Reported Speech
Statements, questions, commands & requests
Rewrite the following sentences and questions into reported speech. Use the reporting verbs in
brackets.
1.
"I saw a fantastic film last night," said Emily. (say)
Emily said that she had seen a fantastic film the night before / the previous night.
2.
"We are moving to London next month," Tom said to me. (tell)
Tom told me that they were moving to London the following month.
3.
"I will finish the report by tomorrow," said Ken. (say)
Ken said that he would finish the report by the next/following day.
4.
"The students were singing and dancing in the basketball court," the teacher said to the
Principal. (tell)
The teacher told the Principal that the students had been singing and dancing in the basketball
court.
5.
“I had never been to Scotland before last summer,” said Daniel. (say)
Daniel said that he had never been to Scotland before the previous summer.
6.
“She was talking on the phone when the delivery arrived,” said Leonard. (say)
Leonard said that she was talking on the phone when the delivery arrived.
7.
“You can pay with cash or credit cards,” the shopkeeper said to Fiona. (tell)
The shopkeeper told Fiona that she could pay with cash or credit cards.
8.
“All workers must wear safety helmets,” said the director. (remark)
The director remarked that all workers had to wear safety helmets.
9.
Iris said, “It’s exciting to compete against some experienced runners, and I can’t wait to meet
the two-times champion .” (say) (add)
Iris said that it was exciting to compete against some experienced runners. She added that she
couldn’t wait to meet the two-times champion.
10. "Where did you buy this lovely dress?" asked Sophie. (ask)
Sophie asked where I had bought that lovely dress.
11. "Are you feeling better now?" asked Jack. (wonder)
Jack wondered if/whether I was feeling better then.
12. "When will the train arrive?" asked the tourist. (want to know)
The tourist wanted to know when the train would arrive.
13. "Did you enjoy the play yesterday?" asked my cousin. (ask)
My cousin asked if/whether I had enjoyed the play the day before / the previous day.
14. "Why haven’t you replied to my message?" asked Sarah. (want to know)
Sarah wanted to know why I hadn’t replied to her message.
15. Martha asked, “Should I throw away these old books?” (wonder)
Martha wondered if/whether she should throw away those/the old books.
16. "Please turn off the lights before you leave," Mum said to me. (tell)
Mum told me to turn off the lights before I left.
17. "Please don’t touch my belongings!" the homeless man said to the police officer. (beg)
The homeless man begged the police officer not to touch his belongings.
18. "Could you help me carry this bag?" the elderly man said to the woman. (ask)
The elderly man asked the woman to help him carry that/the bag.
19. The doctor told the patient, "Come and see me tomorrow morning." (tell)
The doctor told the patient to go and see him/her the next/following morning.
20. "Don’t ever speak to me like that again!" Lisa said to her little brother. (tell)
Lisa told her little brother not to speak to her like that ever again.