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Reported Speech exercises

Monica Cabrera

Created on March 18, 2025

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Presentation and Practise

Reported Speech

Start

for B1+/B2

Introduction

tense changes in Reported Speech

backshifting

Past Simple

Present Simple

He said (that) he wrote e-mails every day.

I write e-mails every day.

Present Continuous

Past Continuous

He said (that) he was writing e-mails Then.

I'm writing e-mails now.

am /is / are / going to

was / were going to

he said (that) he was going to write e-mails the following day

I'm going to write e-mails tomorrow.

Past Perfect

Present Perfect

I have written ten e-mails so far.

He said (that) he had written ten e-mails so far.

tense changes in Reported Speech

Past Simple

Past Perfect

He said (that) he had written e-mails the previous day.

I wrote e-mails yesterday.

Past Perfect Continuous

Past Continuous

I was writing e-mails.

He said (that) he had been writing e-mails.

doesn't change

Past Perfect

he said (that) he had written 10 e-mails by 6 pm.

I had written 10 e-mails by 6 pm.

have to

had to

I have to write ten e-mails.

He said (that) he had to write ten e-mails .

tense changes in Reported Speech

would / wouldn't

Future Simple

He said (that) he wouldn't write e-mails the following day.

I won't write e-mails tomorrow.

could / couldn't

can / can't

I can write e-mails.

He said (that) he could write e-mails.

may

might (possibility) / could (permission)

he said (that) he might write e-mails .

I may write e-mails.

must

had to (obligation) / must (speculation)

He said (that) he had to write ten e-mails .

I must write ten e-mails.

tense changes in Reported Speech

should

shall

He said (that) he should write e-mails.

I shall write e-mails.

doesn't change

should

He said (that) he should write e-mails.

I should write e-mails.

doesn't change

might

he said (that) he might write e-mails.

I might write e-mails.

would

doesn't change

He said (that) he would write e-mails.

I would write e-mails.

could

doesn't change

He said (that) he Could write e-mails.

I could write e-mails.

Remember to change date and place words

Remember!

there

here

that day

today

at that moment / that morning

at the moment / this morning

that

this

these

those

yesterday

the day before / the previous day

last week / month / year

the previous week / the week before

ago

previously / before

that night

tonight

the next day / the following day / the day after

tomorrow

next week / month / year

the following week / the next week

Remember to change pronouns and possesive adjectives

Remember!

he, she/him or her

I/me

they

his or her

our

their

say / tell

He said he had enjoyed the TV show. He told me that he enjoyed the TV show.

'I won't be late!' > My boyfriend promised not to be late. 'Yes, I'll help you after school.' > She agreed to help me after school. 'I won't send it again.' > She refused to send it again.

agreeclaim decide demand offer promise refuse swear threaten

reporting verb + (not) to +infinitive

'Please don't tell her' > He begged me not to tell her. 'You should apply for the job' > She urged me to apply. 'Learn English. You'll be great at it.' > She encouraged me to learn English.

advise ask beg encourage invite persuade urge remind tell

+ person + (not) to + infinitive

AdmitDeny Recommend suggest

'No, I didn't take your laptop.' > He denied taking the laptop. 'Go to this pub. It's great.' > She recommended going to this pub. 'I broke the glass. It was me.' > She admitted breaking the glass.

+-ing

addadmit agree announce claim complain explain inform reply mention remind

'Classes will finish early tomorrow.> The teacher announced that the classes would finish early the next day.

repoting vErb + that + clause

ask + if/whether + S + V

Yes/No Questions in Reported Speech

The teacher asked if/whether we understood instructions.

'Do you understand instructions?' the teacher asked.

My friend wanted to know if/whether I had arrived on time the day before.

'Did you arrive on time yesterday?' my friend wanted to know.

She asked him if/whether he could help her with the bag.

'Can you help me with the bag?' she asked him.

I asked Bond if/whether he would give me his autograph.

'Will you give me an autograph?' I asked Bond.

ask + who/what / when / where / why / how + S + V

Wh- Questions in Reported Speech

The interviewer asked me where I studied French.

'Where do you study French?' the interviewer asked.

Police officer asked me when I had lost my mobile phone.

'When did you lost your mobile phone?' police officer asked me.

'Where is Ann?' she asked him.

She was wondering where Ann was.

'What time will you be home?' my husband asked me.

My husband asked me what time I would be home.

tell order demand

imperatives / commands in Reported Speech

'Go to bed!' my mum shouted.

My mum said to go to bed.

'Don't move!' police officer told the burglar.

Police officer ordered the bulglar not to move.

'Come with me!' she told him.

She told him to go with her.

My husband told me not to lie him.

'Don't lie to me!' my husband told.

reporting verbs

complain

mention

agree

wonder

explain

suggest

promise

Now let's watch the gameshow

Let's practise

Choose the continent and do the task.

When you finish, click here!

Now you decide. What are the tense changes in Reported Speech?

might

Present Continuous

was / were going to

Past Simple

had to

Past Perfect

must

Past continuous

can / can't

Past simple

am /is / are / going to

could / couldn't

Multiple choice cloze