Topic: REPORTED SPEECH EXERCISE 2

GRAMMAR REVIEW! Reported speech

Reported speech (also known as indirect speech) is when we report what someone else said without quoting them directly.

KEY FEATURES

No quotation marks - We don't use the speaker's exact words.
Tense shift (usually backshift) - Tenses often change because we're talking about something said in the past.
Pronoun changes - Pronouns shift to match the speaker and listener.
Time and place words may change - Words like now, today, here often change.

USAGE EXAMPLES

• Statements
Direct speech:
She said, "I am tired."
Reported speech:
She said (that) she was tired.
Direct speech:
He said, "I like pizza."
Reported speech:
He said (that) he liked pizza.

• Questions
Direct speech:
He asked, "Where are you going?"
Reported speech:
He asked where I was going.
Direct speech:
She asked, "Do you like chocolate?"
Reported speech:
She asked if I liked chocolate.

• Commands and Requests
Direct speech:
She said, "Close the window."
Reported speech:
She told me to close the window.
Direct speech:
He said, "Please help me."
Reported speech:
He asked me to help him.

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER REPORTED SPEECH PRACTICE TESTS:
Reported Speech (Mixed tenses) 1 (I)
Reported Speech (Mixed tenses) 2 (I)
Reported Speech (Commands) 1 (I)
Reported Speech (Simple past) 1 (I)

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TOP TIP!

How to do better on IELTS Writing

1. Answer the question exactly
• Identify task type (opinion, discussion, problem/solution, report, letter).
• Address all parts of the question.
• Don't add ideas that are not asked for.
Task Response is 25% of your score.

2. Organize before you write
• Spend 2-3 minutes planning.
• Use clear paragraphs:
◦ Introduction
◦ 2 body paragraphs
◦ Conclusion
• One main idea per paragraph.
Clear structure = higher coherence and cohesion.

3. Use complex sentences - but safely
• Show grammatical range with:
◦ Relative clauses
◦ Conditionals
◦ Concessions (although, while, whereas)
• Avoid structures you can't control.
Accuracy matters more than "sounding advanced."

4. Develop ideas with examples
• Don't just state opinions.
• Explain why and give a specific example.
• Even simple examples improve band scores.
Example:
This can reduce pollution, because fewer cars are used, such as city bike-sharing programs.

5. Leave time to check
• Save 3-5 minutes to review:
◦ Verb tenses
◦ Articles (a/the/no article)
◦ Subject-verb agreement
◦ Spelling of common words
Fixing small errors can push you half a band higher.

Bonus timing guide
• Task 1: 20 minutes (150 words)
• Task 2: 40 minutes (250 words) → more important

Good luck!