REPORTED SPEECH (INDIRECT SPEECH) EXERCISE 3 (ESL)
level: Intermediate (B1/B2)
✓ Useful for IELTS
✓ Useful for Cambridge B2/C1
This third reported speech exercise focuses on reporting questions and commands in indirect speech — two areas where learners often make word-order mistakes. For questions, reported speech uses normal statement word order; for commands, it uses told/asked + object + to-infinitive. The grammar review covers both patterns.
GRAMMAR REVIEW! Reported speech — questions and commands
Reporting questions and commands follows different rules from reporting statements. Learners often make mistakes here because the word order and structure change significantly.
Reported questions:
In a direct question, the auxiliary verb comes before the subject. In a reported question, the word order reverts to normal statement order, and there is no question mark.
Yes/no questions use if or whether:
Direct: “Are you coming?” → Reported: She asked if I was coming.
Wh- questions use the question word:
Direct: “Where do you live?” → Reported: He asked where I lived.
✗ He asked where did I live. (wrong — inverted word order)
Reported commands:
Use told/asked + object + to-infinitive (for positive commands) or not + to-infinitive (for negative commands):
Direct: “Stop talking.” → Reported: She told them to stop talking.
Direct: “Don’t move.” → Reported: He told us not to move.
Reporting questions and commands follows different rules from reporting statements. Learners often make mistakes here because the word order and structure change significantly.
Reported questions:
In a direct question, the auxiliary verb comes before the subject. In a reported question, the word order reverts to normal statement order, and there is no question mark.
Yes/no questions use if or whether:
Direct: “Are you coming?” → Reported: She asked if I was coming.
Wh- questions use the question word:
Direct: “Where do you live?” → Reported: He asked where I lived.
✗ He asked where did I live. (wrong — inverted word order)
Reported commands:
Use told/asked + object + to-infinitive (for positive commands) or not + to-infinitive (for negative commands):
Direct: “Stop talking.” → Reported: She told them to stop talking.
Direct: “Don’t move.” → Reported: He told us not to move.
Choose the correct reported speech form to complete each sentence.
1."David will leave in two days."
My brother told me that David ________ in two days.
My brother told me that David ________ in two days.
Correct answer: would leave — Will becomes would in reported speech.
2."I play hockey."
Patrick told me that he ________ hockey.
Patrick told me that he ________ hockey.
Correct answer: played — The simple present play becomes simple past played in reported speech.
3."We are painting Mary's house on Friday."
You told me that we ________ Mary's house on Friday.
You told me that we ________ Mary's house on Friday.
Correct answer: were painting — The present continuous are painting becomes were painting in reported speech.
4."The doctor will call you."
The receptionist said that the doctor ________ me.
The receptionist said that the doctor ________ me.
Correct answer: would call — Will call becomes would call in reported speech.
5."I have been to Quebec City."
Steve told us that he ________ to Quebec City.
Steve told us that he ________ to Quebec City.
Correct answer: had been — The present perfect have been becomes past perfect had been in reported speech.
6."Richard will be working all day."
Richard's aunt said that Richard ________ all day.
Richard's aunt said that Richard ________ all day.
Correct answer: would be working — Will be working becomes would be working in reported speech.
7."Close the curtains!"
My girlfriend asked me ________ the curtains.
My girlfriend asked me ________ the curtains.
Correct answer: to close — Reported commands use asked/told + object + to-infinitive.
8."I want to move to Toronto."
She told me that she ________ to move to Toronto.
She told me that she ________ to move to Toronto.
Correct answer: wanted — The simple present want becomes simple past wanted in reported speech.
9."I was out walking."
Tom told us that he ________ out walking.
Tom told us that he ________ out walking.
Correct answer: had been — The simple past was becomes past perfect had been in reported speech.
10."We are preparing sandwiches."
James told me that he and his girlfriend ________ sandwiches.
James told me that he and his girlfriend ________ sandwiches.
Correct answer: were preparing — The present continuous are preparing becomes were preparing in reported speech.
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