Reported Speech

• english
• Secundair onderwijs

Reported speech

What changes occur when you turn direct speech into indirect speech?

What is reported speech?

'My best friend at school became a nurse first, then a paramedic.' → He told me that his best friend at school ___ a nurse first, then a paramedic.

1. was becoming
2. becomes
3. had become
4. has become

'I had lived in four countries by the age of ten.' → She said that she ___ in four countries by the age of ten.

1. lived
2. has lived
3. was living
4. had lived

'I commute 45 minutes to work.' → She told me that she ___ 45 minutes to work, but I bet it takes longer now with the roadworks.

1. commuted
2. has commuted
3. had commuted
4. to commute

We were hoping to have our wedding in June.' → She told me that they ___ to have their wedding in June. In the end, though, they got married in September.

1. had been hoping
2. hoped
3. are hoping
4. have been hoping

'Oh, hi, Ethan! I'm just leaving, unfortunately.' → When I got there I saw him, but he said he ___.

1. is just leaving
2. was just leaving
3. had just left
4. were just leaving

We've seen four elephants already and it's only our first day.' → He said that they ___ four elephants on their first day. Imagine what animals they've seen by now!

1. were seeing
2. had seen
3. saw
4. going to see

'I love this restaurant!' → We could go back to Bella Roma? Chloe said she loved ___ restaurant!

1. this
2. those
3. that
4. there

'I told Dom to email you three days ago.' → She said that she had told Dom to email me three days ___, but it's been a week now and I still haven't heard.

1. then
2. before
3. ago
4. next

Reported Speech

Questions

'Did you meet each other at school?' He asked them …

1. if did they meet at school
2. if they met at school
3. if they had met at school
4. if they would meet at school

'Why are you wearing sunglasses?' She wondered …

1. why he was wearing sunglasses
2. if he was wearing sunglasses
3. why was he wearing sunglasses
4. if he had been wearing sunglasses

'Who else have you told?' They asked me …

1. who else we'd told
2. if we had told
3. who else had we told
4. who else we might tell

'Were you listening to me?' She asked us …

1. why we'd been listening to her
2. if we listened to her
3. whether we'd been listening to her
4. what we heard

'How will you get to France?' I asked them …

1. how they would get to France
2. how they got to France
3. how would they get to France
4. if they had got to France

'Had you already met him?' She asked me ...

1. if I already met him
2. if I was already meeting him
3. if I'd already met him
4. already had I met him

'What can we do about this?' We wanted to know …

1. whether we could do about it
2. what we could do about it
3. if we could do about it
4. why we could about it

'Can I get you a coffee?' I offered ...

1. if I were to get him a coffee
2. if I was allowed to get him a coffee
3. if I could get him a coffee
4. to get him a coffee

Reported Speech

Reporting verbs

Grammar explanation

When we tell someone what another person said, we often use the verbs say, tell or ask. These are called 'reporting verbs'. However, we can also use other reporting verbs. Many reporting verbs can be followed by another verb in either an infinitive or an -ing form. 

Verb + infinitive

Verbs like advise, agree, challenge, claim, decide, demand, encourage, invite, offer, persuade, promise, refuse and remind can follow an infinitive pattern.

Verb + infinitive (example)

"I'll have the risotto, please."

He decided to have the risotto

Verb + infinitive 

We can also use an infinitive to report imperatives, with a reporting verb like tell, order, instruct, direct or warn.

'Please wait for me in reception.'

The guide told us to wait for her in reception.

'Don't go in there!'

The police officer warned us not to go in there.

Reporting verb + ing form

Verbs like admit, apologise for, complain about, deny, insist on, mention and suggest can follow an -ing form pattern.

Reporting verb + ing form (example)

'Let's take a break.'

She suggested taking a break.

'I didn't lock the door.' → He admitted not _____ the door.

1. locking
2. locked
3. to lock
4. lock

'Don't close the window!' → I told him not _____ the window.

1. closing
2. having closed
3. to close
4. had closed

'I'm so sorry I missed your birthday.' → She apologised for _____ my birthday.

1. missed
2. missing
3. to miss
4. she had missed

'I don't think it's a good idea to invite him.' → She advised us not _____ him.

1. not to invite
2. inviting
3. to invite
4. invite

'I'm definitely going to the meeting. I really need to be there.' → He insisted on _____ to the meeting.

1. going
2. to go
3. go
4. he would go

'Please leave this area immediately.' → The police instructed us _____ the area.

1. leave
2. leaving
3. to leave
4. left

'I won't do it again!' → He promised not _____ it again.

1. to do
2. will do
3. do
4. doing