2. Linking phrases

3. Tense changes

4. Pronoun changes

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 52
18.8 NOTES ON THE FORM OF INDIRECT SPEECH WITH
TENSE CHANGES
4. Pronoun changes

Some typical pronoun changes

are:

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 53
18.8 NOTES ON THE FORM OF INDIRECT SPEECH WITH
TENSE CHANGES

5. Time and place changes

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 54
18.8 NOTES ON THE FORM OF INDIRECT SPEECH WITH
TENSE CHANGES

6. Modal verbs

7. Can/will/may see you later,' he said

He said he could/would/might see me later.

8. Shall
When shall is used with futurereference for
prediction, speculation, etc. it becomes would in indirect
speech

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 55
18.8 NOTES ON THE FORM OF INDIRECT SPEECH WITH
TENSE CHANGES

9. Should/shouldn't
• When should or shouldn't refer to desirability, obligation or
likelihood, they
remain unchanged in indirect speech
Example:
• You should see a specialist,' he told me.
• He told me I should see a specialist.

• Should used in place of would, e.g. in conditional

sentences, becomes
would
ENGLISH GRAMMAR 56
18.8 NOTES ON THE FORM OF INDIRECT SPEECH WITH
TENSE CHANGES
10. Would, could, might, ought to, needn't have, used to

• 'I would like an appointment tomorrow`, I said to my dentist.

• I told my dentist (that) I would like an appointment the next day.

11. Perfect' and 'past' modal forms

• I must have slept through the alarm ' she said.

• She said she must have slept through the alarm.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 57
18.8 NOTES ON THE FORM OF INDIRECT SPEECH WITH
TENSE CHANGES
 12. Must
• When referring to the past, must can remain unchanged in indirect
speech when it is used to indicate inescapable obligation. Or we can
use had to (the past of have to) in its place
• Must, indicating future necessity, can remain unchanged, or can be
replaced by would have to or sometimes had to
• When must is used to indicate deduction or possibility, it remains
unchanged in indirect speech. It cannot be replaced by had to:
• Mustn't (prohibition) remains unchanged or changes to couldn't:

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 58
18.8 NOTES ON THE FORM OF INDIRECT SPEECH WITH
TENSE CHANGES

 13. needn't

• Needn't (absence of necessity) can remain unchanged or can be

replaced by
didn't have to in indirect speech

You needn't/don't have to come in tomorrow ' the boss said.

The boss said I needn't/didn't have to come in the next day.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 59
18.8 NOTES ON THE FORM OF INDIRECT SPEECH WITH
TENSE CHANGES

14. Conditional statements

 Type 1 conditional statements are reported as follows:
'If you pass your test, I'll buy you a car' he said.
He said that if I passed my test he would buy me a car.
 Type 2 conditional statements are reported as follows:
'If you passed your test I would buy you a car' he said.
He said that if I passed my test he would buy me a car.
 Type 3 conditional statements are reported as follows:
'If you'd passed your test I'd have bought you a car' he said.
He said that if I'd passed my test he'd have bought me a car.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR 60
18.8 NOTES ON THE FORM OF INDIRECT SPEECH WITH
TENSE CHANGES

15. Exclamations

 Note the word order in reported exclamations:

'What a silly boy you are' she exclaimed.

She told him what a silly boy he was.

She told him that he was a silly boy.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 61
PRACTICE

Fill in the blanks to correctly report what these people said.

1. "We are getting married this afternoon!"

• They said they were getting married
afternoon.

• THAT

2. "My children gave me a tie for Father's Day."

• He said children gave a tie for

Father's Day.

• HIS ………….. HIM ENGLISH GRAMMAR 62

PRACTICE

Fill in the blanks to correctly report what these people said.

3. "I have been standing here waiting for the elevator for ages!"
• He said he had been standing waiting for the elevator
for ages.
• THERE

4. "They are chatting about work."

• He said they about work."

• WAS CHATTING

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 63
PRACTICE

Fill in the blanks to correctly report what these people said.

5. "That man is trying to get away!"

• She said the man to get
away.
• WAS TRYING

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 64
18.9 W-H QUESTION WORDS IN REPORTED SPEECH

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 65
18.9 W-H QUESTION WORDS IN REPORTED SPEECH

Notes on the form of indirect question-word questions

1. Word order: be, have and modal auxiliaries

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 66
18.9 W-H QUESTION WORDS IN REPORTED SPEECH

 Notes on the form of indirect question-word questions

2. Word order: do, does and did

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 67
18.9 W-H QUESTION WORDS IN REPORTED SPEECH

Notes on the form of indirect question-word questions

3. Indirect question-word questions with verbs other than ask

• Many different reporting verbs can be used other than ask, want to
know, etc.
I know where he lives.
She didn't say why she was coming home late.
He didn't tell me how he did it.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 68
18.9 W-H QUESTION WORDS IN REPORTED SPEECH

Notes on the form of indirect question-word questions

4. Question-words in short answers

What did she want to know Why/When we were
leaving.
(= She wanted to know why/when we were
leaving.)

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 69
18.10 INDIRECT SUBJECT-QUESTIONS

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 70
PRACTICE

Turn these question into reported ones

1. "Why is Julie sad?"

• She asked me why Julie was sad.

2. "What's for dinner?"

• She asked me what was for dinner.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 71
PRACTICE

Turn these question into reported ones

3. "Who is the woman in the red dress?"

• She asked me who the woman in the red

dress was.

4. "How is your grandmother?"

• She asked me how my grandmother was.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 72
PRACTICE

Turn these question into reported ones

5. "When is the party?"

• She asked me when the party was.

6. "How much is the rent on your flat?“

• She asked me how much the rent on my
flat was.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 73
 18.11 USES OF THE TO-INFINITIVE IN INDIRECT SPEECH

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 74
18.11 USES OF THE TO-INFINITIVE IN INDIRECT SPEECH

 The imperative: affirmative and negative

Keep a record of your expenses I said

 Tell: I told him to keep a record of his expenses

Remember to switch off all the lights ' she said

 Remind: She reminded me to switch off all the lights

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 75
18.11 USES OF THE TO-INFINITIVE IN INDIRECT SPEECH
 The infinitive after question-words

direct request: Shall/Should I phone

her?'.

indirect request: He wanted to know

if/whether

he should phone her.

whether + infinitive: He wanted to know whether

to phone her.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR 76
18.11 USES OF THE TO-INFINITIVE IN INDIRECT SPEECH

 Requests, etc. with question-words can also be reported in

two ways:

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 77
PRACTICE

Turn these sentences into reported ones

1. The teacher said, "You can't leave the room!"

• The teacher ordered us not to leave the room.

2. Mom told me, "Don't spend too much money on

clothes".
• Mom warned me not to spend too much money on
clothes.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 78
PRACTICE

Turn these sentences into reported ones

3. I said to her, "Speak more slowly!"

• I told her to speak more slowly.

4. The doctor said, "You mustn't eat any

sweets."
• The doctor forbade me to eat any
sweets.

5. Don said, "I won't tell anyone."

• Don promised not to tell anyone
ENGLISH GRAMMAR 79
18.12 WHEN WE USE INDIRECT SPEECH

 Interpreting direct speech

 Oral reporting

 Reporting everyday conversation

 Passing on instructions

 Giving the gist of e.g. a lecture

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 80
18.12 WHEN WE USE INDIRECT SPEECH

 Written reporting

• Company reports

• Parliamentary reports

• 'Free indirect speech'

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 81
PRACTICE

Change the sentences to reported speech!

1. Mary said, “I will play a card game tomorrow.”

• Mary informed me that .
• Mary informed me that she would play a card game the
following day.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 82
PRACTICE

Change the sentences to reported speech!

2. Sophie said, “I went to bed early last night.”

• Sophie said that
.
• Sophie said that she had gone to bed early the night
before.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 83
PRACTICE

Change the sentences to reported speech !

3. The teacher said to Jenny, „You have to learn your grammar.”

• The teacher told Jenny
.
• The teacher told Jenny that she had to learn her grammar.

• Or:

The teacher told Jenny to learn her grammar.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 84
PRACTICE

Change the sentences to reported speech !

4. Jessica told the immigration officer,” This is my first trip to England.”

• Jessica told the immigration officer that .
• Jessica told the immigration officer that it/that was her first trip to
England.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 85
PRACTICE

Change the sentences to reported speech !

5. He told me, “You are the most beautiful girl I have

ever seen.”
• He told me that .
• He told me that I was the most beautiful girl in the
world.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 86
PRACTICE

Change the sentences to reported speech !

6. Marty said, “I’m going to visit my uncle next month.”

• Marty said that .
• Marty said that he was going to visit his uncle the following
month.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 87
PRACTICE

Change the sentences to reported speech !

7. Lara said, “I get on with my parents really fine.”

• Lara said that
.
• Lara said that she got on with her parents really fine.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 88
PRACTICE

Change the sentences to reported speech !

8. Gloria explained, “I can’t come to the party because I’m going away for the
weekend.”

• Gloria explained that .

• Gloria explained that she couldn’t / wasn’t able
to come to the party because she was going away for
the weekend.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 89
PRACTICE

Change the sentences to reported speech !

9. Mark said, “My friend found a new job in the music business.”
• Mark said that .
• Mark said that his friend had found a new job in the music
business.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 90
PRACTICE

Change the sentences to reported speech !

10.Judy complained, “I have already written this essay four times.”

• Judy complained that .
• Judy complained that she had already written that essay four
times.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 91