Reported Speech, also known as Indirect Speech, refers to the form of speech where one recounts what was said by another person, but does not quote them directly. Instead, the speaker reshapes the structure of the original words, perhaps changing tenses, pronouns or the like because the situation is different. It is a commonly used device in spoken and written English, providing variety and subtlety of expression.
Exercise 1: Converting Direct Speech to Reported Speech
1. “I am studying for the exam,” he said. (*He said that he was studying for the exam.*) (answer)
2. “We have been to Spain last year,” they told me. (*They told me that they had been to Spain the previous year.*) (answer)
3. “I will call you tomorrow,” she promised. (*She promised that she would call me the next day.*) (answer)
4. “He did not attend the class,” she reported. (*She reported that he had not attended the class.*) (answer)
5. “They are going to play football,” he mentioned. (*He mentioned that they were going to play football.*) (answer)
6. “I can play the piano,” he claimed. (*He claimed that he could play the piano.*) (answer)
7. “She was singing in the choir,” they revealed. (*They revealed that she had been singing in the choir*) (answer)
8. “I have lost my keys,” he confessed. (*He confessed that he had lost his keys.*) (answer)
9. “They will visit us next week,” she informed. (*She informed that they would visit us the following week.*) (answer)
10. “I was watching a movie,” he described. (*He described that he had been watching a movie.*) (answer)
11. “We can come to your party,” they agreed. (*They agreed that they could come to my party.*) (answer)
12. “I have to work late today,” he complained. (*He complained that he had to work late that day.*) (answer)
13. “They were playing video games,” he pointed out. (*He pointed out that they had been playing video games.*) (answer)
14. “You should follow your dreams,” she insisted. (*She insisted that I should follow my dreams.*) (answer)
15. “I don’t like spinach,” he admitted. (*He admitted that he didn’t like spinach.*) (answer)
2. “We have been to Spain last year,” they told me. (*They told me that they had been to Spain the previous year.*) (answer)
3. “I will call you tomorrow,” she promised. (*She promised that she would call me the next day.*) (answer)
4. “He did not attend the class,” she reported. (*She reported that he had not attended the class.*) (answer)
5. “They are going to play football,” he mentioned. (*He mentioned that they were going to play football.*) (answer)
6. “I can play the piano,” he claimed. (*He claimed that he could play the piano.*) (answer)
7. “She was singing in the choir,” they revealed. (*They revealed that she had been singing in the choir*) (answer)
8. “I have lost my keys,” he confessed. (*He confessed that he had lost his keys.*) (answer)
9. “They will visit us next week,” she informed. (*She informed that they would visit us the following week.*) (answer)
10. “I was watching a movie,” he described. (*He described that he had been watching a movie.*) (answer)
11. “We can come to your party,” they agreed. (*They agreed that they could come to my party.*) (answer)
12. “I have to work late today,” he complained. (*He complained that he had to work late that day.*) (answer)
13. “They were playing video games,” he pointed out. (*He pointed out that they had been playing video games.*) (answer)
14. “You should follow your dreams,” she insisted. (*She insisted that I should follow my dreams.*) (answer)
15. “I don’t like spinach,” he admitted. (*He admitted that he didn’t like spinach.*) (answer)
Exercise 2: Converting Reported Speech to Direct Speech
1. She said that she was going to the market. (*”I am going to the market,” she said.*) (answer)
2. They revealed that they had read the book. (*”We have read the book,” they revealed.*) (answer)
3. He declared that he would win the race. (*”I will win the race,” he declared.*) (answer)
4. She informed that he wasn’t invited to the party. (*”He isn’t invited to the party,” she informed.*) (answer)
5. They informed that they were not moving to Canada. (*”We are not moving to Canada,” they informed.*) (answer)
6. He stated that he could speak French fluently. (*”I can speak French fluently,” he stated.*) (answer)
7. They confessed that they had been cheating in the game. (*”We were cheating in the game,” they confessed.*) (answer)
8. She admitted that she had eaten the last piece of cake. (*”I ate the last piece of cake,” she admitted.*) (answer)
9. He announced that they would arrive the following day. (*”They will arrive tomorrow,” he announced.*) (answer)
10. She explained that she had been waiting for his call. (*”I was waiting for your call,” she explained.*) (answer)
11. They agreed that they could help him with the project. (*”We can help you with the project,” they agreed.*) (answer)
12. He advised that she should learn German. (*”You should learn German,” he advised.*) (answer)
13. She pointed out that he had been using the internet all day. (*”He was using the internet all day,” she pointed out.*) (answer)
14. He suggested that they should travel to Australia. (*”We should travel to Australia,” he suggested.*) (answer)
15. She stated that she didn’t like pepper. (*”I don’t like pepper,” she stated.*) (answer)
2. They revealed that they had read the book. (*”We have read the book,” they revealed.*) (answer)
3. He declared that he would win the race. (*”I will win the race,” he declared.*) (answer)
4. She informed that he wasn’t invited to the party. (*”He isn’t invited to the party,” she informed.*) (answer)
5. They informed that they were not moving to Canada. (*”We are not moving to Canada,” they informed.*) (answer)
6. He stated that he could speak French fluently. (*”I can speak French fluently,” he stated.*) (answer)
7. They confessed that they had been cheating in the game. (*”We were cheating in the game,” they confessed.*) (answer)
8. She admitted that she had eaten the last piece of cake. (*”I ate the last piece of cake,” she admitted.*) (answer)
9. He announced that they would arrive the following day. (*”They will arrive tomorrow,” he announced.*) (answer)
10. She explained that she had been waiting for his call. (*”I was waiting for your call,” she explained.*) (answer)
11. They agreed that they could help him with the project. (*”We can help you with the project,” they agreed.*) (answer)
12. He advised that she should learn German. (*”You should learn German,” he advised.*) (answer)
13. She pointed out that he had been using the internet all day. (*”He was using the internet all day,” she pointed out.*) (answer)
14. He suggested that they should travel to Australia. (*”We should travel to Australia,” he suggested.*) (answer)
15. She stated that she didn’t like pepper. (*”I don’t like pepper,” she stated.*) (answer)
