Reported Speech: Reported Statements

Reported statements are sentences that tell us what another person said, usually by changing the tense and pronouns.

You can revise grammar rules here:

Reported Statements: Have Practice

Task 1. Rewrite the direct speech as reported speech to complete the sentences.

  1. ‘I’ll send you a postcard.’ – He told us that he ____________ us a postcard.
  2. ‘We’ve bought a new car.’ – They told me they ____________ a new car.
  3. ‘I don’t speak German.’ – She said that she ____________ German.
  4. ‘You failed your art exam.’ – You said that we ____________ our art exam.
  5. ‘I can’t drive.’ – He said he____________ drive.
  6. ‘You look nice.’ – He told me that I ____________ nice.
  7. ‘We’re going ice-skating.’ – They said they ____________ ice-skating.
  8. ‘The students aren’t listening to me.’ – The teacher said the students ____________ to her.

Task 2. Changed the direct speech to reported statements.

  1. “He works in a bank.” – She said …
  2. “We went out last night”. – She told me …
  3. “I’m coming!” – She said …
  4. “I was waiting for the bus when he arrived” – She told me …
  5. “I’d never been there before”. – She said …
  6. “I didn’t go to the party yesterday”. – She told me …
  7. “Lucy’ll come later”. – She said …
  8. “He hasn’t eaten breakfast”. – She told me …
  9. “I can help you tomorrow”. – She said …
  10. “You should go to bed early”. – She told me …
  11. “I don’t like chocolate”. – She told me …
  12. “I won’t see you tomorrow”. – She said …
  13. “She’s living in Paris now”. – She said …
  14. “I visited my parents last weekend”. – She told me …
  15. “She hasn’t eaten sushi before”. – She said …
  16. “I hadn’t travelled by underground before I came to London”. – She said …
  17. “They would help if they could”. – She said …
  18. “I’ll do the washing-up later”. – She told me …
  19. “He could read when he was three”. – She said …
  20. “I was sleeping when Julie called”. – She said …

Task 3. Change the sentences to reported statements.

  1. Mary said, “I will play a card game tomorrow.”
    Mary informed me that ______________________________________________________________ .
  2. Sophie said, “I went to bed early last night.”
    Sophie said that ______________________________________________________________________ .
  3. The teacher said to Jenny, “You have to learn your grammar.”
    The teacher told Jenny________________________________________________________________ .
  4. Jessica told the immigration officer, “This is my first trip to England.”
    Jessica told the immigration officer that ______________________________________________ .
  5. He told me, “You are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.”
    He told me that_______________________________________________________________________ .
  6. Marty said, “I’m going to visit my uncle next month.”
    Marty said that _______________________________________________________________________ .
  7. Lara said, “I get on with my parents really fine.”
    Lara said that_________________________________________________________________________ .
  8. Gloria explained, “I can’t come to the party because I’m going away for the weekend.”
    Gloria explained that _________________________________________________________________ .
  9. Mark said, “My friend found a new job in the music business.”
    Mark said that ________________________________________________________________________ .
  10. Judy complained, “I have already written this essay four times.”
    Judy complained that _________________________________________________________________ .
  11. Peter announced, “I will not give up until this factory is shut down.”
    Peter announced that ________________________________________________________________.
  12. Her boyfriend told her, “You have bought a wonderful dress.”
    Her boyfriend told her that ___________________________________________________________ .
  13. Paul said, “I don’t like my new flat.”
    Paul said that ________________________________________________________________________ .
  14. My father told Ben, “I am sure I saw you here last week.”
    My father told Ben that _______________________________________________________________ .
  15. Betty said, “If I knew the answer, I would tell you.”
    Betty said that _______________________________________________________________________ .