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Joy English

B2 Grammar

B2Reported speech15 min

Reported speech

Report other people's statements, questions and requests, and know when the tense changes.

When we report someone's words later, we usually use a reporting verb such as say, tell or ask. If the reporting verb is in the past, the verb in the reported clause often moves one step back in time.

Direct speechReported speech
"I live in Cairo."She said (that) she lived in Cairo.
"I'm looking for my keys."He said he was looking for his keys.
"We have finished."They said they had finished.
"I saw the film."She said she had seen the film.
"I will call you."He said he would call me.
"I can swim."She said she could swim.
"You must be careful."He said I had to be careful.

Pronouns and time words also change to fit the new situation: today becomes that day, tomorrow becomes the next day or the following day, here becomes there, and ago becomes before.

Say, tell and ask

Tell needs a person as its object; say does not. Reported questions use normal statement word order and no question mark. Use if or whether for yes/no questions. To report requests and orders, use ask or tell + person + to + infinitive.

  • Mateo told me (that) he was moving to Chile.
  • Mateo said (that) he was moving to Chile.
  • She asked me where I lived.
  • He asked if I had a pen.
  • The coach told us not to be late.

Exercise 1 of 2

Choose the reported form

Choose the correct option to complete each reported sentence.

  1. Hana _____ me that she was feeling better.

  2. "I'm tired," said Leo. Leo said that he _____ tired.

  3. "Where do you live?" She asked me where _____.

  4. "Can you help me?" Omar asked me _____ help him.

  5. "Don't touch the oven." My dad told me _____ the oven.

  6. "We'll finish the project tomorrow." They said they _____ finish the project the next day.

  7. "I bought a new laptop last week." Ana said she _____ a new laptop the week before.

  8. Which sentence is correct?

0 of 8 answered

Exercise 2 of 2

Complete the reported sentences

Read the direct speech and complete the reported sentence. Type one to three words.

  1. "I'm cooking dinner," Jo said when I phoned her yesterday. Jo said she dinner.

  2. "I've lost my wallet," said Kemal. Kemal said he his wallet, but he found it an hour later.

  3. "Do you like spicy food?" Priya asked me spicy food.

  4. "Please close the window." The teacher asked us the window.

  5. "I'll send you the photos tomorrow." Sam said he me the photos the next day.

  6. "We're leaving tomorrow," Ali said on Sunday. On Sunday, Ali said they were leaving the day.

  7. The guide (say / tell) us that the castle was closed.

  8. "Where did you buy that jacket?" Nina asked me where I that jacket.

0 of 8 answered

Source

Original lesson by Joy English.

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