English grammar, vocabulary, and listening comprehension exercises
English grammar exercises and tests
English grammar exercises and tests


Topic: REPORTED SPEECH EXERCISE 2

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level: Intermediate (B1/B2)







REMEMBER:
1. simple present becomes simple past
2. simple past becomes past perfect
3. future tenses become conditional
4. present continuous becomes past continuous
5. present perfect becomes past perfect
6. commands (come!) become infinitive (to come)

Choose the best response.

1. "She will visit her family in New Zealand next year."
She told me that she ________ her family in New Zealand next year.
  would visit
  will visit
  visits

2. "I talk to my brother every day."
He told me that he ________ to his brother every day.
  was talking
  talked
  is talking

3. "My friend will help me study."
She told me that her friend ________ her study.
  will help
  helps
  would help

4. "Mary is living in Wellington."
My friend told me that Mary ________ in Wellington.
  lives
  was living
  is living

5. "I have seen that movie."
She told me that she ________ that movie.
  had seen
  has seen
  saw

6. "I will be in Auckland next week."
I told him that I ________ in Auckland next week.
  will be
  would be
  am

7. "Turn off the light!"
He asked me ________ the light.
  to turned off
  turn off
  to turn off

8."I am a good dancer."
She told me that she ________ a good dancer.
  is
  was
  will be

9. "I have been to that bar."
He told me that he ________ to that bar.
  had been
  will have been
  is being

10. "I am writing an email to my attorney."
He told me that he ________ an email to his attorney.
  is writing
  was writing
  writes


CHECK ANSWERS (Your answers will be displayed in a new window)





BACK TO LIST OF EXERCISES

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.

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