Reported Speech Exercises

These reported speech exercises are presented in questions test format with answers by Grammar teachers. At the explanations tab, we listed several reported speech & indirect speech examples and sentences with rules, formula, form and structure. And at the worksheet tab, you can download these exercises as pdf or word files for free.

Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)

Reported speech (also known as indirect speech) is used to report what someone said without quoting them directly. Instead of using their exact words, we change the structure and pronouns to match the new context.

What Is Reported Speech?

We use reported speech when we tell someone what another person said. The verb in the reported sentence is usually changed to a past form, especially if the reporting verb is in the past.

Direct speech: "I’m hungry," he said.
Reported speech: He said (that) he was hungry.

What Changes in Reported Speech?

When changing direct speech to reported speech, we often need to adjust:

  • Verb tenses
  • Pronouns
  • Time and place expressions
Direct Speech Reported Speech
Present Simple Past Simple
Present Continuous Past Continuous
Present Perfect Past Perfect
Past Simple Past Perfect
will would
can could
today that day
tomorrow the next day / the following day
yesterday the day before / the previous day
now then
here there

Common Reporting Verbs

We usually use verbs like say and tell in reported speech.

  • say + (that) + clause → She said (that) she was tired.
  • tell + object + (that) + clause → She told me (that) she was tired.

When No Changes Are Needed

Sometimes, the tense does not change. This happens when:

  • The reporting verb is in the present: He says he loves music.
  • The information is still true or a general fact.

Quick Tips on Reported Speech

  • "That" is optional in reported speech: She said she was happy.
  • Pay attention to the context to choose the correct pronouns and time expressions.
  • Questions and commands follow different structures in reported speech. (e.g., "Where is she?" → He asked where she was.)
Exercises
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Choose the correct option to complete the Reported Speech Exercises below.
1

She said, "I am reading a book."

a.
She said that she reads a book.
b.
She said that she had read a book.
c.
She said that she was reading a book.
2

He said, "I visited Paris last summer."

a.
He said that he visits Paris last summer.
b.
He said that he had visited Paris last summer.
c.
He said that he had visited Paris the previous summer.
3

"Where do you live?" she asked me.

a.
She asked me where I lived.
b.
She asked me where I had lived.
c.
She asked me where did I live.
4

"Can you help me?" he asked.

a.
He asked if I can help him.
b.
He asked that I could help him.
c.
He asked if I could help him.
5

"I will call you tomorrow," she said.

a.
She said that she will call me tomorrow.
b.
She said that she would call me the next day.
c.
She said that she would call me tomorrow.
6

"Don't touch that!" he warned me.

a.
He warned me not touching that.
b.
He warned me not to touch that.
c.
He warned me to not touch that.
7

"Why didn't you come?" she asked.

a.
She asked why I hadn’t come.
b.
She asked why I didn't come.
c.
She asked why hadn't I come.
8

"I have never been to London," he said.

a.
He said he had never been to London.
b.
He said he has never been to London.
c.
He said he never had been to London.
9

"We were watching TV," they said.

a.
They said they had been watching TV.
b.
They said they were watching TV.
c.
They said they had watched TV.
10

"She might be late," he said.

a.
He said she could be late.
b.
He said she might be late.
c.
He said she may be late.
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